Volleyball faces grueling week
September 6, 2006
After an emotionally and physically draining weekend, the ISU volleyball team could use some time to recover and regroup. Unfortunately for the Cyclones, they get three matches in four days instead.
“I expect it, again, to be another tough week for us,” said coach Christy Johnson. “It’s kind of a grind – we haven’t had a whole lot of sleep in the last week, just because of the busy schedule.”
The Cyclones take the court tonight at Hilton Coliseum against the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The Kangaroos have started the season 0-7 and have not beaten Iowa State in 11 tries. The match should give Iowa State a chance to rest some starters and explore other options.
FASTTRAK
Volleyball Schedule 2006:
>> Hawkeye Challenge
August 25 – Chicago State – at Iowa City 3 – 0 (W)
Aug. 26 – Drake – at Iowa City 3 – 0 (W)
Aug. 26 – Iowa – at Iowa City 3 – 2 (W)
>> Aug. 30 – Northern Iowa – Ames 3 – 1 (W)
>> Holiday Inn Irvine Classic
Sept. 1 – UC Irvine – at Irvine, Calif. 3 – 0 (W)
Sept. 2 – Michigan – at Irvine, Calif. 1 – 3 (L)
Sept. 2 – San Diego – at Irvine, Calif. 2 – 3 (L)
>> 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 – UMKC – Ames
>> Cyclone Classic
6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 – Valparaiso – Ames
4 p.m. Sept. 9 – South Dakota State – Ames
6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 – Baylor – Ames
>> 7 p.m. Sept. 20 – Nebraska – at Lincoln, Neb.
>> 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 – Oklahoma – Ames
>> 7 p.m. Sept. 27 – Kansas State – at Manhattan, Kan.
>> 7 p.m. Sept. 30 – Kansas – at Lawrence, Kan.
>> 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 – Texas – Ames
>> 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7 – Missouri – Ames
>> 8 p.m. Oct. 11 – Colorado – at Boulder, Colo.
>> 7 p.m. Oct. 14 – Texas Tech – at Lubbock
, Texas
>> 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 – Texas A&M – Ames
>> 7 p.m. Oct. 21 – Baylor – at Waco, Texas
>> 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25 – Kansas State – Ames
>> 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1 – Missouri – at Columbia, Mo.
>> 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 – Kansas – Ames
>> 6:30 p.m. Nov. 8 – Nebraska – Ames
>> 2 p.m. Nov. 12 – Texas A&M – at College Station, Texas
>> 5 p.m. Nov. 15 – Texas Tech – Ames
>> 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 – Texas – at Austin, Texas
>> 7 p.m. Nov. 22 – Oklahoma – at Norman, Okla.
>> 2 p.m. Nov. 25 – Colorado – Ames
>> NCAA First/Second Rounds
Nov. 30 – Dec. 3
>> NCAA Regionals
Dec. 7 – Dec. 10
>> NCAA Championship
Dec. 14 – Dec. 16
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“It’s kind of going to give some of us a rest, and give everybody a shot and see what our best lineups are,” said senior Katie Jessen.
UMKC is a small team, with only two players at or taller than 6 feet, and it has been outblocked in all seven of its matches so far. The Cyclones are one of the better blocking teams in the country, and should be able to continue their domination at the net and make quick work of the Kangaroos.
As the team heads into its last week of play before the Big 12 season starts, it is important to find out who is ready to help the team during the grueling conference season.
“This week will be really good for us just to get a last chance to see some people in different positions and get an evaluation of our lineup,” Johnson said. “It’s good to have a chance, just a couple more matches, to get a feel for if those people are ready to play in the Big 12, and how we can use them.”
Coming out of a big-time tournament, the Cyclones are building confidence and starting to believe they can play with top competition. Although they stumbled in their last two matches, they hung tough with No. 20 San Diego, something that they can build on.
“I wish we would have won, but just as important was a chance to see a more physical team, basically just what we are going to see in the Big 12,” Johnson said.
Trying to manage such a hectic schedule can make it challenging for a player to stay focused. Jessen said the team is focused on making the NCAA tournament, and that helps them stay mentally prepared.
“We are definitely focused on one match at a time, but ultimately we are focused on the big goal: making it to the tournament this season,” Jessen said. “We know that each individual week is going to take us there, and more than anything, this week is kind of a recoup week to get us back in the winning mode.”
One advantage of playing so many matches, especially against some weaker competition, is the Cyclones get a chance to fine-tune individual aspects of their game. Jessen noted a few things that the team can work on that were lacking in the tournament.
Maintaining setting options, mixing things up, and being low-error and efficient are critical to the team’s success, Jessen said.
The Cyclones hope the early support the fans have shown continues as the season progresses.
“Last Wednesday night was a really good match for us. We played really well in front of a great home crowd – over 2000 people,” Johnson said. “I’m hoping that’s a trend that will continue, and I hope the fans will continue to come in.”
Other volleyball resources from ISD:
Cyclones ‘set’ for change (08/23)
Experienced volleyball team ready to spike the competition(08/23)
Fast Facts: Volleyball terms(08/23)
ISU volleyball team competing for points in Cy-Hawk series(08/25)
Cyclones lead in competition(08/28)
Cyclone volleyball opens home season against rival Northern Iowa(08/30)
Cyclone volleyball topples Panthers for second year(08/31)
