Bjorklund is a having ball, something freshman likes

Photo by J. Miles Cary // Buy this photo

Angie Bjorklund fills out some paperwork during a promotional photo shoot of the incoming University of Tennessee women basketball players.

As a travel companion, a basketball fits under an arm or an airliner seat.

It's not so awkward and definitely not too heavy, Angie Bjorklund will attest. The Tennessee women's basketball freshman knows, having carried one happily across her formative years.

"It was like her security blanket,'' said Mark Stinson, Bjorklund's coach at University High in Spokane, Wash.

During the summer, Bjorklund and her basketball were virtually inseparable. They went to AAU tournaments, which made sense. The malls and the restaurants, though, required some explaining.

"Why are you taking your ball?'' said Bjorklund, recalling the prevailing inquiry. "I don't know. Less turnovers if I have it my hand, right? I'd make up something like that."

She put more time and effort into utilizing her companion than justifying it.

And she was richly rewarded.

With basketball in hand, the 6-foot sharpshooter scored 2,103 points in high school, became one of the top guard prospects in the country and traversed the country to attend Tennessee.

"It's like you're living-out-a-dream type thing," she said. "I've always wanted to come here and play and now I'm here.''

The reality of this dream is that Bjorklund is thousands of miles from home, far away from family and friends. Furthermore, she's stepping onto one of the game's grand stages, which can be overwhelming along with exhilarating. What started out feeling like summer camp in June evolved into a mild case of homesickness.

Bjorklund warded off the chill by wrapping herself in a different sort of security blanket, one that she also holds dearly. It's not as conspicuous as a basketball, but it's no less cherished.

"Her faith is incredibly important to her,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said.

Any wide-eyed wonder belies the thought and prayer Bjorkund has invested into her new adventure.

The same 18-year-old who spent several minutes one evening recently gazing at a lighted Lady Vols logo hanging from a curtain at Stokely Athletics Center is the same person who sought ad-

ad- sdsddadvice on how a young Christian adapts to a college campus and, in Bjorklund's words, "a whole new set of temptations."

"How do you keep your focus on God?'' Bjorklund said. "You're on a huge platform, coming to Tennessee, the defending national champions. It's going to be tough to not get a big head."

Bjorklund asked former Lady Vol Shanna Zolman. Bjorklund first wore Zolman's No. 5 by chance, randomly fishing it out of a pile of jerseys twice during a summer camp here.

This season, Bjorklund will wear No. 5 by choice. Among the reasons is the religious connection between Lady Vols past and present.

"I asked her how it is being a Christian,'' Bjorklund said, "being away from home and your family where it's comfortable, especially in your faith, and going off to a place where you don't know if there's going to be other Christians."

Zolman's advice to Bjorklund: "You have to know where your strength comes from. You'd be nothing without Him."

"If you think of it that way,'' Bjorklund said, "God's given me my work ethic, my size, my athleticism, my determination as a player, my desire to come to Tennessee. So He deserves all the glory."

Zolman's friend, former Lady Vol Sidney Spencer, earned a big assist in Bjorklund's adjustment. She told team manager Whitney Welch to look after Bjorklund. They have gone to church together.