THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 15, 1996 TAG: 9610150461
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 41 lines
Miranda Swaim draws attention wherever she goes.
The senior's height - she stands 6-feet - caught the eye of several coaches at Tallwood over the past four years. Now, it has turned her into a volleyball power.
``Ninth grade, they made me play basketball,'' Swaim said with a laugh. ``In tenth grade it was track, then last year volleyball. They recruited me because I was tall.''
Swaim, whose vanity plate reads ``6FTCHIC'' does not mind the attention her height draws. In fact, since it began translating into athletic tryouts, she has become a centerpiece on three Lions' teams. She joined the volleyball squad and quickly became a key player.
Her volleyball prowess has continually grown. Last week, she posted 16 kills and six blocks as the Lions knocked off Salem for the first time in school history.
``I wanted to beat them before I graduated,'' Swaim said of the perennially-powerful Sun Devils. ``It was really great. Usually I cry when we lose, but this time I was crying when we won. I was so excited.''
Swaim has stepped up for big games all season. Against unbeaten Cox, she smashed 17 kills with seven blocks. This week, she is eyeing second-place Kempsville.
``Everyone was like, `She's possessed,''' Swaim said of her teammates reaction to her stunning performance. ``I'm not the type of player who's timid or scared, but I'm not the one to get out there and be serious. Usually, when I'm serious I'm playing bad. But not that time.''
Swaim and her teammates are often considered underdogs in the district. They relish the role.
``Tallwood doesn't get that much publicity, so everyone assumes that if they beat Salem and Cox they've got it made,'' she said. ``It's an advantage because we surprise people and then they have to really play us.''
And face the power of the 6FTCHIC on the frontline. ILLUSTRATION: Miranda Swaim by CNB