San Jose Golddiggers
Encyclopedia
The San Jose Golddiggers were a professional women's team in Major League Volleyball
from 1987-89. The team played its home matches at the San Jose Civic Auditorium
(capacity 2,200 for volleyball).
The Golddiggers were one of six original teams in Major League Volleyball
. The league began in 1987 and ended short of completing a full season in 1989. Players consisted of former collegiate All Americans and Olympians. The level of play was highly competitive (above that of even the best Division I college teams) and the action was fast paced.
The Golddiggers placed 2nd in 1987, 2nd in 1988 and were in 2nd when the league ceased operations mid-way through the season in 1989.
One of two west coast powerhouse teams, the Golddiggers started as the San Francisco/San Jose Golddiggers in 1987, becoming the San Jose Golddiggers in 1988, due to the team having the largest season ticket holder base and the fact that they were the attendance leaders for MLV.
Rules for volleyball in the late 1980s were a bit different than today. The ball could not touch the net on a serve, and games were to 15, plus you had to be serving to score (no rally scoring). In 1988 the league changed the rules so that game five would move to rally scoring until one team reached 10; then it reverted to sideout scoring. This was primarily to control the length of matches for television.
11-Julie Maginot (OH); 6-Eileen Dempster (MB); 14-Lisa Ice (OH);
8-Christa Cook (OH); 10-Kelly Strand (OH); 12-Gayle Stammer (MB); Shelton Collier (head coach); Max Kernaghan (asst. coach)
1-Julie Maginot (OH); 6-Eileen Dempster (MB); 11-Nancy Reno (MB);
10-Kelly Strand (OH); 9-Toni Tedeschi (MB); Dave DeGroot (head coach); Burt Fuller and Max Kernaghan (asst. coaches)
1-Julie Maginot (OH); 6-Eileen Dempster (MB); 8-Christa Cook (OH);
15-Jayne McHugh (MB); 2-Mary Miller (MB); 13-Barbara Higgins (MB);
11-Ellen Bugalski (MB); Greg Giovanozzi (head coach); Burt Fuller and Max Kernaghan (asst. coaches)
Laurie Corbelli was team captain and without question the leader on the court. A 1980 (boycotted by USA) and 1984 Olympian, Corbelli was the Major League Volleyball MVP in 1987.
Vicki Cantrell was the main scoring threat for the Golddiggers, 2nd in kills in 1987 with 361 and leading the team in kills in 1988 with 337. Cantrell was a first team All-American at San Diego State and was enshrined into the Aztec Sports Hall Of Fame in 1997.
In 1987 the team played for the MLV championship, losing to the
Los Angeles Starlites in five games. The Golddiggers were the host city for the 1987 MLV finals, due to the teams attendance success.
In 1988 the team recruited Stanford
stars Nancy Reno and Wendi Rush. The Golddiggers again reached the MLV finals, again losing to the Los Angeles Starlites, this time in three games.
In 1989, the Golddiggers got back setter Teri DeBusk, who was loaned to the Arizona Blaze for the 1988 season, Teri was the Golddiggers setter in 1987 and was a local star at San Jose State. When the league ceased operations in mid-season of 1989 the league rewarded the team with the honor of hosting the final match in MLV league history, the 1989 MLV All Star Match.
Major League Volleyball
Major League Volleyball was a women's professional volleyball league in the United States. It was established in 1987 and disbanded during its third season on March 20, 1989. The content, records, and player information were obtained from my collection of VCR recordings of the original ESPN...
from 1987-89. The team played its home matches at the San Jose Civic Auditorium
San Jose Civic Auditorium
San Jose Civic Auditorium, known as the San Jose Civic, is a sports arena and concert venue, located in downtown San Jose, California. The 3,000-seat venue is owned by the City of San Jose, is managed by Team San Jose and is booked by Nederlander Concerts.It was created through a joint venture...
(capacity 2,200 for volleyball).
The Golddiggers were one of six original teams in Major League Volleyball
Major League Volleyball
Major League Volleyball was a women's professional volleyball league in the United States. It was established in 1987 and disbanded during its third season on March 20, 1989. The content, records, and player information were obtained from my collection of VCR recordings of the original ESPN...
. The league began in 1987 and ended short of completing a full season in 1989. Players consisted of former collegiate All Americans and Olympians. The level of play was highly competitive (above that of even the best Division I college teams) and the action was fast paced.
The Golddiggers placed 2nd in 1987, 2nd in 1988 and were in 2nd when the league ceased operations mid-way through the season in 1989.
One of two west coast powerhouse teams, the Golddiggers started as the San Francisco/San Jose Golddiggers in 1987, becoming the San Jose Golddiggers in 1988, due to the team having the largest season ticket holder base and the fact that they were the attendance leaders for MLV.
Rules for volleyball in the late 1980s were a bit different than today. The ball could not touch the net on a serve, and games were to 15, plus you had to be serving to score (no rally scoring). In 1988 the league changed the rules so that game five would move to rally scoring until one team reached 10; then it reverted to sideout scoring. This was primarily to control the length of matches for television.
1987
1-Terry DeBusk (S); 5-Laurie Corbelli (MB); 4-Vicki Cantrell (OH);11-Julie Maginot (OH); 6-Eileen Dempster (MB); 14-Lisa Ice (OH);
8-Christa Cook (OH); 10-Kelly Strand (OH); 12-Gayle Stammer (MB); Shelton Collier (head coach); Max Kernaghan (asst. coach)
1988
8-Wendi Rush (S); 5-Laurie Corbelli (MB); 4-Vicki Cantrell (OH);1-Julie Maginot (OH); 6-Eileen Dempster (MB); 11-Nancy Reno (MB);
10-Kelly Strand (OH); 9-Toni Tedeschi (MB); Dave DeGroot (head coach); Burt Fuller and Max Kernaghan (asst. coaches)
1989
7-Teri DeBusk (S); 5-Laurie Corbelli (MB-OH); 4-Vicki Cantrell (OH);1-Julie Maginot (OH); 6-Eileen Dempster (MB); 8-Christa Cook (OH);
15-Jayne McHugh (MB); 2-Mary Miller (MB); 13-Barbara Higgins (MB);
11-Ellen Bugalski (MB); Greg Giovanozzi (head coach); Burt Fuller and Max Kernaghan (asst. coaches)
Laurie Corbelli was team captain and without question the leader on the court. A 1980 (boycotted by USA) and 1984 Olympian, Corbelli was the Major League Volleyball MVP in 1987.
Vicki Cantrell was the main scoring threat for the Golddiggers, 2nd in kills in 1987 with 361 and leading the team in kills in 1988 with 337. Cantrell was a first team All-American at San Diego State and was enshrined into the Aztec Sports Hall Of Fame in 1997.
In 1987 the team played for the MLV championship, losing to the
Los Angeles Starlites in five games. The Golddiggers were the host city for the 1987 MLV finals, due to the teams attendance success.
In 1988 the team recruited Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
stars Nancy Reno and Wendi Rush. The Golddiggers again reached the MLV finals, again losing to the Los Angeles Starlites, this time in three games.
In 1989, the Golddiggers got back setter Teri DeBusk, who was loaned to the Arizona Blaze for the 1988 season, Teri was the Golddiggers setter in 1987 and was a local star at San Jose State. When the league ceased operations in mid-season of 1989 the league rewarded the team with the honor of hosting the final match in MLV league history, the 1989 MLV All Star Match.
External links
- Major League Volleyball
- MLV standings, 1987-1989
- New York Times
- New York Times
- Sports Illustrated
- Sports Illustrated
- Player Laurie Corbelli's Texas A&M coaching bio
- Player Vicki Cantrell's SDSU Hall of Fame bio
- Player Julie Maginot's Pacific Hall of Fame bio, Stockton Record
- Owner Robert Batinovich's bio
- GM Roseann Kuryla's LinkedIn bio
- Executive Lee Meade's bio
- Executive Jim Dugoni's University of the Pacific bio
- GeoDig.com San Jose city directory
- 1989 San Jose Golddiggers Media Guide
- 1988 San Jose Golddiggers Media Guide