Thursday, May 14, 1998

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin

Jason Ring, left, and Curt Vaughan return to Hawaii
as part of the U.S. national team.

---

Ring, Vaughan
living the dream

The former Rainbows are
savoring their experience with the
U.S. volleyball team

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

They joke about the money. Or rather, lack of it. And of there being little to do in Colorado Springs, Colo. Besides training, eating, training, sleeping and training, that is.

Still, Jason Ring and Curt Vaughan wouldn't trade places with anyone right now. Life as members of the U.S. national men's volleyball team is sweet for the former University of Hawaii players.

For Ring, it's a chance to expand his talents in a sport he took up only five years ago. For Vaughan, it's a chance to prove he can make it at the elite level.

The two will receive the loudest cheers when introduced before the start of tonight's Team USA-China match at Blaisdell Arena. They came to expect the celebrity status and adulation as members of the hottest college team in the country (Vaughan 1994-97, Ring 1996-97).

The attention has cooled off, but the competition has heated up. Competing for the national team is wilder than some of the colors Vaughan used to dye his hair.

"The game is so much faster at this level," said Vaughan, a 6-foot-3 backup setter. "The biggest difference is just the pure physicalness of the players. There are so many guys who are 6-8, 6-9 who can jump and move.

"My height was fine for college, but I'm one of the shorter guys out there. Jason's fine (at 6-3) because he's so physical. But it's been a real change for me to go somewhere I can't get by on just being a good athlete."

Vaughan isn't giving up his Olympic dream, but he is realistic. One only has to look at the roster to see the setters ahead of him: former All-Americans Lloy Ball, Chip McCaw and Mike Sealey.

"Curt's a great kid and has done a great job for us," Team USA coach Doug Beal said. "He's just competing against bigger and stronger guys. He's done everything we've asked. Curt is probably not going to be with us much longer, but I appreciate all that he's done."

Vaughan and Ring appear headed for Europe to play professionally. Ring, with his 4312-inch vertical jump, is expected to be back at the Olympic Training Center in April.

"Ring is easily one of the best athletes who's ever played for the national team," said Beal, who has been involved with the program for nearly 20 years as a player, coach and advisor. "In my mind, he's already at the level of Karch Karaly (considered the greatest U.S. player ever).

"Jason's a little smaller than Karch, but he jumps better. He's got some great legs and a great arm."

To become a complete international player, Ring needs to learn to pass the ball. Beal wants Ring to find a team in Italy or Brazil, where he is the main passer, much like team member Mike Lambert of Punahou, who played in Italy the past few months.

"We can train Jason, and he's made a lot of progress, but Jason needs to go somewhere and get passing experience," Beal said. "He has to learn to deal with the mental aspect of passing."

Ring knows what it's going to take -- lots of reps. It's the same feeling he had when he walked into the Pierce College (Tacoma, Wash.) gym as a freshman, wanting to learn the sport.

Three years later, he was the conference's player of the year. After his second year at Hawaii, he was a second team All-American.

"I've been passing a ton," Ring said. "It takes a long time before it comes without thinking. Right now, I have to think about it every time someone goes back to serve.

"I feel like I have a lot of the skills I need to play for the U.S. team, but I'm being held back by my passing. Once I get that down, once I get into a rhythm, I think the rest of my game will take off."

Ring and Vaughan have enjoyed the environment at the Olympic Training Center. Housing and meals are provided, as well as a small stipend.

"It's the best volleyball environment you could put yourself in," Vaughan said.

"You can focus just on volleyball," Ring said. "We've gotten a lot stronger, we're hitting harder. It really is the next level, a total step up.

"The biggest difference for me is the coaching. Beal knows so much. He's got a gold medal. He knows how to win. Everyone wants to play for him."

Regardless of what the future holds for Ring and Vaughan, the two said the move to Colorado Springs was the right one. The experience of living volleyball every day is priceless.