Aug. 11, 2012

BERKELEY - As the California volleyball 2012 season approaches, CalBears.com will be looking back at some of the former talented Golden Bears who have helped build the perennial powerhouse and the jerseys they wore. With 14 days remaining until the start of this year's campaign, CalBears.com caught up with Tiffany Rochelle, who sported No. 14 from 1986-89.

Student-Athlete Spotlight - Tiffany Rochelle (1986-89):
Tiffany Rochelle started out her career with placement on the 1986 Pac-10 All-Freshman Team and went onto be a two-time All-Pac-10 First Team member. Rochelle held the record for total kills in a season for 14 years - with the 568 she registered in 1988 - and is on multiple Cal career lists including kills, attacks, digs and service aces. Equally talented in the classroom, she landed on the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team in each of the three years that she was eligible and was an Academic All-American in 1988. She was not only named to the Cal All-Decade Team (1986-96) but was also named the Cal Athlete of the Decade.

CalBears.com: What made you choose your number?

TD: Back in 1886, you didn't get a choice of a number. You got last year's jerseys, and as a freshman, I remember my coach throwing me a shirt and saying, "You're number 14!"

CalBears.com: What does it mean to be one of the Bears to have worn your number?

TD: I came to love wearing number 14. I took pride in my number and have always kept an eye on who was wearing it throughout the years.

CalBears.com: What was your favorite Golden Bear memory?

TD: I have an incredible memory. We were driving in our team van down the Bay to Stanford. All of a sudden, the entire van started to rock, and we all screamed thinking the tires had blown and the van was out of control. It was 5:07 p.m. on Oct. 17, 1989. The Loma Prieta earthquake had just hit while we were on the way to our Big Spike at Stanford. We had passed the part of the Cypress freeway that had completely collapsed just five minutes prior. One lucky team!

TD: I am so proud to have been a Bear. I was considered a maverick since I was the No. 3 recruit in the country coming out of Santa Monica High School and surprised everyone by signing with Cal. It came down to Cal or Stanford, and I wanted to be a Bear! It was the best decision of my life. I just fell in love with Cal. From there, I recruited great players from my high school club team like Holly McPeak and Lisa Arce to try to build the program.

CalBears.com: What are you up to these days?

TD: After Cal, I moved down to Venice, Calif., and played professional beach volleyball. After a couple years, the tour folded from lack of sponsorship, so I got into real estate. I'm still selling houses in Venice and loving it. I have a three-year-old and a 15-year-old. My husband and I own some pizza joints, Pitfire Artisan Pizza. We really want to end up back in the Berkeley area one day and open a Pitfire Pizza there! I play beach volleyball a couple times a week with my girlfriends. I still have the bug.

All-Time No. 14 Jersey Wearers:
Lindsey Parrott (2011-present)
Shannon Hawari (2008-09)
Caitlyn Murphy (2007)
Kristen Kathan (2006)
Bryte Nielson (2005)
Natasha Nguyen (2003-04)
Alyssa Currier (1999-2000)
Jenny Swart (1992-95)
Tiffany Rochelle (1986-89)
Annette Berardo (1984-85)
Denise Allen (1982-83)

By the Numbers:(click to read)
44
25
21
20
14

Are you a former California volleyball student-athlete and interested in participating in our countdown? Please email calsid_volleyball at Berkeley.edu.