Higher Learning at AU

American volleyball coach Barry Goldberg, center, expects big things out of the world's tallest twin sisters, Ann and Clair Recht. (Katherine Frey - The Washington Post)

They had been playing serious club volleyball for only a few months when American's coaches spotted them at a tournament last summer. Both were obviously raw, but American assistant Silvia Johnson was intrigued and followed their club team for the remainder of the tournament.

Johnson quickly visited the family in Oregon, where she met two skeptical parents who at first attempted to defuse the talk of athletic scholarships. They had never pushed any of their children into athletics despite entreaties from strangers, and they weren't sure their daughters should commit to the demands of a Division I scholarship.

"We just saw athletics as sort of a physical fitness thing for our kids, something that was supposed to be above all fun," Eric Recht said.

"My tendency is to say, 'Focus on your studies and forget about sports,' " Jo Recht agreed.

Their daughters, though, were convinced they wanted to play, and they told Johnson and their parents as much. They also heard from coaches in the Pacific-10, Southeastern and Mountain West conferences, but American was the first school to offer scholarships and the most dedicated pursuer. During their visit to the campus last spring, they committed in Goldberg's office.

They immediately became the tallest AU players in Goldberg's 18-year tenure, by more than three inches. The team lists their height at 6-8, which would have made them the tallest Division I players in the nation last year. Several teammates said they were easily the tallest players they had ever played with.

"I didn't even know girls could be that tall," said fellow freshman Cynammon Burns, who is 5-4. "It's kind of like, 'Hey, what's it like up there?' They're in a different world and see different things than I do down here."

The Rechts, who can jump-touch about 10 feet, said they need to get stronger. They need better court awareness and better footwork and more polished techniques. They also need to add weight; both typically weigh between 170 and 180 pounds.

Claire has missed the preseason with a non-volleyball injury, but Ann has already sparkled. She can do jump-roping drills that tripped her up two weeks ago, loudly calls for the ball in hitting drills and has already earned a starting role for the Eagles, who begin play this evening against George Mason.

"Incredible improvement," Goldberg said.

"She's in blocking position even when her feet are on the ground," teammate Logan Striebel said. "She's just a force out there."

Coaches said Claire will also see playing time as a freshman. Their potential, coaches said, is impossible to measure.

"If we didn't think they could become stars, we wouldn't have taken a chance on them," Johnson said. "We wouldn't have recruited them if we didn't think they could become something big."