Wednesday, 4/30/97 Standing out Trong Nguyen found his niche at UCLA as athlete, pre-medical student
By Vytas Mazeika Daily Bruin Contributor Few people know who Trong Nguyen is. He is a pre-med student like many others here at UCLA. His 5-foot-10-inch stature does not distinguish him from anyone else. And like most graduating seniors, he is in his fifth year. Originally, Nguyen came only for academic reasons. Most of the UCLA volleyball players were stars who had participated in tournaments and on club teams in high school. But he had only been part of a high school team, and collegiate volleyball in one of the most storied programs in NCAA history barely crossed his mind. Yet one of his friends would not let Nguyen forget about trying out for the team. He urged Nguyen to give it a shot, pointing out that he had nothing to lose. "Twenty years down the line you do not want to be asking yourself 'what if,'" Nguyen said. "(Trying out) was a decision I made back then because I did not want to (have) any regrets. "I am glad I made that decision four years ago. It was a good decision because it has changed my life. It is being part of that team and just working hard to accomplish a goal that is so satisfying. I think it made me feel like I had something else to offer. I was pre-med, and there are so many pre-meds that it is tough to stand out." Nguyen has no delusions of grandeur. He knows that after this weekend his volleyball career will be over. He will attend his fourth Final Four in four seasons as part of the volleyball team, and then the roller coaster ride will be over. He will once again concentrate on academics and blend in with all of the students, leaving his volleyball legacy in the past for few to know. But what a volleyball legacy he has had. Originally he was just pleased with making the team. Since UCLA carries roughly 24 players, one team gets to travel while the other stays behind. Nguyen believed that he would never be part of the top 12. But that did not seem to bother him because it was enough for him to just wear the "UCLA volleyball" T-shirt. Anything more never crossed his mind. Then came his first chance. Against a weak Canadian team, head coach Al Scates was able to suit up more than the regular 12 players and had Nguyen sit on the bench. Then in the middle of the match, Scates told him to get in and serve. He hustled onto the court. After getting his first serve in and winning the point, Nguyen mis-hit the next serve and hit the back wall of the men's gym at eye level. Nguyen laughs as he recollects the experience. It is embarrassing, but it also typifies the kind of player he is. Scates must have found the whole situation amusing - after the match he walked over to the wall and marked it "Trong's serve" with the date. Nguyen was embarrassed and could not quite figure out why he got another chance. But assistant coach Brian Rofer knew. "He was very persistent," Rofer said. "From the time he wanted to get a tryout to walk on he would write letters, leave notes. Al would be in the office and he would ask to talk to Al, but Al would say that he had to wait until I was in there." From the very first time he walked onto the court, Nguyen knew he had a chance to make the team. His high school coach stressed defense, and Nguyen believed that to be his greatest asset. If there was a ball near him, he refused to let it fall. If he had a chance to get the ball, then there would be no ifs, ands or buts about it. He would get it. That defensive intensity is Nguyen's main contribution to the team. But not to be forgotten are his passing and serving. Nguyen has one of UCLA's best jump serves and often comes off the bench to win some quick points for the Bruins. When he first tried out, Nguyen had no idea how to jump serve. So through hard work, he almost taught himself how to jump serve. First it began as a control serve, but as he has gotten stronger through lifting weights, it has become both more powerful and more erratic. This season he has concentrated on making it a more useful weapon. His abilities to win a few quick points, play defense and pass could be why early in the season, while in search for a starting swing hitter, Scates awarded Nguyen with two starts and fulfilled one of his long sought-after dreams. Nguyen never would have believed it: "I remember telling the Daily Bruin my freshman year - I had just gotten on the team, and they asked me really fast a couple of questions - 'Yeah making the team would be cool; traveling yeah, would be awesome ... but starting would be just a dream. I do not think it will ever happen.'" But against Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara he was announced as one of the starting six. Although the team demolished CSUN, UCLA suffered a loss to UCSB in its next game, one of the Bruins' four losses all season. Nguyen had 12 kills, 10 digs, 2 solo blocks and 3 assists - but he felt responsible for the loss nonetheless. He never told the coaches, but it was in the back of his mind. Nguyen vividly remembers the 1994 loss to Penn State in the national championship match. He has collected two rings since then, but he knows that without a third one to cap off his career, there could be a feeling of regret and dissatisfaction left over. But he also knows that there will be life after volleyball. After the Final Four and the graduation ceremony in June he will choose a medical school, and he is leaning toward UC San Diego. UCLA is also an option. But he will not hesitate to jump on a plane if his first choice, UC San Francisco, calls him and tells him that they have accepted him. It has yet to sink in that he is graduating. When asked what he would like to accomplish before graduating, though, he began to talk about the lack of Asians in the athletic department and collegiate volleyball. Although Scates and UCLA integrate a lot of top Asian players like Kevin Wong and Fred Robins, Nguyen is quick to point out that none should be limited. He himself wants to be remembered as an example. "I would like to end my career here with a national championship," Nguyen said. "But I would also like to leave a mark on UCLA athletics. I think athletes can be well-rounded, and they can concentrate not only on sports because there is so much more. If you are interested and you want to be successful in every facet of your life then you should never let anything hinder you - whether that be your height, whether that be your physicality, whether that be your nationality or ethnicity. Never make that your excuse for not being able to do something." Then he smiles. It seems that he knows he is no longer just like every other pre-med student. He has a lot more to offer to UCLA. JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin Trong Nguyen will choose a medical school come June, but he still revels in his role with the UCLA volleyball team.