Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here.
It’ll be better than before.
Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone.
A fitting chorus from Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 hit song “Don’t Stop,” one that could easily be dubbed as the theme song of the 2000 Oregon volleyball team.
Because there’s a new sheriff in town who is making sure that the troops have their eyes focused on the future, in hopes that the memories — or lack thereof — of last year will whither away under the success of this squad.
Gone is head coach Cathy Nelson, whose Ducks were 7-20 overall last year, but only 1-17 in Pacific-10 Conference play to finish in last place.
Enter new head coach Carl Ferreira, who is making sure people know early on what he expects of the Ducks.
“Our primary expectation is to just win,” said Ferreira, who has a six-year overall coaching record of 148-56 with Cal State Bakersfield and Idaho. “You have to have purpose in what you do. We’re just trying to implement our new system right away and we’re beginning to solidify roles.
“They’ve had pretty phenomenal attitudes so it’s been great.”
Indeed, Ferreira has breathed some new life into this team, whose optimism gives the impression that they are coming off a strong season.
No longer are the Ducks just “hoping” to win. Now, they are expecting to succeed.
“We want to win,” said junior outside hitter Monique Tobbagi, who is coming off a frustrating injury-plagued season. “We want to go to the tournament. We want to be in the top half of the Pac-10 to achieve those goals. And we’re going to do everything that we possibly can to get there.”

Tobbagi will be joined by senior outside hitter Amy Banducci, senior middle blocker Halie Mazza and junior setter Julie Gerlach as the four main leaders of the Ducks. In fact, the four are the only upperclassmen out of the 15 team members.
Ferreira has molded together his returnees with his newcomers, and has them all speaking great things about each other.
“I’m just learning from everyone because they’re all so helpful and encouraging,” said Lindsay Murphy, who is one of five freshmen on the roster. “My teammates are great and I absolutely love coach. He knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Ferreira was joined in Eugene by sophomore middle blocker Amanda Porter, who played for him last season at Idaho. One would imagine how tough a decision that would be to transfer, but Porter says it was the easiest decision of her life.
“When he left, and I knew the option was there to move with him, there was no second thought,” said the 6-foot-2-inch Porter. “I believe 100 percent in his philosophies.”
Porter says that she committed to play for Ferreira at Idaho during her junior year in high school on the very first day that she was allowed to sign.
“I talked to a lot of coaches, but his words just hit me,” Porter said. “I’ve been behind him ever since, and it’s awesome to hear everyone else this year start to believe him. Every day people are telling me, ‘Man, this practice is awesome. I totally feel like we’re going to win this year!’ I love it.”
With the winning attitudes firmly in place, it’s almost time to put it all together on the court. The Ducks will take part in an Alumni match Saturday at McArthur Court before heading off to tournaments in Texas Sept. 1-2 and in Hawaii Sept. 7-9. Oregon then opens Pac-10 play against defending champion Stanford on Sept. 14 at Mac Court.
“Hey, why not play Stanford?,” Ferreira said. “It’ll give us an instantaneous barometer for where we’re at. Stanford always has a one-minded approach to win the national championship every year and that’s what we need to build towards.”
The 2000 season will be like a fresh new relationship between two people, while last season will resemble an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend that you try to avoid thinking about at all costs.
Just as Fleetwood Mac says as it closes its song: “Don’t you look back. Don’t you look back.”