For many programs, losing two All-American players to graduation and a legendary coach in the same year would be devastating.

For Brigham Young University men's volleyball squad, all three are replaceable; just how well they've been replaced, however, remains to be seen.

Cougar fans will be able to get their first look at the 2003 team this Friday Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. and Saturday Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. when BYU hosts Red Deer, Canada, in the Smith Fieldhouse.

The most notable absentee from last year's 23-7 team is its coach, Carl McGown. McGown coached BYU for 14 years and helped build it into a national power, culminating with national championships in 1999 and 2001.

McGown's final season ended in disappointment, however, as the Cougars failed to get into the four-team NCAA Tournament, despite being ranked No. 3.

McGown's successor, Tom Peterson, seems likely to pick up where McGown left off. Peterson, who coached the BYU team when it participated as a club sport, built Penn State's nationally-respected program.

Under Peterson, the Nittany Lions went to the Final Four five times, winning the national championship in 1994.

If Peterson is to duplicate that success this year at BYU, his biggest task will be to replace All-Americans Mike Wall and Joaquin Acosta. BYU's other five starters all return.

Wall may be the most easily replaced of the two. Four players are competing to fill Wall's vacated opposite hitter position. UVSC transfer Joe Hillman will compete with Jaime Mayol, Jonathon Alleman, and Casey Patterson for the starting job.

The outside hitter position, which Acosta played last year, is another area in which the Cougars are deep. BYU has three seniors at the two outside hitter positions, including Rafael Paal, an all-conference performer last year. Luke Slabe and Mayol should see time at outside hitter as well.

BYU is experienced and talented at its other positions.

All-conference middle blocker Joe Gorny, BYU's leading blocker last season and setter Carlos Moreno, who finished second in the nation in assists last season, both return. Libero Fernando Pessoa is also back from last year's team.

"You can see from the stats that Acosta and Wall dominated last year," Peterson said in a BYU media relations press release. "But this year, if we are playing well, you will be able to look at the stat sheet and see the stats fairly evenly distributed among the players."

Red Deer, which is 10-0 and the No. 1 ranked team in Canada, is the first Canadian opponent the Cougars have faced.

The matches were set up when Peterson spotted the Red Deer team at a summer tournament and offered to play a series with the Kings.

Red Deer accepted Peterson's invitation to come to Provo, even though it meant the team had to ask for donations from its boosters just to make the trip.



Copyright Brigham Young University 9 Jan 2003