Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Aug 31, 2005 14:08:19 GMT -5
SJSU volleyball to travel for weekend tournament
By Cheeto Barrera Spartan Daily
San Jose, CA (U-WIRE) -- Coming off a season-opening win against the University of California-Davis, the San Jose State University volleyball team will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., this weekend for the Falcon Invitational Tournament.
The young Spartan team will play two games Friday -- one each against Weber State University and the University of Wisconsin in pool play. SJSU will also play Saturday against an opponent based on Friday's performance.
Spartan head coach Craig Choate said his goal is to finish 2-1, but he thinks winning the whole tournament is possible.
"We are going to play the 10th ranked team in the country," Choate said. "Can we beat them? Yes we can. But we got to come out 2-1; that is the minimal acceptable outcome. Finishing 3-0 is doable. Beating Wisconsin is doable."
Sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Senftleben said she concurred with her coach and that if they beat Wisconsin, they will have a good chance against the reigning Western Athletic Conference champion, the University of Hawaii.
"We have a chance to win our two other games," Senftleben said. "If we do win (against Wisconsin), we have a good chance against (Hawaii)."
Junior defensive specialist, or libero, Jessie Shull said playing against a ranked team will help the team play harder, especially when it is not expected to win.
"It is easier to play up," Shull said. "We have nothing to lose; they expect to win. We're going to play hard. We hope to take out a lot of confusion, a lot of hesitation and be more aggressive (than our game against Davis)."
The young team not only has a new batch of first-year players, but a couple of returning Spartans who are shifting over on the court and playing new positions.
Outside hitter Kristina Conrad, who was the setter last year, said switching positions and players new to collegiate volleyball left the team trying to find its groove, but she is confident it can come together this weekend.
"We're still working out the kinks," Conrad said. "Everyone is playing a new position."
With five freshmen on the squad, several of the players are getting their first look at college-level play.
"I'm really excited to be going into tournament play," said Colleen Burke, freshman middle blocker. "The games are a lot faster. I'm excited to play Wisconsin. It will be really cool to play a power like that."
Burke was one of three Spartans who scored 10 or more kills during the Aug. 26 match against Davis, which the Spartans beat 3-1. Middle blocker Senftleben led the team in kills, racking up 24 points in the winning cause.
Senftleben said that while they beat the Aggies, the Spartans didn't play up to their ability and must play better, especially against Wisconsin.
"We need to come out a lot stronger than we did against Davis," Senftleben said. "We can play (against Wisconsin) if we come out well. We can give them a good fight."
Choate said he and the team will watch the competition closely during the tournament, but volleyball is a game with little variation.
"We will watch other teams play, but in volleyball, there is nothing new," Choate said. "If you execute properly, no one is going to beat you."
Choate said he was encouraged by Friday's game against the Aggies, but the team's passing game needed to be improved.
"We did everything right, except passing," Choate said. "Passing is something we work on every day, all year long. Our passing has been better than that. I hope it was first-match jitters."
Choate said SJSU should have done better and could have easily blown out Davis.
Despite the first-match jitters, Choate said the team's defense was solid, with three players each recording 20 digs, or defensive saves.
"(Danielle Orong), the defensive specialist, had 22 digs," Choate said. "We played pretty spectacular defense. I had three kids with 20 digs. I don't think that has ever happened in all the years I've coached."
By Cheeto Barrera Spartan Daily
San Jose, CA (U-WIRE) -- Coming off a season-opening win against the University of California-Davis, the San Jose State University volleyball team will travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., this weekend for the Falcon Invitational Tournament.
The young Spartan team will play two games Friday -- one each against Weber State University and the University of Wisconsin in pool play. SJSU will also play Saturday against an opponent based on Friday's performance.
Spartan head coach Craig Choate said his goal is to finish 2-1, but he thinks winning the whole tournament is possible.
"We are going to play the 10th ranked team in the country," Choate said. "Can we beat them? Yes we can. But we got to come out 2-1; that is the minimal acceptable outcome. Finishing 3-0 is doable. Beating Wisconsin is doable."
Sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Senftleben said she concurred with her coach and that if they beat Wisconsin, they will have a good chance against the reigning Western Athletic Conference champion, the University of Hawaii.
"We have a chance to win our two other games," Senftleben said. "If we do win (against Wisconsin), we have a good chance against (Hawaii)."
Junior defensive specialist, or libero, Jessie Shull said playing against a ranked team will help the team play harder, especially when it is not expected to win.
"It is easier to play up," Shull said. "We have nothing to lose; they expect to win. We're going to play hard. We hope to take out a lot of confusion, a lot of hesitation and be more aggressive (than our game against Davis)."
The young team not only has a new batch of first-year players, but a couple of returning Spartans who are shifting over on the court and playing new positions.
Outside hitter Kristina Conrad, who was the setter last year, said switching positions and players new to collegiate volleyball left the team trying to find its groove, but she is confident it can come together this weekend.
"We're still working out the kinks," Conrad said. "Everyone is playing a new position."
With five freshmen on the squad, several of the players are getting their first look at college-level play.
"I'm really excited to be going into tournament play," said Colleen Burke, freshman middle blocker. "The games are a lot faster. I'm excited to play Wisconsin. It will be really cool to play a power like that."
Burke was one of three Spartans who scored 10 or more kills during the Aug. 26 match against Davis, which the Spartans beat 3-1. Middle blocker Senftleben led the team in kills, racking up 24 points in the winning cause.
Senftleben said that while they beat the Aggies, the Spartans didn't play up to their ability and must play better, especially against Wisconsin.
"We need to come out a lot stronger than we did against Davis," Senftleben said. "We can play (against Wisconsin) if we come out well. We can give them a good fight."
Choate said he and the team will watch the competition closely during the tournament, but volleyball is a game with little variation.
"We will watch other teams play, but in volleyball, there is nothing new," Choate said. "If you execute properly, no one is going to beat you."
Choate said he was encouraged by Friday's game against the Aggies, but the team's passing game needed to be improved.
"We did everything right, except passing," Choate said. "Passing is something we work on every day, all year long. Our passing has been better than that. I hope it was first-match jitters."
Choate said SJSU should have done better and could have easily blown out Davis.
Despite the first-match jitters, Choate said the team's defense was solid, with three players each recording 20 digs, or defensive saves.
"(Danielle Orong), the defensive specialist, had 22 digs," Choate said. "We played pretty spectacular defense. I had three kids with 20 digs. I don't think that has ever happened in all the years I've coached."
they don't play Butler on Saturday.
