Post by roofed! on Oct 3, 2006 14:17:29 GMT -5
[ftp]http://www.dailytrojan.com/media/storage/paper679/news/2006/10/03/Sports/At.150.Team.Sees.Plenty.To.Improve.On-2327888.shtml?norewrite200610031517&sourcedomain=www.dailytrojan.com[/ftp]
At 15-0, team sees plenty to improve on
Although USC's blocking is at the top of the Pac-10, the offense lacks explosiveness.
Alex Lebow
Issue date: 10/3/06
Even as one of the only two undefeated teams in the Pacific-10 Conference, the No. 4 USC women's volleyball team (15-0, 4-0) realizes it must maintain a sense of perspective for even greater success in the country's most competitive conference.
Friday's upset win over No. 5 Washington proved to be another critical victory for the Women of Troy, but 14 games remain, six of which are against nationally ranked conference opponents.
"We have to be willing to battle through whatever we get into," USC coach Mick Haley said. "We must go one step at a time, and we need to make sure we respect every opponent because everyone really wants to win in this conference.
"We're still a work in progress, but our upside is that we can mix and match even a little bit more than what we have been," Haley said. "We know we've got a lot more work to do. We're doing some good things, but our numbers would indicate that we have to work even harder to sustain those things."
-
The Women of Troy have held opponents to a .122 hitting percentage, third best in the conference, but significantly trail conference leaders No. 3 UCLA and Washington in average kills per game with 15.93.
Over the past two weeks, Haley has continued to test the durability of his starting lineup and also the depth of his bench.
Despite the fact that four USC starters are new in 2006, the Women of Troy have benefited from a bench that has been stronger than its opponents'.
"I wouldn't have been disappointed had they not been able to get the win (Friday), as long as they went out, challenged them and showed me that they really do want to get better," Haley said.
"Not only did they play well and won the match, but several people really stepped up."
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Jessica Gysin, who added seven errors to her 11 kills on Thursday against Washington State, contributed a career-high 20 kills in the exciting win over the Huskies.
"Gysin really turned it around from Thursday to Friday. She had nice focus and good preparation, and she'll continue to do that," Haley said.
"I was not passing well, not really getting many kills (on Thursday), but I was excited to play Washington, and it turned out well," Gysin said.
-
Middle blockers junior Katelyn Bishop and sophomore Kelli Tennant both continue to impress Haley for the last starting position on the team.
Along with junior Bethany Johansen, the three have been important to the mix in the middle that ranks second in the Pac-10 in blocks per game.
"Both Katelyn and Kelli keep battling for positions and, in the process, they keep getting even better, and Bethany is now really being challenged by our opponents," Haley said.
-
Middle blocker Marta Siemiatkowska, the junior transfer from College of Southern Idaho, continues to make improvements in her effort to have a more significant role on the team.
"I think Marta is maybe our X factor," Haley said. "If she can continue to work hard on the outside, then we can come up with another piece of the puzzle that would protect the team."
-
Even with some remaining question marks regarding the lineup, the Women of Troy appreciate the team approach that has yet to lose them a game.
"We have a lot of talent this year, but the chemistry on the court is something that I feel we haven't had in a while," Gysin said.
"Our camaraderie on the court is special, and it's why we're gelling so well right now."
At 15-0, team sees plenty to improve on
Although USC's blocking is at the top of the Pac-10, the offense lacks explosiveness.
Alex Lebow
Issue date: 10/3/06
Even as one of the only two undefeated teams in the Pacific-10 Conference, the No. 4 USC women's volleyball team (15-0, 4-0) realizes it must maintain a sense of perspective for even greater success in the country's most competitive conference.
Friday's upset win over No. 5 Washington proved to be another critical victory for the Women of Troy, but 14 games remain, six of which are against nationally ranked conference opponents.
"We have to be willing to battle through whatever we get into," USC coach Mick Haley said. "We must go one step at a time, and we need to make sure we respect every opponent because everyone really wants to win in this conference.
"We're still a work in progress, but our upside is that we can mix and match even a little bit more than what we have been," Haley said. "We know we've got a lot more work to do. We're doing some good things, but our numbers would indicate that we have to work even harder to sustain those things."
-
The Women of Troy have held opponents to a .122 hitting percentage, third best in the conference, but significantly trail conference leaders No. 3 UCLA and Washington in average kills per game with 15.93.
Over the past two weeks, Haley has continued to test the durability of his starting lineup and also the depth of his bench.
Despite the fact that four USC starters are new in 2006, the Women of Troy have benefited from a bench that has been stronger than its opponents'.
"I wouldn't have been disappointed had they not been able to get the win (Friday), as long as they went out, challenged them and showed me that they really do want to get better," Haley said.
"Not only did they play well and won the match, but several people really stepped up."
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Jessica Gysin, who added seven errors to her 11 kills on Thursday against Washington State, contributed a career-high 20 kills in the exciting win over the Huskies.
"Gysin really turned it around from Thursday to Friday. She had nice focus and good preparation, and she'll continue to do that," Haley said.
"I was not passing well, not really getting many kills (on Thursday), but I was excited to play Washington, and it turned out well," Gysin said.
-
Middle blockers junior Katelyn Bishop and sophomore Kelli Tennant both continue to impress Haley for the last starting position on the team.
Along with junior Bethany Johansen, the three have been important to the mix in the middle that ranks second in the Pac-10 in blocks per game.
"Both Katelyn and Kelli keep battling for positions and, in the process, they keep getting even better, and Bethany is now really being challenged by our opponents," Haley said.
-
Middle blocker Marta Siemiatkowska, the junior transfer from College of Southern Idaho, continues to make improvements in her effort to have a more significant role on the team.
"I think Marta is maybe our X factor," Haley said. "If she can continue to work hard on the outside, then we can come up with another piece of the puzzle that would protect the team."
-
Even with some remaining question marks regarding the lineup, the Women of Troy appreciate the team approach that has yet to lose them a game.
"We have a lot of talent this year, but the chemistry on the court is something that I feel we haven't had in a while," Gysin said.
"Our camaraderie on the court is special, and it's why we're gelling so well right now."
