Pre-Campus USA Credit Union Invitational Quotes
Thursday, September 2, 2010 | Volleyball
The Florida volleyball team opens its 2010 home slate by playing host to the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational this Friday and Saturday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The Gators will face Albany, Bowling Green and No. 15 Colorado State.
Before Thursday's practice at the O'Connell Center, head coach Mary Wise and Gator players spoke to members of the media. Selected quotes from that media availability are below:
FLORIDA HEAD COACH MARY WISE
"No matter what the sport, the best time to improve is from your first weekend to your second. While our results were positive last weekend, we also know that a number of our weaknesses were exposed and we need to see what we can gain from working on those. We haven't played two matches in one day in a while, but it was by design because we thought this was a group that could benefit from playing as many matches as possible."
On Florida not getting too wrapped up in its wins last weekend …
"Just like we don't spend energy speaking about our rankings, we don't spend any energy speaking about opponents' rankings. When you look at it, we're most concerned with what we're doing at 12:30 tomorrow against Albany, a team that has been to the NCAA Tournament multiple times, and they have another great libero that we're facing. We're not caught up on last weekend or next weekend; we're just focusing on this weekend. I know that sounds like coach-speak, but it's true."
On playing three matches in one weekend …
"I think we would be more concerned if we didn't have the senior leadership, but with Callie, Lauren, and Erin, and even Kristy, who has been here four years herself, it's like having four seniors. They've been through the grind and know how to work. And with preseasons, it's like a season within itself and you have to get better from the first match Friday to the end on Saturday. It's about 28 hours and it'll be a great test of our team."
On playing two matches in one day …
"One of the reasons teams are doing that less often is because the game has become so physical. There was a point in time, long before these players were born, that teams were playing best two out of three and were playing three matches in a day. It was very, very tough. Going to three out of five, you would never play three matches a day. By NCAA rules, we're limited by dates. We don't get as many dates as say, basketball, so we have to fit our games in when we can. So playing twice in one day, these are opportunities to improve and get better and see different opponents. We have the entire squad training daily under strength coach Matt DeLancey and they're incredibly fit. This is certainly not something you would want to do in November, however."
On the confidence the team gained from the AVCA/Runza Showcase …
"I think the confidence changed from Saturday evening on, after the Iowa State win. Could we have battled against Nebraska if we hadn't battled against Iowa State? I don't know. There was a great sense of confidence building and we'll build on that."
FLORIDA PLAYERS
#12 Kelly Murphy, Jr., S/RS
On earning SEC Player of the Week and AVCA Player of the Week honors …
"It's really cool, but it has to do with how the team played. If we hadn't played so well, it wouldn't have been possible. I'm really proud of the way we played."
On playing at home for the first time in 2010 …
"We're really excited. It's always fun to play at home. We have great crowds here at Florida and I think we're excited to play on our home court."
What the team took away from last weekend at the Runza/AVCA Showcase …
"We learned to never stop playing hard. Even if we were losing, we kept fighting and I think that's what allowed us to stay in those matches and gave us a chance to come back."
#15 Chanel Brown, Fr., S
On having a week of collegiate playing experience under her belt …
"It makes me a lot more confident. Especially to play with that kind of crowd in your season opener, I think it helped all of us realize how excited we are to come back to the O'Dome. We're ready to play in front of Gator Nation and see a lot of orange and blue."
On the competition at the Campus USA Credit Union Invite …
"Our first match is against Albany, so we're really focused on them. Yes, Colorado State is coming and we're thinking about them, but the first thing on our minds is Albany, then Bowling Green, then Colorado State."
On crowd support …
"My parents were able to come to the tournament last weekend and I feel so blessed that they were able to see me play. This week, even though I know they'll be keeping track back home, I'm just so excited to play in front of our fans. We had a good group of fans in Nebraska and I know it'll be even better here."
What she took away from beating two ranked opponents at the Runza/AVCA Showcase …
"Stay calm and stay united as a team. If we collectively work together and we're playing together as a team, not as six individuals, we can do anything."
