Post by bigfan on Apr 20, 2005 9:37:30 GMT -5
Trojans haven't been sticking to the plan
Men's volleyball team will be forced to rebuild yet again this offseason after another disappointing finish.
"It's very difficult because you're starting out from scratch in the toughest conference in the country in any sport. I don't believe there's any sport that has all the top ranked teams in one conference," Douglas said. "It's tough, and also not having the scholarships is tough.
"We would've had an even better recruiting class if we had more money to give. There are players that decided to go elsewhere because we weren't offering enough. They told me, 'Hey, this is my No. 1 choice, I'd love to come here, I just don't have the money.' I get that all the time."
External factors aside, the players on the court are ultimately what determined the Trojans' win-loss record, and more often than not the team just couldn't get it done. Problems with passing plagued USC the entire season as teams with tough servers constantly proved to be a huge obstacle.
The Trojan coaching staff recognizes some of the mistakes made in preparation and strategy and will undoubtedly work to remedy the team's main ills over the summer.
"I think if I had to criticize myself and do it over again, I would've paid a lot more attention to our basic fundamentals of the game," Douglas said.
"There's different ways of training for volleyball since it's a three-contact sport - pass, set, hit," he said. "You could train defense, for example, using a three contact drill or a one contact drill. Three contact is more of a game situation, and looking back, I would've gone with more one contact drills for more reps and more muscle memory training."
For all the disappointment that comes with finishing toward the bottom of the standings, there's still plenty for Douglas and the returning players to be excited about.
The Trojans are returning a number of top quality players, including star outside hitter Joao Grangeiro, who consistently led the team through his play and emotion.
Grangeiro's intensity is his most visible quality, but his ability to lead the team in kills, digs and aces on a regular basis is what kept USC in so many matches. ...
"I think (our MVP) is who it's been the last couple years: Joao Grangeiro," Douglas said. "I brought him in as a libero, and he's a world-class libero, and for me to put him outside, it's really not his position but he happens to contribute there since it's a position that we really need some production from."
USC's strong recruiting class this year, headed by Killian, Figueroa and middle blocker Andrew Vernon was one of the best in the nation.
That group, in addition to next year's class headed by talented opposite hitter C.J. Schellenberg, provides plenty of optimism after an otherwise hopeless season.
For a team that needs status and winning potential to build a strong program due to their lack of scholarships, that core of players means everything.
"I don't care how good of a coach you are, you cannot be successful without your horses, your thoroughbreds," Douglas said.
"If you're going to run in a race with such great teams like Pepperdine and UCLA who have the most gifted athletes in the country, recruiting is everything. Recruits see a guy like Jimmy Killian, and they want to play for a great setter; they want to play for a Leinart or a Carson Palmer. Those guys are franchise guys."
USC also has solid reserves that contributed at key times during an injury-riddled season, including outside hitters Fernando Barron and Jake Lewis, opposite hitter Matt Mosko and returning middle blocker Jeff Bailey, who redshirted the past season to focus on academics.
It appears Douglas' three-year plan is going to need a bit of an extension, which means the team's graduating seniors won't have the opportunity to be part of that turnaround if the team does indeed bring glory back to the program.
Tippett, considered the best pure hitter on the team, ended his career with a season that was tainted by injury. Setter J.T. Gilmour proved to be a key backup for most of his time here on top of starting most of the 2004 season.
Middle blocker Chris McKniff was a stabilizing force both blocking and attacking his entire career here and outside hitter Pedro Leal, a transfer, proved to be an intimidating force when healthy despite his 5-foot-10 frame.
"Some say losing builds character if you have the right attitude about it, so I think they're taking away some good character lessons," Douglas said. "Being serious, I think the one thing they didn't do is give up. They fought till the end."
Maybe the breakthrough is next season, and maybe the plan will never come to fruition for Douglas. In a conference filled with volleyball powerhouses, it will undoubtedly be a difficult journey. But that's why they play the games.
"What I expect (next year) is to be a young, talented team that will without a doubt make it into the MPSF championships next year," Douglas said. "The pieces are coming together."
Men's volleyball team will be forced to rebuild yet again this offseason after another disappointing finish.
"It's very difficult because you're starting out from scratch in the toughest conference in the country in any sport. I don't believe there's any sport that has all the top ranked teams in one conference," Douglas said. "It's tough, and also not having the scholarships is tough.
"We would've had an even better recruiting class if we had more money to give. There are players that decided to go elsewhere because we weren't offering enough. They told me, 'Hey, this is my No. 1 choice, I'd love to come here, I just don't have the money.' I get that all the time."
External factors aside, the players on the court are ultimately what determined the Trojans' win-loss record, and more often than not the team just couldn't get it done. Problems with passing plagued USC the entire season as teams with tough servers constantly proved to be a huge obstacle.
The Trojan coaching staff recognizes some of the mistakes made in preparation and strategy and will undoubtedly work to remedy the team's main ills over the summer.
"I think if I had to criticize myself and do it over again, I would've paid a lot more attention to our basic fundamentals of the game," Douglas said.
"There's different ways of training for volleyball since it's a three-contact sport - pass, set, hit," he said. "You could train defense, for example, using a three contact drill or a one contact drill. Three contact is more of a game situation, and looking back, I would've gone with more one contact drills for more reps and more muscle memory training."
For all the disappointment that comes with finishing toward the bottom of the standings, there's still plenty for Douglas and the returning players to be excited about.
The Trojans are returning a number of top quality players, including star outside hitter Joao Grangeiro, who consistently led the team through his play and emotion.
Grangeiro's intensity is his most visible quality, but his ability to lead the team in kills, digs and aces on a regular basis is what kept USC in so many matches. ...
"I think (our MVP) is who it's been the last couple years: Joao Grangeiro," Douglas said. "I brought him in as a libero, and he's a world-class libero, and for me to put him outside, it's really not his position but he happens to contribute there since it's a position that we really need some production from."
USC's strong recruiting class this year, headed by Killian, Figueroa and middle blocker Andrew Vernon was one of the best in the nation.
That group, in addition to next year's class headed by talented opposite hitter C.J. Schellenberg, provides plenty of optimism after an otherwise hopeless season.
For a team that needs status and winning potential to build a strong program due to their lack of scholarships, that core of players means everything.
"I don't care how good of a coach you are, you cannot be successful without your horses, your thoroughbreds," Douglas said.
"If you're going to run in a race with such great teams like Pepperdine and UCLA who have the most gifted athletes in the country, recruiting is everything. Recruits see a guy like Jimmy Killian, and they want to play for a great setter; they want to play for a Leinart or a Carson Palmer. Those guys are franchise guys."
USC also has solid reserves that contributed at key times during an injury-riddled season, including outside hitters Fernando Barron and Jake Lewis, opposite hitter Matt Mosko and returning middle blocker Jeff Bailey, who redshirted the past season to focus on academics.
It appears Douglas' three-year plan is going to need a bit of an extension, which means the team's graduating seniors won't have the opportunity to be part of that turnaround if the team does indeed bring glory back to the program.
Tippett, considered the best pure hitter on the team, ended his career with a season that was tainted by injury. Setter J.T. Gilmour proved to be a key backup for most of his time here on top of starting most of the 2004 season.
Middle blocker Chris McKniff was a stabilizing force both blocking and attacking his entire career here and outside hitter Pedro Leal, a transfer, proved to be an intimidating force when healthy despite his 5-foot-10 frame.
"Some say losing builds character if you have the right attitude about it, so I think they're taking away some good character lessons," Douglas said. "Being serious, I think the one thing they didn't do is give up. They fought till the end."
Maybe the breakthrough is next season, and maybe the plan will never come to fruition for Douglas. In a conference filled with volleyball powerhouses, it will undoubtedly be a difficult journey. But that's why they play the games.
"What I expect (next year) is to be a young, talented team that will without a doubt make it into the MPSF championships next year," Douglas said. "The pieces are coming together."
