Vanguard ready to surprise

Steve Virgen

The Vanguard University women’s basketball team has been picked to

finish ninth out of the 11 schools in the Golden State Athletic

Conference, according to the coaches’ preseason poll. This has turned

out to be just the right motivation for the Lions, who are eager to

prove their ranking wrong.

“That gave me incentive,” Vanguard Coach Russ Davis said of his

team’s preseason ranking. “I felt that we didn’t get any respect. In

the past five years we have won the most games in the conference.”

Between 1998 and 2000, Davis’ teams won at least 27 games and lost

less than 10 in each season, earned three consecutive GSAC

championships, and competed in three straight NAIA National

Tournaments. Davis has a 136-57 overall record in six seasons at

Vanguard, and his teams have been in the playoffs every year.

Last season, the Lions finished 17-12, 13-7 in the GSAC, and lost

in the GSAC Tournament final to Azusa Pacific. Davis believes

Vanguard is capable of returning to be among the conference’s elite,

which includes three schools, The Master’s, Biola and Point Loma,

that are ranked in the NAIA top 25 preseason poll.

“I think we can finish anywhere from first through ninth in the

conference,” said Davis, who coached at Estancia High 10 years ago.

“I’m competitive. I want to win the thing. If I’m not going to say

we’re going to win it, how do you think my team is going to react? We

can do it. It won’t be easy, but I think we can do it.”

The Lions opened this season with a stunning 50-48 win over UC

Irvine in an exhibition game. Davis said it provided confidence for

his squad. Robbin Dittenbir, who Davis calls, the heart and soul of

the team, hit a 5-foot baseline shot at the buzzer to give the Lions

the victory.

The Lions also went 1-1 in the Mr. Gatti’s Invitational Tournament

at Pikeville College in Kentucky. In the tournament, Vanguard

displayed what will be its strength this season, outside shooting and

defense. Freshman Cecilia Josefsson is a newcomer who figures to

provide key contributions in both areas.

Josefsson, a 6-foot guard who was on the Sweden junior national

team before coming to Vanguard, is the Lions’ leading scorer,

averaging 14 points per game, thus far. Sophomore Jennifer Wilcox,

who transferred from Sacramento City College, will also be a valuable

newcomer, while Dittenbir and seniors Deborah Candelaria (6-0

forward) and Jessica Lenderman (5-5 guard) are solid returnees.

The Lions are also expecting to bolster their attack with the

return of seniors Laura Lee (5-7 guard) and Paulette Seaman (5-10

forward), whom are recovering from knee injuries.