Oct. 1, 2008
Lobos Volleyball
Thursday: Lobos vs. Brigham Young
When/Where: 7 p.m., Johnson Center
TV: The Mtn. (Comcast 276 / DirecTV 616)
Saturday: Lobos vs. Utah, 1 p.m., Johnson Center
By Richard Stevens, Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
When you think about the possibility that top-level collegiate volleyball might be passing by a 5-foot-2 shorty like Lobo Gayle Tripp, three words come to mind: What a shame.
Because Gayle Tripp is special. On the court, as one of the best liberos in the Mountain West Conference. Off the court, as a student-athlete passionate and active in so many activities other than volleyball.
“I’m thankful for what I have here, because I don’t think many programs would have given a 5-2 libero a scholarship,” said Tripp, a product of Rio Rancho High. “I understand. I don’t take offense. Because you can bring in someone 5-7 or 5-8 and they can play libero (a digger/setter) one game and maybe be a hitter the next game.”With me, you are only getting one position.”
True, but with Tripp you are getting a whole lot of energy, a whole lot of quickness and a whole lot of athlete out of her slender, 5-foot-2 frame. Tripp was a 2008 pre-season All-MWC pick. She is No. 2 on the UNM career digs list. She is an anchor on this season’s UNM team.
“She has a special presence,” said Lobos coach Jeff Nelson. “She is an outstanding passer, which is really important to us. That might be her strongest skill. But probably her best athletic attribute is how fast she is out there. She really moves.”
Tripp’s quickness on the volleyball court is one reason she is on the court. Nelson admits that the top-level collegiate teams don’t really want to recruit girls under 5-9. When UNM battled No. 2-ranked Nebraska on Sept. 13, the Cornhuskers’ shortest player was 5-9. They had ten players 6-feet or taller.
But Nelson is happy with his outgoing, talkative senior. On the court. Off the court.”She’ll do anything she can to help the team,” said Nelson. “She is good energy. And her passion just comes soaring through. She plays that way. She is your friend that way. That passion just comes, whether you want it or not.”
With Tripp, something else comes through whether you want it or not. Nelson says the girl has the gift of gab.
“When she is in your van (on the road), we tease her that nobody else gets to talk,” said Nelson. “She definitely loves to talk.”
Tripp doesn’t argue that point. In fact, she’ll talk about it.
“I put my voice out there, I guess you could say,” Tripp says through an endearing smile. “But our van rides are lame and we aren’t allowed to be on our cell phones. If they would let me be on my cell phone, I would be quiet in a second. The minute I sneak on my cell phone, they take it away. But I have a good time on the van. Jeff and I compete for attention.”
| “I don’t mind raising the bar about how people look at student-athletes because there is a stereotype that we are a bunch of stupid jocks and that’s not so.” Gayle Tripp |
Tripp has been competing most of her life in something. She was solid in basketball and track before making a full-time commitment to volleyball during her sophomore year at Rio Rancho High. She was three-time All-State at Rio Rancho and led the team to two Class 5A titles and two runner-up finishes.
“I knew I was better in volleyball,” she said. “It just came easier for me.”Possibly the greatest insight into Tripp as a student-athlete is her winning the Lobo Club Student-Athlete of The Year award last season – an award that looks at what a Lobo does on and off the court. Tripp is involved in student government. She also is Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. She does community service, as her schedule allows.
“I got involved in student council because I want to have a say on things,” said Tripp. “I like to know what’s going on. I like to tap into things. I don’t mind raising the bar about how people look at student-athletes because there is a stereotype that we are a bunch of stupid jocks and that’s not so.”
Said coach Nelson: “It’s great to see an athlete who works as hard as she does in her sport and still finds time to do other things she thinks is important. She values what she does. Takes pride in it. She is on a good path.”
One path Tripp is on is a path common to all these Lobos volleyball players. She wants to win the league title. She wants to go to the NCAA Tournament.Oh, yeah – she wants to beat the Brigham Young Cougars Thursday night in Johnson Center.
“Coach told me he said I’m a passionate person and I talk a lot,” said Tripp. “I hope this isn’t a story saying, ‘Gayle Tripp talks a lot.’ Which I do. I might be more of a yapper than a passionate person.
“I’m not passionate about everything. I’m not passionate about the homework I have to do tonight. But I’m passionate about the BYU game. That’s for sure.”
Editor’s note: Richard Stevens is a former Associate Sports Editor and sports columnist for The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.