Post by roofed! on Aug 25, 2007 1:24:17 GMT -5
The program for the matches this weekend featured a photo of the 4 Fab-50 freshmen -- Urango, Garrett, Roleder and Williams. I think this is possibly the first time a group of freshmen or even a single freshman was featured on the first program cover for the season or even before the midway of the season as usually the seniors and juniors were featured first.
[ftp]http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_6704240[/ftp]
Fresh look at USC Volleyball
BY ERIK BOAL, Special to the Daily News
O.J. Mayo sat on a bench Thursday morning outside Galen Center, taking a break from a student-athlete orientation seminar. Although Mayo is regarded as the most high-profile freshman on the USC campus, he isn't alone.
As Mayo returned to the building, members of the USC women's volleyball team were exiting from an adjacent door, having just completed their final practice before tonight's season opener.
Several of them were even able to look the 6-foot-5 Mayo in the eyes.
"I feel like he's a celebrity," Los Alamitos High graduate Geena Urango said. "It's all surreal to me right now. It hasn't even hit me. To be able to play in an amazing facility like the Galen Center, I can't even believe it. I feel so honored to be part of all this."
While there is no guarantee Mayo will be hanging around Galen Center past this season, Urango knows USC volleyball is set for the next four years.
"USC hit a home run with this incredibly deep recruiting class," said PrepVolleyball.com editor John Tawa, who ranked the Women of Troy's incoming group third nationally behind Stanford and Texas.
"Every need for the Class of 2007 was addressed in its four signees"
Led by Zoe Garrett, Kimmee Roleder, Lauren Williams and Urango - four of Tawa's top 35 national recruits - eight of USC's 18 roster spots are occupied by freshmen, making the Women of Troy a strong contender to return to the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 2004.
"We have an exceptional group, no doubt," USC coach Mick Haley said. "And the great thing is they're better than we thought they were. Anytime that happens, it's always absolutely electrifying."
After only wearing their jerseys as part of photo shoots, the freshmen will finally be in front of the cameras for real at 7 tonight when No. 6 USC faces Michigan State in the first night of the Trojan Invitational.
And while they don't expect to draw the same crowd or media frenzy as Mayo when he makes his Galen Center debut Nov. 10, it promises to be an exhilarating night for USC nonetheless.
"I'd come here for games (last year) and couldn't wait to be down there standing with them, and now it's a reality," said Roleder, an outside hitter from Pasadena High, ranked as the No. 6 recruit in the country by PrepVolleyball.com. "I've been waiting for a long time for this."
For a program that has won six national titles - including back-to-back championships in 2002 and '03 - suffering through consecutive years without a Final Four appearance might seem like an eternity.
Thanks to its deepest recruiting class since Toni Anderson, Nicole Davis, Katie Olsovsky and April Ross arrived in 2000, USC is among the favorites to contend for a national title in Sacramento in December.
"There's a lot of pressure on us to perform," said Williams, a 6-foot-5 talent from Stratford High in Houston. "But I love the tradition here and I love the girls. This team is a family. I felt the most comfortable here, even if it was away from home."
Roleder and Garrett, a middle blocker from Laguna Beach High, enhanced their chemistry by playing with USC sophomore setter Taylor Carico during the summer on the U.S. Women's Junior National team that placed fourth at the Under-20 World Championships in Thailand.
"It absolutely put them on the same page," Haley said. "And the fact they did so well only made it better."
Williams, who could the sleeper in the group, is involved in one of the deepest position battles at middle blocker, challenging Garrett, seniors Katelyn Bishop and Bethany Johansen, and possibly junior Kelli Tennant for playing time.
"Hopefully we can help the older players by bringing some new things to the court," Williams said.
"Any competition makes all of us better because everyone has to earn their spot."
Urango, who is competing with Alli Hillgren to replace All-American libero Debora Seilhamer, has received tremendous praise from Haley for her versatility, comparing her to former three-time All-American hitter April Ross.
"I don't know what position I'd rather have more, I just want to see the court," Urango said. "At practice I miss hitting, but I love defense. Either way, I'm always up for a challenge."
The biggest challenge for Haley is trying to find enough playing time for such a deep and talented group. All four individuals are capable of starting or seeing significant playing time as the season progresses, but what makes USC's situation so unique is that they are balanced by 10 returning athletes, most notably Asia Kaczor, Diane Copenhagen and Carico.
"Zoe, Geena and Kimmee are all challenging for starting spots, which has me excited for them," Haley said. "And I believe they'll only continue to get better throughout the year because of the competition level we have."
If USC continues to improve at the rate Haley expects, people could be coming to the Galen Center to see freshman standouts besides just Mayo.
"I've always had an attitude of winning, whether it was high school or club," Roleder said. "We'll continue to work hard to try to get to Sacramento, because that's everyone's goal."
[ftp]http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_6704240[/ftp]
Fresh look at USC Volleyball
BY ERIK BOAL, Special to the Daily News
O.J. Mayo sat on a bench Thursday morning outside Galen Center, taking a break from a student-athlete orientation seminar. Although Mayo is regarded as the most high-profile freshman on the USC campus, he isn't alone.
As Mayo returned to the building, members of the USC women's volleyball team were exiting from an adjacent door, having just completed their final practice before tonight's season opener.
Several of them were even able to look the 6-foot-5 Mayo in the eyes.
"I feel like he's a celebrity," Los Alamitos High graduate Geena Urango said. "It's all surreal to me right now. It hasn't even hit me. To be able to play in an amazing facility like the Galen Center, I can't even believe it. I feel so honored to be part of all this."
While there is no guarantee Mayo will be hanging around Galen Center past this season, Urango knows USC volleyball is set for the next four years.
"USC hit a home run with this incredibly deep recruiting class," said PrepVolleyball.com editor John Tawa, who ranked the Women of Troy's incoming group third nationally behind Stanford and Texas.
"Every need for the Class of 2007 was addressed in its four signees"
Led by Zoe Garrett, Kimmee Roleder, Lauren Williams and Urango - four of Tawa's top 35 national recruits - eight of USC's 18 roster spots are occupied by freshmen, making the Women of Troy a strong contender to return to the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 2004.
"We have an exceptional group, no doubt," USC coach Mick Haley said. "And the great thing is they're better than we thought they were. Anytime that happens, it's always absolutely electrifying."
After only wearing their jerseys as part of photo shoots, the freshmen will finally be in front of the cameras for real at 7 tonight when No. 6 USC faces Michigan State in the first night of the Trojan Invitational.
And while they don't expect to draw the same crowd or media frenzy as Mayo when he makes his Galen Center debut Nov. 10, it promises to be an exhilarating night for USC nonetheless.
"I'd come here for games (last year) and couldn't wait to be down there standing with them, and now it's a reality," said Roleder, an outside hitter from Pasadena High, ranked as the No. 6 recruit in the country by PrepVolleyball.com. "I've been waiting for a long time for this."
For a program that has won six national titles - including back-to-back championships in 2002 and '03 - suffering through consecutive years without a Final Four appearance might seem like an eternity.
Thanks to its deepest recruiting class since Toni Anderson, Nicole Davis, Katie Olsovsky and April Ross arrived in 2000, USC is among the favorites to contend for a national title in Sacramento in December.
"There's a lot of pressure on us to perform," said Williams, a 6-foot-5 talent from Stratford High in Houston. "But I love the tradition here and I love the girls. This team is a family. I felt the most comfortable here, even if it was away from home."
Roleder and Garrett, a middle blocker from Laguna Beach High, enhanced their chemistry by playing with USC sophomore setter Taylor Carico during the summer on the U.S. Women's Junior National team that placed fourth at the Under-20 World Championships in Thailand.
"It absolutely put them on the same page," Haley said. "And the fact they did so well only made it better."
Williams, who could the sleeper in the group, is involved in one of the deepest position battles at middle blocker, challenging Garrett, seniors Katelyn Bishop and Bethany Johansen, and possibly junior Kelli Tennant for playing time.
"Hopefully we can help the older players by bringing some new things to the court," Williams said.
"Any competition makes all of us better because everyone has to earn their spot."
Urango, who is competing with Alli Hillgren to replace All-American libero Debora Seilhamer, has received tremendous praise from Haley for her versatility, comparing her to former three-time All-American hitter April Ross.
"I don't know what position I'd rather have more, I just want to see the court," Urango said. "At practice I miss hitting, but I love defense. Either way, I'm always up for a challenge."
The biggest challenge for Haley is trying to find enough playing time for such a deep and talented group. All four individuals are capable of starting or seeing significant playing time as the season progresses, but what makes USC's situation so unique is that they are balanced by 10 returning athletes, most notably Asia Kaczor, Diane Copenhagen and Carico.
"Zoe, Geena and Kimmee are all challenging for starting spots, which has me excited for them," Haley said. "And I believe they'll only continue to get better throughout the year because of the competition level we have."
If USC continues to improve at the rate Haley expects, people could be coming to the Galen Center to see freshman standouts besides just Mayo.
"I've always had an attitude of winning, whether it was high school or club," Roleder said. "We'll continue to work hard to try to get to Sacramento, because that's everyone's goal."
