Sept. 14, 2002

CHICAGO - The UNLV volleyball coaching staff will make an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show on Monday, Sept. 16, in what will be the season premiere of the show's 17th season. The Oprah Winfrey Show can be seen in Las Vegas at 4 p.m. PST on KTNV Channel 13.

Knowing the team would be in Chicago for a tournament against DePaul, junior Leiana Oswald wrote Oprah Winfrey a letter about how head coach Deitre Collins was a role model for her in much the same way that Oprah is a role model for Deitre. Leiana wanted to surprise Deitre and the team with tickets to the show, but instead her letter prompted a surprise visit from Oprah.

The Oprah Winfrey Show often goes out for a segment called "Surprise Your Angel" where Oprah spotlights extraordinary people who don't know they are subjects for the show.

Associate producer Gina Sprehe said, "It was all about the letter. While we would have loved to have had Leiana and the rest of the team on the show as well, we also realize they have a full day of classes ahead of them on Monday, so only the coaching staff will appear live on the show."

Collins said, "It's really an honor be recognized by my players like this, and it's great that Leiana would write a letter to make it happen. Oprah is such and inspiration and role model. I'm very excited."

The Oprah Winfrey Show has been the number one talk show for 16 consecutive seasons, winning every sweep since its debut in 1986. The show has received 35 Emmy Awards, including nine Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show and seven Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show Host. It is currently distributed to over 99% of the country, where it is watched by an estimated 21 million viewers a week and to 104 countries.