Athlete, scholar is Best of the best
Campus Times
December 4, 1998
Movement and sports science major Lynsey Best became motivated to
play sports from her mother, who was raised with three brothers. Now that
she is a senior, Best has participated in volleyball for four years and
was a two-year member of the track and field team as a long jumper. Her
most memorable moment came when the women's volleyball and track team each
won their SCIAC championships during the same year, 1997.
by Ryan Allen
Arts & Entertainment Editor
As team captain for the University of La Verne women's volleyball team,
5'7" senior outside hitter Lynsey Best exemplified the characteristics
that a team captain should have. Not only did she help lead the team to
a second place SCIAC finish, Best also lead by example in never quitting
and by always pushing herself in the off-season, regular season and post-season.
Best compiled a number of statistics in four years of playing volleyball
for the Leopards. She played a total of 109 matches consisting of 383 games.
The interesting thing is that Best played in all but one match, which was
in her freshman year. Best had a career total of 87 digs, 513 kills, and
led the team in digs the last two years with a career total of 751 digs.
Don Flora, head coach for the women's volleyball team, said that as
a team captain she "definitely was an active leader who led by her
actions," and was "someone who would fight, kick and spit playing
volleyball."
Best, a movement and sports science major with an emphasis in athletic
training and teaching, is going to finish out her stay at the University
of La Verne with some great memories.
"Winning SCIAC last year, my junior year, and going as far in playoffs
as we did was probably one of the highlights that I have had here,"
said Best. "Just because it was such a team effort last year and the
team was one to totally remember."
In the spring of that very same academic year, the track and field team,
which she competed in the long jump, triple jump, and the 100 meter dash,
finished first in SCIAC as well.
This year, Best was All-Tournament at the Whittier and Colorado College
invitational, Second Team All-SCIAC and is also a candidate for a Scholar
All-American Athlete Award this spring.
Along with staying busy with volleyball and track, she also displays
her academic achievements by being on the ULV deans list twice, spring 1996
and fall 1997.
"The one thing that I've learned to do is manage my time better
and be able to do a lot of activities," said Best.
Among these activities that Best has been able to partake in are not
limited to just track and volleyball, but include being the vice archon
[president] for Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority. She was also a member of the athletic
advisory council, and even worked for the Office of Housing and Residential
Life.
All these different experiences and activities have rounded Best as
a person and gave her the opportunity to stick her foot in many different
doors since she has been at ULV.
Like many others who attend the University, Best came from a large high
school, so the small ULV campus was very appealing to her when she originally
decided to become a ULV Leopard.
"I had been at a pretty big high school and I liked it," said
Best. "But when I came and visited here the coaches kind off sold me
on it."
Flora said Best was attractive as a recruit because, "she has the
ability to play a lot of different positions."
Best finished out her senior season as an outside hitter because of
her steady consistent ball control, but few know that she also was the back-up
setter her freshman year.
With the great sales pitch from the coaches in combination with a good
financial aid package, Best chose the University of La Verne where she would
take an active part in the University's various programs and activities
for the next four years.
After Best graduates next fall, she can either see herself in physical
therapy or teaching and coaching at first in high school, then eventually
moving on to college. As of right now, she just wants to stay active and
is currently looking into fitness competition using her experience as a
personal trainer to guide her along.
"It might be my mom's influence on me because she grew up with
three brothers and she always kept my sister and I pretty active,"
said Best about how she likes to be active. "She was an aerobics teacher
when I was ages three to eight, so we would always go to aerobics classes
with her. From the beginning of my life I have always had that type of influence
on me."
Unfortunately, Best might not be able to participate in track this spring,
because there is a chance she will have knee surgery. But knowing her, she
will be pressuring the physical therapist to keep up with her rather than
have the physical therapist pressure her to keep up with them.
