Fresno State Athletics
A Teacher's Specialty
10/12/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 12, 1999
Fresno, Calif. - A Teacher?s Specialty
By David de Witt
Leilua Satele and Heather Farr are both defensive specialists for the Fresno State volleyball team.
Satele, the gritty junior, has played the back row for Fresno State for the last two years and has already compiled some key numbers this year.
Heather Farr, the incumbent freshman, is just starting out her collegiate athletic life. Nicknamed Lei by her teammates, Satele has made a name for herself as a tough hard-nose player.
This 5' 4", kinesiology major already has posted 105 digs this season ? fourth-best on the team -- and is just eight shy of collecting a new season-best total in her career. Satele notched a career-best 16 digs against Nevada in the second match of the year and has had four matches in 1999 with 10 or more digs.
"Her never-say-die attitude has helped her dig many potential balls from hitting the ground," Farr said. "She?s the type of player that leaves an impression on you even though she?s not up front putting downs kills or blocking balls."
Hoping to become a physical therapist when her playing days are done at Fresno State, Satele keeps busy off the court as well with school work and singing, reading and dancing when time allows.
Satele, the oldest of three sisters, has always been placed in the role of leader and teacher. Used to being a role model and a teacher of responsibilities, Satele is in charge of reading the opponent?s defense and directing her teammates up front on what options are available.
"It?s my job to dig up balls that get past our block and to read the opponent?s defense," said Satele, who grew up in Long Beach and is the niece of former San Francisco 49ers Jesse Sapolu. "I?m a specialist in my position, that?s what I?ve been trained for so I have to get the job done. There are no exceptions."
Farr appears grateful that Satele has been an example for her this season.
"I?ve learned a lot from Leilua. She is right there to help me with my mistakes at practice," Farr said. "She sparks the entire team with her confidence and she is always willing to give it her all. There really isn?t one ball that comes her way that she isn?t all over. She wants that dig. She is a good example of how to do your job in the back row."
Farr has already proved to be a valuable defensive specialist. Having appeared in 12 matches this season, Farr posted a season-best 10 digs and two service aces against CS Fullerton in the 1999 USF/Golden Gate Classic. The Bulldogs went on to win that title after capturing three straight wins.
And what does the teacher have to say about the progress of her pupil?
"Heather has a lot to learn about the speed of the game and where the ball is going to be positioned, but she has a lot of potential to be a great player," Satele said. "We both feed off of each other during the games, and I try to expand her role on the team by making her communicate more during the matches."
Farr has not declared a major yet, but she is getting a first class education from her older teammate on the art of volleyball defense.
"I hope to fill Leilua?s shoes someday in the back court, but as of right now I need to just keep my eyes open and learn," said Farr, who helped her Gold Trail Heat 17-under team to a fifth place finish at Junior Nationals. "Heather has good athletic skills on the court which helps her make-up for some youthful mistakes on the court," Satele said. "Being aggressive on the court is what Heather is developing, but I give her some advice during practice and games so she can adopt, ?the killer instinct.?"
Farr, a two-sport letterwinner in softball and volleyball at Ponderosa High School in Cameron Park, Calif., brings a lot of athletic ability to the backcourt.
She was a four-year varsity starter in softball and played the outfield, but volleyball is what she loved best and she lettered twice as an outside hitter for her high school.
"I hope to be as good as Leilua someday. She reads the game so well and picks up things that I'm still learning about," Farr said.
Currently the ?Dogs are looking to learn from each other and make a harder push to qualify for the NCAA's. With the majority of the Western Athletic Conference season still to play, the chance to qualify for the NCAA Tournament is still the goal. For Satele (the teacher) and Farr (the student), communication is the key to improving their skills on and off the court. As Satele guides her young understudy through the upcoming season, both will have a big contribution to the ?Dogs success now and in the future.
