Post by bearwatch on Jun 14, 2007 11:06:12 GMT -5
Volleyball Recruiting Class Ranked in Top 40
Barnes sits down for Q&A session
Head Coach Jim Barnes and the Lady Bears recruiting class was ranked in the Top 40 in the nation, Baylor's third-highest ranking ever.
June 14, 2007
WACO, Texas - Baylor's volleyball recruiting class was ranked in the Top 40 by PrepVolleyball.com in its recent recruiting class rankings. The Lady Bears, who finished 18-15 in 2006, will welcome six newcomers to Waco this fall. Last season's recruiting class ranked 16th in the nation, the second-highest ranking in school history.
"Baylor's class consists of great athletes, some of whom will be counted on immediately to contribute to the Bears' young team," said John Tawa of PrepVolleyball.com. "Of the high school recruits, Sarah Grace is the most heralded. She has the skill set to be a take-charge libero immediately but the versatility and hops to be a solid second outside hitter if necessary. Ashley Byrd and Hayley Thomas are superb athletes who will be counted on right away to fill the middle spot vacated by the graduation of Desiree Guillard-Young."
The Lady Bears had a strong finish to the 2007 spring season, winning their last nine matches, including a sweep of the Baylor Spring Tournament. Baylor opens its fall season on August 24-25 as the Lady Bears participate in the University at Buffalo Classic, facing Buffalo, North Carolina, and Stony Brook. Following is a Q&A session with head coach Jim Barnes, reflecting on the spring season and looking forward to the 2007 fall season.
1. What were the goals for the team this spring, and how much did you accomplish?
"Well, during the 2006 season we started four freshmen. So one of our goals going into the spring was to work a lot on our all-around game. Most of these freshmen did not play front and back row, so we really wanted to get them some experience with their all-around game. And I think that it really broadened their roles as leaders on the team. As freshmen it's really hard to step up into a leadership role, but this spring they were able to really step up and be leaders."
2. Who stood out as the most improved player?
"I think overall as a team we became much better because everyone stepped up leadership-wise, and they really started taking ownership of this team. I think that was a big reason why our team chemistry has improved, and why we play as hard as we do. On the court, I think that Katie Sanders really stepped up a great deal this spring. Offensively, she took it to about three different levels. Just about every match she led us in kills, and I think she took a huge step in her development. I think that she is going to have a great sophomore season. Anna (Breyfogle) and Taylor (Barnes) are two other freshmen who really stepped up; and their roles are really expanding. Those three freshmen were really impressive. Amanda Modglin has really stepped up this spring. She has always been a backup setter for us, and she got some time to focus on playing middle blocker for the first time. In our eyes she has won that position going into the fall. She has been a tremendous leader for us, so we feel that we are going to be able to take advantage of what she brings to our team by playing the middle blocker position. It's pretty rare to have a setter move over to middle, but she was really more of a middle than a setter, so I think this is more of a natural spot for her."
3. With such a young team, where do you look for leadership?
"I think that we are going to get leadership from different areas. I definitely think that we will get it from our seniors, Amanda Modglin and Kristen Schramek, who have both invested a lot of time in this program. They are both hard workers, and will definitely lead us at the top. That's why I think that we have the potential to have a good season. We have leadership starting at the top and we have experience on the team with those freshmen moving up and becoming sophomores and really taking ownership of this team. We are going to get leadership from different areas on the team; it's not just going to be from one or two players. I think that everyone will bring the intensity to win into every match, and that's what we are going to need to have the season that we want to have."
4. How important is it to play in several tournaments this spring?
"I think that you set up what you are going to accomplish in the fall by what you do in the spring. I felt that this was one of the most productive springs that I have been a part of, and I really think that it is going to pay off for us. This spring we were able to establish a lot of things, and I think some people were able to step up and show that they are going to earn their starting positions. But even then, there is going to be some competition from the newcomers this fall. We have six newcomers, with one junior college player, so it's going to be by far the most depth we have had, and there is still going to be competition for a couple of positions. I feel like we have a solid core of returners that are going to be able to steady us out. We feel like we have some firepower coming in that can help put us over the top."
5. How much stock can you take in results (wins and losses) from spring matches?
"I think that the girls gained a lot of confidence in winning our last nine matches of the spring. That is always good; this game is always about mindset and confidence. So I think that they gained a great deal from that. As far as coaches, we are looking for who is going to be those people who step up and take a hold of those positions, and what is going to be the right combination for us on the court. We feel like there are three or four positions that we feel confident that those players will hold on to their positions, and then there are two or three other positions that we are excited to see the battle that is going to take place once all the freshmen get on campus this fall."
6. Was it good to have Bryan Bunn on campus for spring workouts?
"It was incredibly valuable; even more so than I expected. To have someone with his experience in the gym really accelerated everything that we were trying to do. He really understands the game. It didn't take him any time to learn our system, so he was able to get in the gym and start helping us send the same message every day. I thought that was one reason why we had such a great spring because our staff (Candice O'Brien and Bryan Bunn) was really working well together, and we were able to accelerate these players. They see his confidence in the game, and in being a head coach for as long as he has, and it has been a valuable tool. I think that it is going to really pay off; every semester that we have these kids, we will be able to work with them and help to accelerate their game."
7. How important is it to have all the players in Waco over the summer?
"It definitely gives us an advantage. Last year was the first year that we were able to bring the freshmen on campus in July, and I think that it really paid off for us. We started off very well in the non-conference going 12-1 at the beginning of the season. I thought that it was all set up by what happened over the summer. All of our returners are here in Summer I, and they are really working hard, so it sets us up for the season. Summer II, the whole team will be here, and I think that's what will help us getting ready for the season. That way we can see a little earlier who will be stepping up into those roles, and practices won't be so frantic, with only two weeks to get ready for the season. Also, now the freshmen will be a lot better adjusted because they get to come in early."
8. What does it mean to have another highly ranked recruiting class (Top 40, 3rd highest in Baylor history)?
"I think that here at Baylor, as well as regionally and nationally, people are seeing that we are building this program with some great talent. Last year's class was ranked 16th in the country and this year's class is ranked in the Top-40 in the country, and these are our first two classes that we as a staff have been able to bring in. I think especially in the state of Texas, people are recognizing that we are able to get some of the best players in Texas; that Baylor is going to be able to attract the best players in Texas. I really feel that we have set the foundation for this program to go to the next level and be a Top-25 team. Our goal as coaches is that we want to keep bettering those classes, because you are only as good as your recruiting. You have to have the talent in order to compete in the Big 12, and I think that we do. We have the tools, the gym, the depth, and the position players to compete in the Big 12, and I don't think that there are any limits for us. Other than being a young team, we really do have all the tools to compete."
9. Talk a little about your schedule for this fall.
"Our first tournament, we are on the road at Buffalo. I always like to schedule that first tournament away. You always go pretty hard in the gym for the first couple of weeks at practice, so it is a good bonding time to go away and be on the road together. When you are on the road in the Big 12 it is tough. You go into a gym and you're the only ones who like Baylor, so you have to learn how to compete in that atmosphere. I think going to Buffalo will be a great test for us with Buffalo, North Carolina, and Stony Brook. It will be the first time that this team will get the feel for playing together. I think that's a great kick-off tournament for us. Then we come back here to a high-quality tournament here with Oregon, who is in the Pac-10 and played in the NCAA Tournament last year, Stephen F. Austin, who made it to the NCAA Tournament last year, and then Mississippi State, who is a really good program and have some really good players. They have a couple of foreign players, and are a very dangerous team. So we have our work cut out for us at home with three quality opponents. I think that is really going to prepare us, because these are teams that can play at the Big 12 level; Oregon can, and Stephen F. Austin and Mississippi State are right there and will really push us. Our third tournament will be at SMU, which will be a close tournament that we will be able to go and fine tune things before we start Big 12 play. There we will play Ole Miss who was in the NCAA Tournament last year, and will be a good test. Any time that you are playing NCAA Tournament teams certainly helps your RPI and strength of schedule. I think that it is a great setup to have those three tournaments in a row and then Big 12 play starts up. We play everyone twice in the Big 12 and that's when the really grueling part of the season starts, and every night is a dogfight."
10. What excites you about the 2007 team?
"As a coach, this is one of the scenarios that coaches really get excited about. We brought in some great young talent and you don't really know where the ceiling is with them. We feel like we have enough core players together that it won't be too much of a roller coaster ride. We have good returning players and a lot of firepower coming in from the young players. There is the thrill of the unknown, of "how good can we be?" If we do things the right way and this team puts it together early, then we can make a really good run and make it to the NCAA Tournament and compete at the top of the Big 12. Those are our goals and we definitely have the talent to do it, so now it's just about putting it all together."
Barnes sits down for Q&A session
Head Coach Jim Barnes and the Lady Bears recruiting class was ranked in the Top 40 in the nation, Baylor's third-highest ranking ever.
June 14, 2007
WACO, Texas - Baylor's volleyball recruiting class was ranked in the Top 40 by PrepVolleyball.com in its recent recruiting class rankings. The Lady Bears, who finished 18-15 in 2006, will welcome six newcomers to Waco this fall. Last season's recruiting class ranked 16th in the nation, the second-highest ranking in school history.
"Baylor's class consists of great athletes, some of whom will be counted on immediately to contribute to the Bears' young team," said John Tawa of PrepVolleyball.com. "Of the high school recruits, Sarah Grace is the most heralded. She has the skill set to be a take-charge libero immediately but the versatility and hops to be a solid second outside hitter if necessary. Ashley Byrd and Hayley Thomas are superb athletes who will be counted on right away to fill the middle spot vacated by the graduation of Desiree Guillard-Young."
The Lady Bears had a strong finish to the 2007 spring season, winning their last nine matches, including a sweep of the Baylor Spring Tournament. Baylor opens its fall season on August 24-25 as the Lady Bears participate in the University at Buffalo Classic, facing Buffalo, North Carolina, and Stony Brook. Following is a Q&A session with head coach Jim Barnes, reflecting on the spring season and looking forward to the 2007 fall season.
1. What were the goals for the team this spring, and how much did you accomplish?
"Well, during the 2006 season we started four freshmen. So one of our goals going into the spring was to work a lot on our all-around game. Most of these freshmen did not play front and back row, so we really wanted to get them some experience with their all-around game. And I think that it really broadened their roles as leaders on the team. As freshmen it's really hard to step up into a leadership role, but this spring they were able to really step up and be leaders."
2. Who stood out as the most improved player?
"I think overall as a team we became much better because everyone stepped up leadership-wise, and they really started taking ownership of this team. I think that was a big reason why our team chemistry has improved, and why we play as hard as we do. On the court, I think that Katie Sanders really stepped up a great deal this spring. Offensively, she took it to about three different levels. Just about every match she led us in kills, and I think she took a huge step in her development. I think that she is going to have a great sophomore season. Anna (Breyfogle) and Taylor (Barnes) are two other freshmen who really stepped up; and their roles are really expanding. Those three freshmen were really impressive. Amanda Modglin has really stepped up this spring. She has always been a backup setter for us, and she got some time to focus on playing middle blocker for the first time. In our eyes she has won that position going into the fall. She has been a tremendous leader for us, so we feel that we are going to be able to take advantage of what she brings to our team by playing the middle blocker position. It's pretty rare to have a setter move over to middle, but she was really more of a middle than a setter, so I think this is more of a natural spot for her."
3. With such a young team, where do you look for leadership?
"I think that we are going to get leadership from different areas. I definitely think that we will get it from our seniors, Amanda Modglin and Kristen Schramek, who have both invested a lot of time in this program. They are both hard workers, and will definitely lead us at the top. That's why I think that we have the potential to have a good season. We have leadership starting at the top and we have experience on the team with those freshmen moving up and becoming sophomores and really taking ownership of this team. We are going to get leadership from different areas on the team; it's not just going to be from one or two players. I think that everyone will bring the intensity to win into every match, and that's what we are going to need to have the season that we want to have."
4. How important is it to play in several tournaments this spring?
"I think that you set up what you are going to accomplish in the fall by what you do in the spring. I felt that this was one of the most productive springs that I have been a part of, and I really think that it is going to pay off for us. This spring we were able to establish a lot of things, and I think some people were able to step up and show that they are going to earn their starting positions. But even then, there is going to be some competition from the newcomers this fall. We have six newcomers, with one junior college player, so it's going to be by far the most depth we have had, and there is still going to be competition for a couple of positions. I feel like we have a solid core of returners that are going to be able to steady us out. We feel like we have some firepower coming in that can help put us over the top."
5. How much stock can you take in results (wins and losses) from spring matches?
"I think that the girls gained a lot of confidence in winning our last nine matches of the spring. That is always good; this game is always about mindset and confidence. So I think that they gained a great deal from that. As far as coaches, we are looking for who is going to be those people who step up and take a hold of those positions, and what is going to be the right combination for us on the court. We feel like there are three or four positions that we feel confident that those players will hold on to their positions, and then there are two or three other positions that we are excited to see the battle that is going to take place once all the freshmen get on campus this fall."
6. Was it good to have Bryan Bunn on campus for spring workouts?
"It was incredibly valuable; even more so than I expected. To have someone with his experience in the gym really accelerated everything that we were trying to do. He really understands the game. It didn't take him any time to learn our system, so he was able to get in the gym and start helping us send the same message every day. I thought that was one reason why we had such a great spring because our staff (Candice O'Brien and Bryan Bunn) was really working well together, and we were able to accelerate these players. They see his confidence in the game, and in being a head coach for as long as he has, and it has been a valuable tool. I think that it is going to really pay off; every semester that we have these kids, we will be able to work with them and help to accelerate their game."
7. How important is it to have all the players in Waco over the summer?
"It definitely gives us an advantage. Last year was the first year that we were able to bring the freshmen on campus in July, and I think that it really paid off for us. We started off very well in the non-conference going 12-1 at the beginning of the season. I thought that it was all set up by what happened over the summer. All of our returners are here in Summer I, and they are really working hard, so it sets us up for the season. Summer II, the whole team will be here, and I think that's what will help us getting ready for the season. That way we can see a little earlier who will be stepping up into those roles, and practices won't be so frantic, with only two weeks to get ready for the season. Also, now the freshmen will be a lot better adjusted because they get to come in early."
8. What does it mean to have another highly ranked recruiting class (Top 40, 3rd highest in Baylor history)?
"I think that here at Baylor, as well as regionally and nationally, people are seeing that we are building this program with some great talent. Last year's class was ranked 16th in the country and this year's class is ranked in the Top-40 in the country, and these are our first two classes that we as a staff have been able to bring in. I think especially in the state of Texas, people are recognizing that we are able to get some of the best players in Texas; that Baylor is going to be able to attract the best players in Texas. I really feel that we have set the foundation for this program to go to the next level and be a Top-25 team. Our goal as coaches is that we want to keep bettering those classes, because you are only as good as your recruiting. You have to have the talent in order to compete in the Big 12, and I think that we do. We have the tools, the gym, the depth, and the position players to compete in the Big 12, and I don't think that there are any limits for us. Other than being a young team, we really do have all the tools to compete."
9. Talk a little about your schedule for this fall.
"Our first tournament, we are on the road at Buffalo. I always like to schedule that first tournament away. You always go pretty hard in the gym for the first couple of weeks at practice, so it is a good bonding time to go away and be on the road together. When you are on the road in the Big 12 it is tough. You go into a gym and you're the only ones who like Baylor, so you have to learn how to compete in that atmosphere. I think going to Buffalo will be a great test for us with Buffalo, North Carolina, and Stony Brook. It will be the first time that this team will get the feel for playing together. I think that's a great kick-off tournament for us. Then we come back here to a high-quality tournament here with Oregon, who is in the Pac-10 and played in the NCAA Tournament last year, Stephen F. Austin, who made it to the NCAA Tournament last year, and then Mississippi State, who is a really good program and have some really good players. They have a couple of foreign players, and are a very dangerous team. So we have our work cut out for us at home with three quality opponents. I think that is really going to prepare us, because these are teams that can play at the Big 12 level; Oregon can, and Stephen F. Austin and Mississippi State are right there and will really push us. Our third tournament will be at SMU, which will be a close tournament that we will be able to go and fine tune things before we start Big 12 play. There we will play Ole Miss who was in the NCAA Tournament last year, and will be a good test. Any time that you are playing NCAA Tournament teams certainly helps your RPI and strength of schedule. I think that it is a great setup to have those three tournaments in a row and then Big 12 play starts up. We play everyone twice in the Big 12 and that's when the really grueling part of the season starts, and every night is a dogfight."
10. What excites you about the 2007 team?
"As a coach, this is one of the scenarios that coaches really get excited about. We brought in some great young talent and you don't really know where the ceiling is with them. We feel like we have enough core players together that it won't be too much of a roller coaster ride. We have good returning players and a lot of firepower coming in from the young players. There is the thrill of the unknown, of "how good can we be?" If we do things the right way and this team puts it together early, then we can make a really good run and make it to the NCAA Tournament and compete at the top of the Big 12. Those are our goals and we definitely have the talent to do it, so now it's just about putting it all together."
