2006:Speraw the coach/scientist

"I have a small team [the starters for which are seldom collectively taller than opposing lineups] and it seems like I keep recruiting guys who are small," Speraw said. "It's not that I choose to do so, it's just that I like athletes. I have a tendency to swing toward the real athletic guys, so maybe I look more at jumping ability and arm swing than I do size. I can walk through a gym and see the guys who interest me [as recruits]. And I usually figure out who those guys are in about 30 seconds. Every coach has something different he's looking for. Whereas another coach might think 'He's pretty small; I don't want him,' I'm watching his jumping ability and how he moves on the court."

Speraw's program, ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll for the upcoming season that begins Wednesday, will play nine matches at the 5,000-seat Bren Events Center this season. UCI played three matches at the Bren Center last year, including one in the MPSF Tournament. Crawford Court, the team's former primary home, holds fewer than 800 spectators.

"We had some big wins last year and I think we proved we weren't just a blip on the radar, but that we were legit," Speraw said. "And I think that started to generate a lot of interest. I believe we're starting to carry over some of that interest to this year and certainly being ranked as preseason No. 1 is helping.

"I think getting 3,000 and 4,000 fans a night is completely attainable. If we can do that, we'll provide the finest volleyball environment in Southern California, which combined with other factors, gives us a niche in recruiting. Once we have that, it will bring better players which makes us better and draws more fans, and the whole thing starts to snow ball. I think we've built the ball, but we still need to roll it down the hill."