THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 12, 1995 TAG: 9502120228
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Although a no-look pass or a shot at the buzzer might grab a crowd's attention, a player's worth to her team can't always be measured by a box score.
Old Dominion forward Sarah Willyerd doesn't average in double figures in points or rebounds. She doesn't overwhelm opponents inside, and she won't dazzle a crowd with her playmaking abilities.
But if hustle and heart showed up in the statistics, Willyerd would be Old Dominion's MVP.
``Good defensive players never get credit,'' said Lady Monarchs coach Wendy Larry. ``They're the unsung heroes on a team, and Sarah is definitely that for us.''
The middle of three children growing up in Flint, Mich., Willyerd was a ``total tomboy. I already played baseball. Baseball, not softball. I played the hard stuff.''
She was a tomboy who also figure skated.
``My mom wanted me to be such a little girl. She put the skates on me, but they didn't stay on very long,'' said Willyerd.
She was also involved in volleyball and track, but it was on the hardcourt that Willyerd felt most comfortable. She played on AAU teams starting when she was 11, and eventually competed in four AAU national tournaments.
At Powers Catholic High School, Willyerd was named a captain her last two seasons and earned first-team All-State honors as a senior.
Once at ODU, Willyerd did her time on the bench as a freshman before earning a starting nod early in her sophomore year.
On the court, she learned a lot from three-time Colonial Athletic Association player of the year Celeste Hill.
``She always worked so hard, no matter what was going on in her life. When she stepped on the court she was all business,'' Willyerd said. ``She rubbed off on me and a lot of other people.''
ODU's players and coaches alike speak in glowing terms about Willyerd's work ethic. According to Larry she ``sets the precedent as far as preseason conditioning goes. She's our rabbit.''
``When she does well, she gets really pumped up, and when she does something bad, she gets mad,'' said Stacy Himes, one of Willyerd's roommates. ``When some people mess up they're like, whatever. But it's something that Sarah takes really seriously.''
If there is one word that best describes Willyerd's contribution to the Lady Monarchs, it's consistency. Although she averages just over seven points and three rebounds a game, she is ODU's best defensive player, always getting the toughest assignment.
It's in ODU's biggest games that Willyerd particularly excels, playing 40 minutes against Tennessee and scoring a career-high 18 points against North Carolina State.
``Sarah has really stepped up her game tenfold,'' Larry said. ``Since Christmas she's had a revelation that she can, on a consistent basis, have that kind of intensity.''
``We don't have the scoring of Celeste Hill anymore. We needed someone consistent and Sarah's stepped up to be that person,'' Himes said. ``Something has to be said for that.''
If there is one area of her game that ODU's coaches would like to see Willyerd improve, it's her leadership skills. Although according to Larry there is ``no question'' that Willyerd leads by example, it wouldn't hurt if she was a little more vocal on the court.
``I'm trying to step up and lead the team. ... be one of those players who speaks when I'm on the floor. It's not that I'm uncomfortable with it because I did it in high school - I just haven't done it for two years,'' said Willyerd. ``Usually I'll speak my mind, especially if I think I can help someone get better.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
ODU's Sarah Willyerd, right, who draws the team's toughest defensive
assignment, blocks out Duke's Jennifer Scanlon.
by CNB