Post by roofed! on Oct 15, 2004 1:20:15 GMT -5
[ftp]http://www.pac-10.org/sports/w-volley/nelson-index.html[/ftp]
Weekly Wrap-Up
by Cathy Nelson
October 14, 2004
BIG MATCHES
In a league play, where big matches are more the norm than the exception, this weekend has two matches in particular that have huge conference implications. It might seem a little early in the conference season to talk about how important a single match might be, but as we begin week four (out of the 10 week conference schedule) teams can put themselves into good position to vie for the conference championship or run themselves right out of the race.
The first big match is No. 11 UCLA at No. 6 USC in the first battle between the LA schools. Both teams stand at 4-2 in the Pac-10 and tied for third place, behind the undefeated Washington Huskies and 4-1 Stanford. As good as these teams are, one will have three losses after Friday night’s match and will have a very tough time keeping pace with those atop the conference standings. A team with three conference losses has never won a Pac-10 championship. In fact, in the 18 year history of Pac-10 volleyball only once – the 2000 season – has a team with as many as two losses been crowned Pac-10 champs, when Arizona and USC tied as champion at 16-2.
The rivalry between USC and UCLA dates back to 1970 (according to UCLA’s records) with the Bruins claiming a 50-43 record over USC. USC’s records begin in 1976 and show the Women of Troy with the series lead at 43-39. It goes to show that rivalries like these are even evident in the record keeping for the two programs. Whichever you believe true, it is indisputable that UCLA has not beaten USC in its last seven tries, dating back to the 2000 season, when the Bruins handed the Women of Troy a three game loss at Pauley Pavilion. That also happens to be the year that USC coach Mick Haley was in transition between the U.S. National Team and USC, so he was with the team and on the bench for that match but not the coach of record at the time. Haley’s first official season at USC began in 2001 and he is 7-0 versus the cross-town rivals. That record includes a win at last season’s NCAA Regional Final in Lincoln, Nebraska that sent the Women of Troy to the Final Four and their second straight national championship. Haley also has yet to lose two matches in a row in his three years at USC, as the last time the Women of Troy lost consecutive matches was early in the 1998 season when they dropped a match at Wisconsin followed by a loss at Stanford. The loss at home against Cal last weekend puts added pressure on USC to get a win this weekend and avoid the back-to-back losses.
The good news for USC? It only plays one match this weekend. Why is that good news? Each of its three losses has come on the second day of weekend competition. “We keep losing the second night, which is just a product of our young players being unable to play at a high level back-to-back,” said coach Haley. “We played one of our best matches of the year against Stanford last weekend, and our kids were very excited after the win. However, we then let down against Cal and did not play at the same level. We need to learn not to play on emotion as that can fluctuate, but rely on execution instead.”
USC already has three losses on the season, which is a lot for a program that has lost only once the past two years. But, it is a younger team than in the past and play as many as four players who did not see much action last season. In its 6-2 offense both setters are sophomores, and although Kimi Freeburg was part of the setting equation last year with senior Toni Anderson, Anderson set in 4 of the 6 rotations. Libero Debora Seilhammer is a sophomore who played behind standout Nicole Davis last year. And, two freshmen have been starting – Diane Copenhagen on the right side and Sarah Florian on the left for injured senior Alicia Robinson. The middle attackers are definitely the strength for the Women of Troy, but they cannot always get the ball to senior Emily Adams and junior Bibiana Candelas, and when they can teams are clamping on them to try to limit their effectiveness. However, they are far from being out of the hunt for an unprecedented third national championship. “We are a work in progress,” said Haley. “We take two steps forward and one step back. We have new players in significant positions and we are in the middle of our learning curve. I really feel that by November we will be ready to challenge anyone in the country”.
UCLA is essentially the same team it was a year ago when it finished 24-9 on the year and tied for third in the Pac-10. With five senior starters returning the Bruins opened the season with great expectations and an eye on the NCAA Final Four taking place just down the freeway in Long Beach. They are as balanced a team offensively as you will find, with seven players averaging over 2.0 kills a game. They also employ coach Andy Banachowski’s “True Blue” offensive system that he developed last season to best utilize the talent and specific skills of the players on that team. With few changes to the roster you can bet this unique system will continue to work for the Bruins.
UCLA is lead by senior setter Krystal McFarland whose steady, smart play has helped the Bruins’ balanced offensive attack. Her life is made a lot easier by super libero Chrissie Zartman, who was first team all-Pac-10 a year ago and has picked up right where she left off a year ago. Transfer Nana Meriwether, a sophomore middle blocker who played her freshman season at Duke, has been a welcome addition with her size and athleticism. Her greatest impact has been in blocking, where she currently leads the conference with 1.76 blocks per game. The offense comes from the collaboration of Brynn Murphy, Brittany Ringel, Colby Lyman, Heather Cullen and Becky Green, all of whom can get it done for UCLA.
For the first time in three years the Bruins are the more experienced team in this match-up, which can go either way. Two of USC’s three losses are at home, so home court may not necessarily give the Women of Troy an advantage. The question is: Can UCLA’s seniors beat USC for the first time in their career? McFarland is the one senior who was on the team the last time UCLA beat USC, but as a freshman who did not play in that match. Senior leadership can make the difference in critical matches, and this one is huge for both teams.
Weekly Wrap-Up
by Cathy Nelson
October 14, 2004
BIG MATCHES
In a league play, where big matches are more the norm than the exception, this weekend has two matches in particular that have huge conference implications. It might seem a little early in the conference season to talk about how important a single match might be, but as we begin week four (out of the 10 week conference schedule) teams can put themselves into good position to vie for the conference championship or run themselves right out of the race.
The first big match is No. 11 UCLA at No. 6 USC in the first battle between the LA schools. Both teams stand at 4-2 in the Pac-10 and tied for third place, behind the undefeated Washington Huskies and 4-1 Stanford. As good as these teams are, one will have three losses after Friday night’s match and will have a very tough time keeping pace with those atop the conference standings. A team with three conference losses has never won a Pac-10 championship. In fact, in the 18 year history of Pac-10 volleyball only once – the 2000 season – has a team with as many as two losses been crowned Pac-10 champs, when Arizona and USC tied as champion at 16-2.
The rivalry between USC and UCLA dates back to 1970 (according to UCLA’s records) with the Bruins claiming a 50-43 record over USC. USC’s records begin in 1976 and show the Women of Troy with the series lead at 43-39. It goes to show that rivalries like these are even evident in the record keeping for the two programs. Whichever you believe true, it is indisputable that UCLA has not beaten USC in its last seven tries, dating back to the 2000 season, when the Bruins handed the Women of Troy a three game loss at Pauley Pavilion. That also happens to be the year that USC coach Mick Haley was in transition between the U.S. National Team and USC, so he was with the team and on the bench for that match but not the coach of record at the time. Haley’s first official season at USC began in 2001 and he is 7-0 versus the cross-town rivals. That record includes a win at last season’s NCAA Regional Final in Lincoln, Nebraska that sent the Women of Troy to the Final Four and their second straight national championship. Haley also has yet to lose two matches in a row in his three years at USC, as the last time the Women of Troy lost consecutive matches was early in the 1998 season when they dropped a match at Wisconsin followed by a loss at Stanford. The loss at home against Cal last weekend puts added pressure on USC to get a win this weekend and avoid the back-to-back losses.
The good news for USC? It only plays one match this weekend. Why is that good news? Each of its three losses has come on the second day of weekend competition. “We keep losing the second night, which is just a product of our young players being unable to play at a high level back-to-back,” said coach Haley. “We played one of our best matches of the year against Stanford last weekend, and our kids were very excited after the win. However, we then let down against Cal and did not play at the same level. We need to learn not to play on emotion as that can fluctuate, but rely on execution instead.”
USC already has three losses on the season, which is a lot for a program that has lost only once the past two years. But, it is a younger team than in the past and play as many as four players who did not see much action last season. In its 6-2 offense both setters are sophomores, and although Kimi Freeburg was part of the setting equation last year with senior Toni Anderson, Anderson set in 4 of the 6 rotations. Libero Debora Seilhammer is a sophomore who played behind standout Nicole Davis last year. And, two freshmen have been starting – Diane Copenhagen on the right side and Sarah Florian on the left for injured senior Alicia Robinson. The middle attackers are definitely the strength for the Women of Troy, but they cannot always get the ball to senior Emily Adams and junior Bibiana Candelas, and when they can teams are clamping on them to try to limit their effectiveness. However, they are far from being out of the hunt for an unprecedented third national championship. “We are a work in progress,” said Haley. “We take two steps forward and one step back. We have new players in significant positions and we are in the middle of our learning curve. I really feel that by November we will be ready to challenge anyone in the country”.
UCLA is essentially the same team it was a year ago when it finished 24-9 on the year and tied for third in the Pac-10. With five senior starters returning the Bruins opened the season with great expectations and an eye on the NCAA Final Four taking place just down the freeway in Long Beach. They are as balanced a team offensively as you will find, with seven players averaging over 2.0 kills a game. They also employ coach Andy Banachowski’s “True Blue” offensive system that he developed last season to best utilize the talent and specific skills of the players on that team. With few changes to the roster you can bet this unique system will continue to work for the Bruins.
UCLA is lead by senior setter Krystal McFarland whose steady, smart play has helped the Bruins’ balanced offensive attack. Her life is made a lot easier by super libero Chrissie Zartman, who was first team all-Pac-10 a year ago and has picked up right where she left off a year ago. Transfer Nana Meriwether, a sophomore middle blocker who played her freshman season at Duke, has been a welcome addition with her size and athleticism. Her greatest impact has been in blocking, where she currently leads the conference with 1.76 blocks per game. The offense comes from the collaboration of Brynn Murphy, Brittany Ringel, Colby Lyman, Heather Cullen and Becky Green, all of whom can get it done for UCLA.
For the first time in three years the Bruins are the more experienced team in this match-up, which can go either way. Two of USC’s three losses are at home, so home court may not necessarily give the Women of Troy an advantage. The question is: Can UCLA’s seniors beat USC for the first time in their career? McFarland is the one senior who was on the team the last time UCLA beat USC, but as a freshman who did not play in that match. Senior leadership can make the difference in critical matches, and this one is huge for both teams.
