Parker leaves team

By Margo Consul

The women's basketball team lost a player as redshirt freshman Kelli Parker decided to quit the team.

"It was a hard decision definitely, and the coaches were very supportive," Parker said. "I wasn't making the team better."

In 11 games this season, Parker has tallied 11 field goals, two 3-pointers and 10 free throws.

"All the girls out there, they want to be here more than anything. It's just hard to match that for me because I don't feel like I want to be here a much as they do," she said.

The Lemoore, Calif. native played in three games, started one and scored 12 points during the 2007-08 season before a broken wrist ended her season.

This past offseason, Santa Clara announced that former head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson's contract would not be renewed, and Jennifer Mountain was named the new head coach of Santa Clara women's basketball.

With the coaching turnover came a whole new coaching staff. All three assistant coaches are in their first season at Santa Clara.

"I was really nervous that they wouldn't understand me, my game or how I played because I was recruited by coach Benton," Parker said.

Parker said her relationship with the new coaches has changed over the course of the season though.

"At the beginning of the season it was a little shaky, but it definitely got a lot better as they got to know me and I got to know them," Parker said.

She said that it was very difficult for her to adjust to the new coaching staff.

"Their coaching styles are definitely different," the guard said. "Coach B (Bento-Jackson) was definitely more like if you get it done good, but would rather you get it done this way, where Coach Mountain is definitely more disciplined," Parker said.

Coach Mountain reflected a similar opinion on the situation.

"It was a personal choice," Mountain said. "She wants to pursue some other things, and I think the overall atmosphere has been really good since."

The guard's former teammate Claire Goins said Parker will be missed.

"We were definitely sad to lose Kelli." Goins said. "She brought a lot of athleticism to our team, but she has some other options that she would like to pursue outside of basketball here at Santa Clara."

Parker has decided that she wants to pursue her love for volleyball.

Parker was named most valuable player of her league as a middle blocker on her volleyball team at Lemoore High School.

"I don't want to give up basketball, but I want to play volleyball more," Parker said.

"If I could go to a junior college and play volleyball and basketball, that would be amazing for me. I wouldn't have to give up what I love to do. I do love basketball, don't get me wrong. I just feel that volleyball will make me happier," she said.

Parker plans on finishing out the remainder of the school year involved in the Santa Clara basketball program so that she can continue to earn her scholarship.

Next year, she hopes to attend and play both volleyball and basketball at a junior college in Fresno, which is close to her home town.

Mountain feels that the loss of Parker will not have too much of a negative effect on the women's basketball team.

"I think everybody has bounced back fine," Mountain said. "She has been there cheering them on and is still part of what we're doing here at Santa Clara."

The women's basketball team will face Gonzaga on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the Leavey Center with hopes of earning their first conference win.

It will also be the first time Mountain will face her alma mater.

Contact Margo Consul at (408) 551-1918 or mconsul@scu.edu.