2007 WAC Tourney

[aaronic]

will be held at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico.



Was just announced today.... no surprise.




New Mexico State to Host 2007 WAC Volleyball Tournament
Courtesy: New Mexico State
Release: 05/07/2007



DENVER, Colo. – The Western Athletic Conference announced today, that pending board approval, New Mexico State University will host the 2007 WAC Volleyball Tournament, Nov. 15-17 at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces.

The 2007 Volleyball Tournament marks the third time NMSU has hosted a WAC Championship in the past nine months. In March, the Aggies hosted the 2007 WAC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships and this April, the University Golf Course hosted the 2007 WAC Women’s Golf Championships.

NMSU will host its fourth and fifth conference tournament next spring as the 2008 WAC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships return to the Pan American Center and the WAC Men’s & Women’s Tennis Championships come to Las Cruces.

“We are very excited to bring the Volleyball Championships to Las Cruces next year,” head coach Mike Jordan said.

In their first role as hosts of a WAC Championship at this year’s basketball tournament, the Aggies more than exceeded expectations as NMSU partnered with the City of Las Cruces to put on a first-class event. The 5,627 all-session passes set a conference record and the 49,650 fans in attendance made it the highest attended tournament since 1998 in Las Vegas.

Throughout the week, WAC teams and fans were treated to a variety of cultural events that showcased what the state of New Mexico and the city of Las Cruces are all about, including Native American and Hispanic Culture Days. Fans also had the chance to experience the newly-renovated Pan American Center first hand, including new concourses, concession stands, restrooms and a brand new center-hung scoreboard, which hangs above Lou Henson Court.



www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=45981&SPID=4125&DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=882417

[IdahoBoy]

I like this move. I have enjoyed all the visits I've made to Reno for the tournament, but this could really be a great event. It definitely gives New Mexico State a home-court advantage... FAR MORE than Nevada ever had because of the second reason I like the event: TIME CHANGE!

Students will be in session, whereas, in Reno, they were out on break. The girls will miss a little more school this way, but from a fan standpoint, I really like the move to put the WAC tournament on schedule with others around the country.

This probably is the least fair for schools like Nevada and Idaho. Hawaii should still be able to dominate the tournament, but it will not be as easy with a sold out arena for the rest of the league.

[beachman]

Never did like these end of season tournaments. They are anti-climatic, and they are a waste of time....just another opportunity for someone to get a season ending injury prior to the start of the tournament...very happy when the Big West stopped theirs!

[Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU]

Hawai'i will claim their dominace in the WAC starting with this season and a couple more years.... The recruits coming in puts everything in place for them and hopefully a national title comes with it too.

[roy]

This is generally a good move. This puts a lot of pressure on NMSU during the regular season. Knowing they are going to host the WAC tournament means that teams will be gunning for them during the regular season, especially when NMSU has to go on the road to play opposing teams. In past years, the hope for opposing teams was that if enough schools could beat Nevada while Nevada isn’t playing at home, they might be able to position Nevada to the #4 or #5 seed and force the Wolfpack to play Hawaii in the semi-finals. That gives all other teams a true neutral court for the other semi-final. NMSU will be in the same position. Teams will be trying to beat NMSU to position the Aggies to (more than likely) face Hawaii in one semi-final and they get a true neutral court in their semi-final.

[romeo]

I hate tournaments that are over Thanksgiving. I also hate the fact that a team could have a great season, win their conference, but then happen to have a bad conference tournament that forces them to miss the big dance.

beachman said:

Never did like these end of season tournaments. They are anti-climatic, and they are a waste of time....just another opportunity for someone to get a season ending injury prior to the start of the tournament...very happy when the Big West stopped theirs!

[mbrooks]

romeo said:

I hate tournaments that are over Thanksgiving. I also hate the fact that a team could have a great season, win their conference, but then happen to have a bad conference tournament that forces them to miss the big dance.

Actually, the tournament this year is the 15th thru the 17th of November.

[naitsric]

The home court advantage thing in the article reminds me of round 2 of the regular season - Hawaii vs NMSU. How they dogged us at their house the first game resulting in the end of our winning streak and then we demolished them when they came to Hawaii. The house was packed at the Stanley that night -I remember. It was a classic evening. I think we made ourselves perfectly clear. I think the Aggies got the point! But that was last year. We will be locked and loaded this season - whole different experience - the other schools will have. You know, I still believe that we had it in us to go all the way last year. I mean, after all the injuries - we still beat USC at the Regional semi-final. Imagine how far we could have gone then? At least where we ended up with Kim and Lily - The Final Four. Unlike those years I think because of the fact that we are going to have many Big Guns on the floor starting, I think the pressure will be evened out. Kim guys always had the pressure of coming through and in 2003 it ended the same way. Kim self- destructed. The momentum could have gone the other way I think. Florida had some killler players of their own.........Jamie Houston just needs her sets.........and continue to make the off sets work........I can't wait to see that other girl brandt set........I want to see Hittle and how she holds up on the left.......Can she out smart the block? Her hitting is relentless. That girl can put it down. I just loved seeing her on the right when she was a freshman. Love her approach.....one, two, and PINK!!! You know what I mean right? And I want to see Amanda Simmons and Sanders work together. The thing about Sanders - she is powerful. Not only in her hitting of course but just her aura. You know she wants it. I remember back in 2004 tournament when we were up against Wisconsin - the girls were shown on television sitting up in the stands waiting for the previous match to end so we could play Wisconsin and Sanders was the one who got most of the time during that shot - she was bobbing her head with her Ipod on wearing her black windbreaker and just looking soooo focused. She looked hungry and eager. She wanted that win. Now, It'll be great to see her not only work with Simmons but with this whole new set up because I think that is what she needs to reach her peak level at least in college. To play with a team that is just an oiled machine - all the time. Because I think her fire feeds of everyone elses. I think even Thomas could have been a factor in getting farther last year. If I'm not mistaken she was injured in that first game against NMSU. I think that could have been why we lost. But that Thomas is a great player. She's quick and very consistent with her hitting. She can always be counted on. I just want us to win another CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!! It's time! 20 YEARS! Does it really matter anymore that we are 4 time national champs. Thats like one of those movies where they show an old woman going through things in the attic and she stumbles across her old tarnished, dusty, falling apart, rusted name plate college volleyball trophies......Once upon a time, long , long ago....It counts but we can't keep living in the past. We gotta win. I think it was a good idea for Shoji to be teamed up with Sealy. He definitely was a determining factor of how well we faired last year.