Playing the Field : After Torrance Found Itself Without a Volleyball Coach, It Didn’t Take Long to Hire Pete Field

When a coach takes over a team less than two weeks before the start of the season, it could be interpreted as a sign of trouble.

This, however, is not the situation facing Pete Field, the new girls’ volleyball coach at Torrance High.

Field, who was hired after the sudden resignation of former coach Marie Andersson in late August, has inherited a team stocked with experienced and talented players. The Tartars are anything but troubled.

Favored to win the Pioneer League title, Torrance enters the season ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division III coaches’ poll and No. 4 in a state poll that includes teams from all divisions. The Tartars open their season at 3 p.m. today with a nonleague match against Peninsula at Torrance.

Andersson, a player on the women’s pro beach volleyball tour, had coached Torrance for the past three seasons. She resigned because she is pregnant and due to give birth to her second child in early December. She regrets not being able to coach the Tartars this season.

“I’m kind of bummed,” Andersson said. “I hate the fact that I’m not coaching.”

Andersson guided Torrance to the Southern Section 3-A Division semifinals in 1991. This season’s team returns all six starters, led by Pioneer League most valuable player Kim Blankinship, an outside hitter, and setter-hitter Suzanne Radcliffe. Both were All-Southern Section selections in 1991.

“They should breeze through the league,” Andersson said. “I know that they got a good coach. They’ll win the state (title) if he lets the players run themselves.”

Field, who hasn’t spoken to Andersson, realizes he has taken over a team with great expectations. But although he knew Torrance had a quality program, he almost didn’t apply for the job.

“I saw the job opening advertised (in a local paper),” Field said. “I sat down and thought about it for five minutes, decided not to apply, then sat down for another five minutes and said, ‘Gosh, this would be a nice little place to coach at for three or four years.’ ”

Field, who coached at Leuzinger in 1991, has coached and participated in South Bay volleyball for many years. He was one of Southern California’s founding boys’ prep volleyball coaches in the early 1970s at Inglewood High, where he teamed with Gene Popko to help get the sport sanctioned by the Southern Section.

It didn’t take long for the Torrance athletic department to decide to hire Field.

“I had a resume all prepared, so I made up a little packet and called up the school,” he said. “I think I called on a Wednesday, and they decided on a Thursday.”

Junior middle blocker Tami Burchard, beginning her third varsity season, said Torrance’s players were very concerned when they heard about Andersson’s decision to resign.

“We were shocked and disappointed when Marie resigned,” Burchard said. “We were afraid that the job would go to anyone, (maybe) someone like a gym teacher from Florida.”

The players met with the school administration and Athletic Director Jeff Phillips to express their feelings.

“We talked about their concerns, which I thought were very fair,” Phillips said. “It’s a tough situation because this group has had success with another coach. I think it is very important that they felt comfortable with the new coach.”

Because the season was quickly approaching, Phillips needed to conduct the interview process rapidly. He selected Field, he said, based on Field’s experience.

“I don’t think I was hired because of my record last year, said Field, whose Leuzinger team was 1-13 in 1991.”

Rich Richter, who coaches the Torrance girls’ junior varsity and freshmen-sophomore teams, also applied for the varsity job. Although disappointed that he wasn’t selected, Richter said that Field is “obviously a knowledgeable coach.”

“I agreed with the decision,” said Richter, who played volleyball at North Torrance. “This kind of team needs a sophisticated coach. It’s probably a little bit too sophisticated for my knowledge.”

During the summer, under the guidance of Richter, Torrance won the Watts Summer Games competition and the Prep National tournament. The team appears ready to live up to its lofty preseason billing.

“The players are experienced enough to run themselves,” Andersson said.

Blankinship, an All-Southern Section selection in soccer last year, is such an outstanding all-around athlete that she considered the idea of trying out for the football team as a kicker. She has made an unwritten commitment to attend Loyola Marymount and play volleyball.

Radcliffe has also been offered a scholarship by Loyola but is undecided where she will attend college.

Andersson said that the experience factor will give Torrance a decided edge over its opponents.

“Most of the girls are seniors,” Andersson said. “Kim and Suzanne know everything that they need to do in order to win.”

Andersson plans to attend as many matches as possible this season. She hopes to return to the pro beach circuit next year, although she is not sure when she might return to coaching.

“I worked really hard and brought the program a long way,” she said. “I’ll follow the team as a loyal fan. If they win, I’ll still get the satisfaction, but maybe not the recognition.”