Post by bigfan on Aug 31, 2006 15:07:47 GMT -5
Expectations high, but Women of Troy are up to the task
Taylor Carico and Asia Kaczor provide infusion of new talent for reloading squad.
Alex Lebow
Media Credit: Steevens Alconcel | Daily Trojan
Eyes on the prize. Kelli Tennant and Diane Copenhagen are two of USC's leading scorers from last season.
Fifteen consecutive postseason appearances alter any team's definition of success.
For the USC women's volleyball team, appearances in the NCAA tournament have been routine since 1991. With the arrival of coach Mick Haley in 2001, the team has captured consecutive national championships in 2002 and 2003, advanced to the elite eight in 2001, the final four in 2004 and the second round of the tournament in 2005.
After wrapping up four weeks of practice and the first tournament of the 2006 season, the No. 14 Women of Troy (3-0) already appear to be an exceptional team, considering that they compensated for the loss of four seniors by adding six new recruits.
"This year's team has it going, and I really think we have a chance to do really well," Haley said. "People should want to watch this team."
The season's first tournament was the ideal stage for the Women of Troy to showcase their talent. USC dominated the attack with 143 kills and just 40 errors, while opponents registered 84 kills and 84 errors.
Superior serving and blocking helped the Women of Troy advance past Texas State, North Texas and Texas-Pan American at the CenturyTel Premier tournament.
Even with such a considerable team profile, no season guarantees postseason success.
Although the team has a No. 14 preseason ranking, it must still establish itself as a national powerhouse.
For most of September, the competition picks up as USC faces nonconference opponents Fresno State, No. 24 Utah and No. 11 Tennessee at home, and Florida State, South Carolina and No. 19 Pepperdine on the road. From late September until late November, they match up against all their Pacific-10 Conference rivals.
"The next three weeks are critical, as we try people in different positions, and we experiment a little bit," Haley said. "We need to grow, get our confidence, and when that Pac-10 opens up we need to kick it in."
The six newcomers join eight returning letter winners on a roster that features some of the best amateur talent in the country - a feeling this team has had before. USC welcomed eight newcomers in 2004 and advanced to the final four of the NCAA tournament.
"There's no question that athletically we're at the top. It's just if we can gel and change tactics from night to night to meet the needs of other teams," Haley said.
Senior co-captains Kimi Freeburg and Alli Dillon bring three years of varsity experience. Senior Debora Seilhamer, one of the nation's top liberos, has already proven to be an essential component on the floor, as she earned All-American and All-Pac-10 honors in 2005.
Annie Montgomery must wait for her first game as a senior until she recovers from an injury sustained in a summer car accident.
Junior Diane Copenhagen continues to produce points on offense while junior Katelyn Bishop and sophomore Kelli Tennant contribute solid play as servers and players in the middle.
"Even with six new people on our team, we've had a really smooth transition," said Jessica Gysin, the redshirt sophomore outside hitter who proved to be important this past weekend.
One significant addition is 6-foot-4 transfer Asia Kaczor. She has already proven to be a crucial component to the lineup. As a member of the Polish national team program since 2000, Kaczor made her first statement in a USC uniform by being named the most valuable player last weekend.
"I didn't know what to expect this past weekend. I didn't know how we were going to play, but I was kind of excited and it ended up really great," Kaczor said.
Junior transfers Bethany Johansen and Marta Siemiatkowska will also be important in the middle for USC.
The most anticipated addition to the team, however, is freshman setter Taylor Carico.
"She is going to be a great player for USC," Haley said, "not to mention that she has the benefit of the captains tutoring her on the college game."
Teammates echoed Haley's sentiments regarding Carico.
"Taylor has huge power, and she's getting better every day," Kaczor said. "She'll be a great player for us."
Along with Carico, Alli Hillgren and Chelsea Wilson bring exceptional high school experience to the USC program.
This team recognizes weakness, and their ability to diagnose both individual and team difficulties will be critical.
So far this season, the style of coaching has been unlike that of the past because of all of the new additions.
"I have to be more patient and allow them to grow. I have to push them, but that's why we do team building stuff," Haley said.
Six of 14 women have not yet tasted victory as part of one of the nation's top volleyball programs, but ultimately it will be up to team chemistry to determine if the USC women's volleyball team wants to further expand the definition of success with another run in the postseason.
Taylor Carico and Asia Kaczor provide infusion of new talent for reloading squad.
Alex Lebow
Media Credit: Steevens Alconcel | Daily Trojan
Eyes on the prize. Kelli Tennant and Diane Copenhagen are two of USC's leading scorers from last season.
Fifteen consecutive postseason appearances alter any team's definition of success.
For the USC women's volleyball team, appearances in the NCAA tournament have been routine since 1991. With the arrival of coach Mick Haley in 2001, the team has captured consecutive national championships in 2002 and 2003, advanced to the elite eight in 2001, the final four in 2004 and the second round of the tournament in 2005.
After wrapping up four weeks of practice and the first tournament of the 2006 season, the No. 14 Women of Troy (3-0) already appear to be an exceptional team, considering that they compensated for the loss of four seniors by adding six new recruits.
"This year's team has it going, and I really think we have a chance to do really well," Haley said. "People should want to watch this team."
The season's first tournament was the ideal stage for the Women of Troy to showcase their talent. USC dominated the attack with 143 kills and just 40 errors, while opponents registered 84 kills and 84 errors.
Superior serving and blocking helped the Women of Troy advance past Texas State, North Texas and Texas-Pan American at the CenturyTel Premier tournament.
Even with such a considerable team profile, no season guarantees postseason success.
Although the team has a No. 14 preseason ranking, it must still establish itself as a national powerhouse.
For most of September, the competition picks up as USC faces nonconference opponents Fresno State, No. 24 Utah and No. 11 Tennessee at home, and Florida State, South Carolina and No. 19 Pepperdine on the road. From late September until late November, they match up against all their Pacific-10 Conference rivals.
"The next three weeks are critical, as we try people in different positions, and we experiment a little bit," Haley said. "We need to grow, get our confidence, and when that Pac-10 opens up we need to kick it in."
The six newcomers join eight returning letter winners on a roster that features some of the best amateur talent in the country - a feeling this team has had before. USC welcomed eight newcomers in 2004 and advanced to the final four of the NCAA tournament.
"There's no question that athletically we're at the top. It's just if we can gel and change tactics from night to night to meet the needs of other teams," Haley said.
Senior co-captains Kimi Freeburg and Alli Dillon bring three years of varsity experience. Senior Debora Seilhamer, one of the nation's top liberos, has already proven to be an essential component on the floor, as she earned All-American and All-Pac-10 honors in 2005.
Annie Montgomery must wait for her first game as a senior until she recovers from an injury sustained in a summer car accident.
Junior Diane Copenhagen continues to produce points on offense while junior Katelyn Bishop and sophomore Kelli Tennant contribute solid play as servers and players in the middle.
"Even with six new people on our team, we've had a really smooth transition," said Jessica Gysin, the redshirt sophomore outside hitter who proved to be important this past weekend.
One significant addition is 6-foot-4 transfer Asia Kaczor. She has already proven to be a crucial component to the lineup. As a member of the Polish national team program since 2000, Kaczor made her first statement in a USC uniform by being named the most valuable player last weekend.
"I didn't know what to expect this past weekend. I didn't know how we were going to play, but I was kind of excited and it ended up really great," Kaczor said.
Junior transfers Bethany Johansen and Marta Siemiatkowska will also be important in the middle for USC.
The most anticipated addition to the team, however, is freshman setter Taylor Carico.
"She is going to be a great player for USC," Haley said, "not to mention that she has the benefit of the captains tutoring her on the college game."
Teammates echoed Haley's sentiments regarding Carico.
"Taylor has huge power, and she's getting better every day," Kaczor said. "She'll be a great player for us."
Along with Carico, Alli Hillgren and Chelsea Wilson bring exceptional high school experience to the USC program.
This team recognizes weakness, and their ability to diagnose both individual and team difficulties will be critical.
So far this season, the style of coaching has been unlike that of the past because of all of the new additions.
"I have to be more patient and allow them to grow. I have to push them, but that's why we do team building stuff," Haley said.
Six of 14 women have not yet tasted victory as part of one of the nation's top volleyball programs, but ultimately it will be up to team chemistry to determine if the USC women's volleyball team wants to further expand the definition of success with another run in the postseason.
