Morales ushers in a new era in volleyball at Rice
The team had their first ever Division I-A All-Americans when Sammy Waldron was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association's second team and Darcy Cruikshank earned academic All-America recognition.
As the beginning of the 1996 season approaches, the "firsts" just keep coming. This season will be the first that the Owls compete in the Western Athletic Conference.
It will also be their first year under a new coach.
Julio Morales takes the reins from Henry Chen as head coach of the squad. Morales' previous position was head coach of the Puerto Rican national teams, men's and women's.
Previously, he coached both the men's and women's teams of his alma mater, the University of Puerto Rico.
In his 12 seasons at the helm, Morales has compiled a 114-27 record. As coach of women's teams, he is 56-7 over six seasons.
Morales holds a master's degree in health and physical education from the University of Houston and a doctorate in kinesiology from the University of Maryland.
Morales has added Jose Santiago, a former MVP for the University of Puerto Rico, as an assistant coach.
Santiago is currently an assistant coach at Indiana State University. He joins assistant Latisha Brown, who is beginning her fourth year as an assistant.
Team leaders look to be junior middle blocker Tiffany Carrethers and junior setter Carolyn Sarnecki. Carrethers was a first-team All Southwest Conference selection last season, and Sarnecki broke the SWC single-season set record with a total of 1,721.
Also expected to play a prominent role on the team are senior Jennifer Sloan, senior Rebecca Case and sophomore Lisa Sweeney. The three outside hitters face the difficult task of replacing Waldron, a three-time All-SWC first team member.
Three talented freshman join the squad this year. Kelly Smith, a 5-11 outside hitter from Edmond, Okla., led her team to three straight Oklahoma state championships.
Soleil Thon, a 5-6 setter from Sugar Land, was twice named tournament MVP of the TAPPS-3A state tournament.
Karolina Zelinka, a 6-0 outside hitter/middle blocker from Houston, earned All-Greater Houston honors in 1995.
The Owls begin the season today in Evanston, Ill., where they are competing in the Holiday Inn Wildcat Invitational.
They face Southwest Missouri State University and North Carolina State University today.
On Saturday, the Owls face Kansas State University and Northwestern University. The Owls will have home and away series this year against the seven teams in the WAC's Mountain Division.
They also play a home and away series with WAC Pacific Division member Air Force Academy, and several difficult non-conference matches.
This item appeared in the Sports section of the August 30, 1996 issue.
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