You've probably just got a rediculous amount of air in there. I replace the slave with the master though. They may have replaced the master cylinder for a slave cylinder issue The throwout bearings usually aren't an issue with these cars.

If you want to use a vacuum pump method. Just push the clutch pedal down and hold while someone cracks open the bleeder screw and vacuums out the fluid. Make SURE you keep fluid in the brake fluid reservoir and don't run out .