CMC75 Moments: 1993 Volleyball Reaches NCAA Quarterfinals

As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1993 Volleyball Defeats Trinity 3-2 to Reach NCAA Quarters

The 1992 CMS volleyball team finished in a three-way tie for its first-ever SCIAC Championship, and earned its second NCAA bid in program history. However they spent the offseason knowing they were so close to having even more. The Athenas' three SCIAC losses were all 3-2 scores, including two to La Verne and one to Occidental, and CMS fell to La Verne 3-2 for the third time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. In 1993, CMS came through in a close race to take the outright SCIAC title and then beat Redlands (15-6, 15-9, 2-15, 15-12) on its home floor at Ducey Gymnasium for the first NCAA win in program history.

That set up a regional semifinal matchup with Trinity (Texas) which provided all sorts of drama. CMS dropped the first set 16-14, but bounced back to take the second 15-11. The teams split the third and fourth, with the Tigers winning the third 15-9 and the Athenas tying it up 15-10 in the fourth. That set up the nail-biting fifth and final set, which went to rally scoring, and CMS was able to come through with a thrilling 15-13 win to advance to the regional finals (NCAA Quarterfinal Round), before the run ended in four to UC San Diego.

Middle blocker Vanessa McKenzie was SCIAC Player of the Year, while Zalika Milton, Natalya Preiser and Paula Preshaw were named to the second team. The 1993 team is also still prominent in the CMS record books: Preshaw and McKenzie still rank 1-2 in Athena history in blocks and Preiser still holds the school record in assists (4018).

Paula (Preshaw) Davey:

I grew up in Hemet, a rural SoCal community, and had no idea there even was a "recruiting process." I was miraculously "found" by Julie (Curtis), the CMC women's basketball and volleyball coach at the time, and chose to attend CMC primarily because I would be able to play volleyball! It's been a lifelong passion and I still play multiple times a week today. 

In my sophomore year, Julie left and Vicki came on board. Our team was improving -- Vicki was an impressive recruiter -- but still not close to reaching our true potential. My junior year, Vicki wisely brought Robert into the program and he was a true college-level skills coach, teaching us how to run quick sets and spending as much time as we possibly could in the gym, learning how to be a real volleyball team. 

Our team game grew more during that year than any year prior, so that by the 1993 season we were finally primed and ready to WIN. Vanessa, Zalika, Karen, Natalya and I became a true offensive UNIT, simply because we ran our quick offense so consistently. Robert coached us to ALWAYS do our jobs (i.e., always get up or out to block) and always go up to hit as if Natalya was going to set one of us a quick set every single time, in the middle or right side, drawing the other team's blockers as decoys most of the time, leaving the chosen hitter (or setter!) wide open with no block. Freshman Caroline was a true left side crusher, so if she (or Vanessa, who POUNDED balls) was hitting without a block, it was point OVER. Zalika would sky so high she'd just hit right over the block, hitting the ball on the 15-foot line.

Back then, there was no libero, but Angie played like one. Even through agonizing foot pain, she would run down or dig impossible balls. Amy was so steady, she found holes no one even saw. ALL of us were taught how to pass nails. You can't run a quick offense without workable passes, so you can imagine how many drills we ran and ran and ran. 

I loved every minute of it. We had so much fun on the court and on the bus rides. Not many of us were very close off the court, but it didn't matter. When we were together, we were nothing but supportive, hard-working and FUN. When I'm asked to recall a single match, all of this is what comes to mind. Volleyball is about consistency and camaraderie over time and not letting the nerves or the big moments mess with your head; using the adrenaline to help you run down an "ungettable" ball or hit a ball a little smarter or harder than usual.

I'm fairly certain I had the final match kill that earned us our 1993 league championship. I recall being so in the zone that I wasn't even tracking it was the last point and was shocked when everyone dog-piled me. It's a mindset that continues to serve me today. Just do your job as you were taught every time, don't worry about anything else, and let the dog pile ensue. 

1993 Volleyball Roster
Head Coach: Vicki Brault
Assistant Coach: Robert Okamura
Kristen Behn (So., DS, Scripps)
Angela King (So., DS, Scripps)
Karen Marinko (Sr., OH, CMC)
Vanessa McKenzie (Jr., MB, CMC)
Susan McMains (Fr., OH, HMC)
Zalika Milton (Sr., OH, Scripps)
Nicolle Muschinski (Fr., RS, Scripps)
Amy Paris (So., OH, Scripps)
Natalya Preiser (Jr., Setter, CMC)
Paula Preshaw (Sr., MB, CMC)
Caroline Vlasis (Fr., OH, Scripps)
Ilana Wong (Fr., OH, CMC)

1992 Volleyball Roster (First SCIAC Champions)
Head Coach: Vicki Brault
Assistant Coach: Robert Okamura
Kristen Behn (Fr., DS, Scripps)
Eve Erickson (Jr., OH, Scripps)
Denise Hoover (So., DS, Scripps)
Angela King (Fr., DS, Scripps)
Vanessa McKenzie (So., MB, CMC)
Zalika Milton (Jr., OH, Scripps)
Amy Paris (Fr., OH, Scripps)
Maria Perez (So., Setter/DS, CMC)
Natalya Preiser (Fr., Setter, CMC)
Paula Preshaw (Jr., MB, CMC)
Nicole Puckhaber (Fr., OH, CMC)
Kirsten Smith (Sr., OH, CMC)