Gerlach Continued from Page 1 until her legs began to grow and cartwheels be came dangerous that she realized she may have to shift her focus. "Once my legs started hitting the ceiling fan in our living room I knew that was pretty much it for gymnastics,” Gerlach says. She began to think more seriously about volleyball during her sophomore year in high school when col leges began to take notice of her play, as well as her legs. Nelson says Gerlach’s height and athleticism are primary reasons for recruit ing her to Oregon. Gerlach was also pur sued by Arizona, which she said made her think that maybe she could go somewhere with volley ball. “I just never pictured myself going on to a Pac-10 school,” Gerlach says. “When I see my name on the sheet as a starter, 1 still can’t believe it. 1 have to look at it a couple of times before it sinks in.” When No. 19 Arizona visits Oregon this week end, they will remember Gerlach. In her final year at Hori zon High School, Gerlach led her team to a third place finish in the state tournament, and ended the season with 352 assists, 84 kills and 49 service aces. Her contributions did not go unnoticed: She was named the Desert Valley Region most valuable play er and Scottsdale/North east Valley player of the year. Gerlach had no qualms about passing up the op portunity to play for a ranked team. While star ring at Horizon High, Nel son brought Gerlach to Oregon for a recruiting vis it. "As soon as I visited Oregon I knew that this was where I wanted to go,” Gerlach says. “I miss my friends and family in Ari zona, but I’m excited about moving to a new place with new people.” With the stats she has posted at Oregon thus far, it’s hard to believe that Gerlach did not begin her career as a setter. She made the switch during her sophomore year after try ing it in practice. To Nel son that was a benefit for the Oregon volleyball pro gram. “The fact that she’s not tapped out or going to get tapped out is a plus,” Nel son says. “Her potential is only going to grow.” While most freshman spend their Friday nights trying to become familiar with the local scene, Ger lach prepares for a week end of intense competition. Scheduling problems and dorm life will become distant memories when the 18-year-old steps onto the court and exudes the confi dence that she rightfully owns. It’s not the typical life of a freshman, but Ger lach wouldn’t have it any other way. It's not enough to be known as the best set ter at Oregon, she wants to compete in an NCAA tour nament. If that should happen, Gerlach may find that she isn’t able to blend in quite as easily. Julie Gerlach File ■ YEAR: Freshman ■ HOMETOWN: Scottsdale, Ariz. ■ SIZE: 6-foot ■ POSITION: Setter ■ STATS: Second in the Pacific-10 Conference and 12th in the NCAA in assists with 13.62 assists per game... against Wake Forest recorded a season-high 76 assists, the highest total In the Pac-10 thus far this season and good enough for seventh on Oregon all-time single-match list... assisted on a season-high six blocks against Missouri... has recorded 613 of the Ducks’ 707 total assists this season... one of three Ducks, along with seniors Madeline Ernst and Alii White, to play in all 45 games in 1998... honorable men tion all-American at Scottsdale’s Horizon High School her senior year... older sister Jen is on a volleyball scholarship at Missouri, which the Ducks beat in five games Sept. 12. Emerald CLASSIFIEDS Call 346-4343 or stop by Suite 300 EMU to place your ad today 085 GREEK ANNOUNCEMENTS Start your own fraternity! Zeta Beta Tau is looking (or men to start a new chapter. If you are interested in academic success, a chance to network and an oppor tunity to make Iriends in a non pledging brotherhood, e-mail: zbt@zbtnational.org or call Faron Lewitt at (317) 334-1898. 095 PERSONALS A