Post by bigfan on Sept 20, 2005 11:00:02 GMT -5
USC begins Pac-10 play on a high note
Haley will continue to rotate senior Candelas around the court as Pac-10 play begins.
By Kate Bartlett
After coming off a weekend win over Pepperdine, the No. 12 Women of Troy volleyball team is starting to get things back on track. After coach Mick Haley expressed fears last week that he worried his team would lose the will to win, USC turned the tables and showed him all was not lost.
The Women of Troy will head into Pacific-10 Conference play, a league chock full of ranked teams that will likely give USC many tough tests. Stanford, whom USC will face on Friday, is already 11-1 and ranked No. 3.
Injuries and sickness have been a huge concern for Haley. Kelli Tennant managed to play against the Waves after falling ill last week and pulled out three solo blocks in the match. Katelyn Bishop is also starting to gain some momentum after injuries and sickness as well. Her kill was the game-clinching play in game three in the Women of Troy's sweep of the Waves.
"We've got nickel and dime stuff but so does everybody," Haley said. "And I think that we're getting better. Now the point is not to be satisfied with not just getting better but start winning some matches."
But even after a nice win, Haley isn't letting his team off too easy. He had them going hard and even said that he was tired himself.
"I really had a hard practice (Monday), and I thought that I was going to lose them today. But they still came back at the end which was good," he said.
"I don't want to pat them on the back too much in the middle of the week, but they still did really good. That's not been their forte to do that so I am thinking that we are starting to mature a bit."
Haley will continue to move middle blocker Bibiana Candelas around the court. At certain points in matches, she has moved over to the outside and opposite hitter positions and has done well in that role, setting a career high of 23 kills against Pepperdine. Haley said he has also been trying the same thing with Staci Venski and Tennant.
Haley will continue to rotate senior Candelas around the court as Pac-10 play begins.
By Kate Bartlett
After coming off a weekend win over Pepperdine, the No. 12 Women of Troy volleyball team is starting to get things back on track. After coach Mick Haley expressed fears last week that he worried his team would lose the will to win, USC turned the tables and showed him all was not lost.
The Women of Troy will head into Pacific-10 Conference play, a league chock full of ranked teams that will likely give USC many tough tests. Stanford, whom USC will face on Friday, is already 11-1 and ranked No. 3.
Injuries and sickness have been a huge concern for Haley. Kelli Tennant managed to play against the Waves after falling ill last week and pulled out three solo blocks in the match. Katelyn Bishop is also starting to gain some momentum after injuries and sickness as well. Her kill was the game-clinching play in game three in the Women of Troy's sweep of the Waves.
"We've got nickel and dime stuff but so does everybody," Haley said. "And I think that we're getting better. Now the point is not to be satisfied with not just getting better but start winning some matches."
But even after a nice win, Haley isn't letting his team off too easy. He had them going hard and even said that he was tired himself.
"I really had a hard practice (Monday), and I thought that I was going to lose them today. But they still came back at the end which was good," he said.
"I don't want to pat them on the back too much in the middle of the week, but they still did really good. That's not been their forte to do that so I am thinking that we are starting to mature a bit."
Haley will continue to move middle blocker Bibiana Candelas around the court. At certain points in matches, she has moved over to the outside and opposite hitter positions and has done well in that role, setting a career high of 23 kills against Pepperdine. Haley said he has also been trying the same thing with Staci Venski and Tennant.