In other words, it’s a complicated picture at the Beach\u2014which is probably why Gimmillaro paints contrasting portraits of this year’s team. <\/span>In one breath, he says the group he has practicing on the court right now has the potential to be “special.” <\/span>In the next, he addresses very real concerns about depth. <\/span>“Losing Ya is a huge problem,” he says. <\/span>“Depth<\/em> is the problem. <\/span>How do you fill in those positions in your depth\u2014what it hurts is the substitutions.”<\/span><\/p>\n The lack of bodies breeds a lack of options\u2014”We are going to have to be more intricate, and faster in what we do,” says Gimmillaro. <\/span>And that means they’ll need educated, well-practiced players, a challenge since 13 of the 17 players on the 49ers’ roster this year are underclassmen (with nine freshman). <\/span>The answer to that, of course, is more time on the practice court\u2014which creates another contradictory problem. <\/span>“Oh, I don’t like double-days,” Gimmilarro says. <\/span>“You have the potential to lose players. <\/span>And we can’t lose players.”<\/p>\n Everywhere there’s a downside, there’s an upside\u2014Debbie Green, Gimmillaro’s long-time assistant, retired last season. <\/span>But in Erika Chidester, Matt Ulmer, and new volunteer assistant Gavin Christensen, he has one of the better scrimmage teams of assistant coaches ever assembled. <\/span>Highmark was slated to be the setter this year, but Gimmillaro’s been very happy with what he’s seen from Ashley Lee, and she should be a more than capable replacement, provided she can stay healthy.<\/p>\n Unfortunately\u2014or fortunately, depending on how you look at it\u2014the young squad won’t have very long to figure out its identity. <\/span>On Friday and Saturday, they open against no. 15 San Diego, and no. 2 Texas (both games are in the Pyramid at 7pm)\u2014that’s two enormous tests for the school’s most storied program and its young blood. <\/span>Smiling, Gimmillaro says, “We will have to look like we have more depth than we actually do.”<\/p>\n
![\"Photobucket\"](\"http:\/\/s304.photobucket.com\/albums\/nn191\/LBPOSTphotos\/?action=view¤t=IMG_2676.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n