Post by roofed! on Aug 26, 2004 23:10:09 GMT -5
From the daily trojan:
Three the hard way
By Greg Wagner
Published: Wednesday, August 25, 2004
The New York Yankees in baseball, the UCLA Bruins in college basketball and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA are some of the few teams that represent domination and dynasties in the sports world.
And now ... the Women of Troy?
The USC Women's Volleyball team begins its 2004 season Friday in the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators Volleyball Classic in Ft. Collins, Colo., having not suffered defeat since Nov. 2, 2002. Currently ranked No. 1 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association's pre-season poll, USC enters with the promise and poise to win an unprecedented third straight NCAA women's volleyball crown.
"Our goal is to get a three-peat and that's been the goal after the first time we won, so that motivates (us) to win again - because it's never been done before," senior outside hitter Keao Burdine said.
A three-year championship run would in effect anoint the Women of Troy the greatest team in the history of women's volleyball - but for the head coach, at least, that might not even be enough.
"Dynasty has been (coach) Mick Haley's word for us in the long run," co-captain Emily Adams said. "In the short-term it's 'three-peat' but we're also trying to pave the way for the new group so next year they can teach the (freshmen) girls how it's done."
Adams said that for USC to be placed within the annals of all-time dominant sports teams, it must pass on the group's passion and drive for success to the eight newcomers on the squad.
"What these girls learn will be taught as a tradition in the USC volleyball program," she said. "If we establish discipline and a competitive gym culture - then we can establish the dynasty."
Adams, Burdine and fellow senior Alicia Robinson have all been witness to the Women of Troy's remarkable 91-5 record during the past three years - a .948 winning percentage.
While all three have the chance to be known as the most successful class in USC history, Adams realizes the team is looking for the same type of unparalleled accomplishments down the road.
"Perhaps we can pave the way for (juniors) Bibiana (Candelas) and Stacy (Venski), who next year can have the best four-year run ever," she said.
"I guess our goal is to set it up for the next few years and see if we can have a little fun and break some records."
With the new freshmen class, ranked first in the country by most knowledgeable publications, there is a strong chance that the Women of Troy could continue their success for years to come.
Before there can be any talk of dynasties, USC still needs to win the sought-after third-straight NCAA Championship that has eluded USC twice before - in 1978 and 1982. That possibility, plus last year's unblemished record makes the Women of Troy a marked team this season.
"We know we are targeted," Haley said. "Right now especially, that's why we put targets on the back of our shirts."
Haley said that each year the players and coaches pick a theme for the season and illustrate it on the team shirt. A cardinal and gold target is on the 2004 edition so the players will always be reminded that each opponent is going to try even harder to knock them off.
"We have been the team that people want to go after," Burdine said. "It's been like that the past couple years and since we haven't lost in a long time, we think people are really going to be gunning for us this year."
The closest competitor might lie right across town in the form of the No. 3 UCLA Bruins.
"UCLA is going have an experienced team this year," Haley said. "If you look at it, they finished tied for fifth last year, after losing to us in the regional final. They picked up some recruits and people who redshirted last year - they're going to be good."
But, that can be said for most of the Pacific-10 Conference slate as five of the preseason top 10 teams (USC, UCLA, No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Washington and No. 10 California) are from the conference.
USC is once again playing a very challenging schedule, including up to 10 currently ranked teams, an opportunity that Haley said he will use to see which of his younger players will be able to contribute immediately.
"I see it as an evolving process over the first two and a half months of the season until we get people into position," he said. "The schedule will help because if anyone can expose what weaknesses we have early then that gives us a chance to work on them."
Haley is holding off announcing a permanent starting lineup so that he is able to develop his younger players into replicas of Adams, a two-time All-American, and Burdine, a two-time NCAA Championship MVP.
The one and only goal for USC this season is to earn the three-peat and while another undefeated year would be nice, all that the players care about is the ultimate prize - the 2004 NCAA national championship.
"I think we have the potential to be that good again," Burdine said. "But we don't care about going undefeated; we just want to win at the end."
Three the hard way
By Greg Wagner
Published: Wednesday, August 25, 2004
The New York Yankees in baseball, the UCLA Bruins in college basketball and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA are some of the few teams that represent domination and dynasties in the sports world.
And now ... the Women of Troy?
The USC Women's Volleyball team begins its 2004 season Friday in the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators Volleyball Classic in Ft. Collins, Colo., having not suffered defeat since Nov. 2, 2002. Currently ranked No. 1 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association's pre-season poll, USC enters with the promise and poise to win an unprecedented third straight NCAA women's volleyball crown.
"Our goal is to get a three-peat and that's been the goal after the first time we won, so that motivates (us) to win again - because it's never been done before," senior outside hitter Keao Burdine said.
A three-year championship run would in effect anoint the Women of Troy the greatest team in the history of women's volleyball - but for the head coach, at least, that might not even be enough.
"Dynasty has been (coach) Mick Haley's word for us in the long run," co-captain Emily Adams said. "In the short-term it's 'three-peat' but we're also trying to pave the way for the new group so next year they can teach the (freshmen) girls how it's done."
Adams said that for USC to be placed within the annals of all-time dominant sports teams, it must pass on the group's passion and drive for success to the eight newcomers on the squad.
"What these girls learn will be taught as a tradition in the USC volleyball program," she said. "If we establish discipline and a competitive gym culture - then we can establish the dynasty."
Adams, Burdine and fellow senior Alicia Robinson have all been witness to the Women of Troy's remarkable 91-5 record during the past three years - a .948 winning percentage.
While all three have the chance to be known as the most successful class in USC history, Adams realizes the team is looking for the same type of unparalleled accomplishments down the road.
"Perhaps we can pave the way for (juniors) Bibiana (Candelas) and Stacy (Venski), who next year can have the best four-year run ever," she said.
"I guess our goal is to set it up for the next few years and see if we can have a little fun and break some records."
With the new freshmen class, ranked first in the country by most knowledgeable publications, there is a strong chance that the Women of Troy could continue their success for years to come.
Before there can be any talk of dynasties, USC still needs to win the sought-after third-straight NCAA Championship that has eluded USC twice before - in 1978 and 1982. That possibility, plus last year's unblemished record makes the Women of Troy a marked team this season.
"We know we are targeted," Haley said. "Right now especially, that's why we put targets on the back of our shirts."
Haley said that each year the players and coaches pick a theme for the season and illustrate it on the team shirt. A cardinal and gold target is on the 2004 edition so the players will always be reminded that each opponent is going to try even harder to knock them off.
"We have been the team that people want to go after," Burdine said. "It's been like that the past couple years and since we haven't lost in a long time, we think people are really going to be gunning for us this year."
The closest competitor might lie right across town in the form of the No. 3 UCLA Bruins.
"UCLA is going have an experienced team this year," Haley said. "If you look at it, they finished tied for fifth last year, after losing to us in the regional final. They picked up some recruits and people who redshirted last year - they're going to be good."
But, that can be said for most of the Pacific-10 Conference slate as five of the preseason top 10 teams (USC, UCLA, No. 6 Stanford, No. 7 Washington and No. 10 California) are from the conference.
USC is once again playing a very challenging schedule, including up to 10 currently ranked teams, an opportunity that Haley said he will use to see which of his younger players will be able to contribute immediately.
"I see it as an evolving process over the first two and a half months of the season until we get people into position," he said. "The schedule will help because if anyone can expose what weaknesses we have early then that gives us a chance to work on them."
Haley is holding off announcing a permanent starting lineup so that he is able to develop his younger players into replicas of Adams, a two-time All-American, and Burdine, a two-time NCAA Championship MVP.
The one and only goal for USC this season is to earn the three-peat and while another undefeated year would be nice, all that the players care about is the ultimate prize - the 2004 NCAA national championship.
"I think we have the potential to be that good again," Burdine said. "But we don't care about going undefeated; we just want to win at the end."
