NCAA First Round Quotes
December 03, 2010 | Volleyball
Dec. 3, 2010
Washington Coach Jim McLaughlin
Opening Statement
We played well. I thought we played better each game, passed better each game, and I think our hitting just got better. I like that we got a little better and then our defense kicked in a little bit. It took awhile to get the percentages down, just based on a new line-up that they presented, but I liked the way we reacted to it so it was a good win. I thought we played pretty good and I really liked the way we passed. Their setter is a good setter and you really have to get a long look on her to see her right and she tipped the ball and we were on it. That's something we're not used to but these guys stayed real tight right here.
On how their game plan changed with Michigan's Alex Hunt not playing
We had a report planned and they did a good job of keeping it quiet and you always prepare for what's perfect and then you can adjust to the imperfection. So we had a report and then the percentages changed and it took us awhile to get on it. That mindset can screw you up [to think you have the advantage because they're without their best player]. You have to, regardless of who you're playing, where you're playing, you have to get on it, you see the game and you have to respond to it. I don't think any of us said "Oh #8's down". Michigan is a good team, even without #8, they're a good team.
Washington's Jenna Hagglund
On how the presence in the middle helped tonight
We always want to have a big presence in the middle and, based on a couple of their rotations, it was more available. So, we definitely had an emphasis in the middle on certain rotations and we got Lauren [Barfield] hot pretty quick so that adds more pressure on their block to have an extra hitter on. She was on time and she did great tonight so it really helps the whole offense run.
Washington's Becky Perry
On the team's mindset for this match
I think we were really only concerned with ourselves and that's kind of our emphasis going into every match from here on out is that we're not worried about anybody but us. So, I think we did a good job of only focusing on us.
On changing their game based on what the other team does
Our coaches do a really good job of showing us the tendency of certain hitters and you can go into a match knowing a hitter's tendency but what you see overrides what you know. So, if they push it out and it takes the girl to the line, we have to get in front of the line. If a girl usually hits cross-court and then, against us, she starts hitting line, we have to wait for that tendency to show up for us to change. So, basically, we stuck in a system that we knew and we figured it out after we got beat a little bit but we had to get beat first to know that their hitter was changing and going line instead of cross now.
Michigan Coach Mark Rosen
Opening Statement
I think Washington did a great job tonight. I thought they played very smooth, seven attack errors for the match tells you a lot about their efficiency and I think they did a great job. I'm really proud of our team. We obviously had a lot of adversity this week with the lineup and just personnel adjustments we had to make and I'm proud of them. Obviously, we weren't happy with our serving. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. But, I liked how we battled in a lot of areas of the game, especially with as many adjustments as we had to make. It's frustrating for it to be the last match with this team, but I am proud of them and proud of how they approached it. I certainly wish Washington luck as they advance through.
It's funny because the one thing that I thought we did the worst was stuff they had no control over and that was our serving. It's the one part of the game that they don't have an effect on and the ironic part about that is it's a big part of our game and we haven't had a match like that all year. It was completely out of the blue. And it's the one thing that wasn't affected by our personnel change too, having Alex [Hunt] out. She's a good server but it doesn't affect anyone else's serve. And it just became viral tonight. It got to the point where somebody missed and then a couple more people missed and then people felt the pressure of "Oh my gosh, I have to serve differently" and, you know, in game three we just had to put the ball in play. And we know against a team like Washington, if you just put it in play, that's not going to do you much good. But at that point, that's all we could do. Ironically, I thought Washington did what we thought Washington would do. I think that, had we given ourselves more opportunities in games one and two to score, I think we had a better chance of being in that match. They're a good team.
Michigan's Lexi Zimmerman
On her thoughts on her last match at Michigan
I'm very proud to have been a Michigan Wolverine for four years and I wouldn't have chosen any other program.
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Hawai'i Coach Dave Shoji
Opening Statement
I thought the key for us was the win in that first game. We still had some doubts about our game from last week and I thought it was real important we win that first game. We had a little problem figuring them out there, a pretty unorthodox team, they were playing us really tough there in game one. I thought the key to the match was game one. Once we felt better about ourselves, I thought we settled down and we played really well. Both Chanteal [Satele] and Kanani [Danielson] hit well tonight and we finally got a block going. We didn't block well last week but we did tonight. So, it looks like we're on track to playing better.
On whether he was surprised to see quite a few fans show up in Seattle
I wasn't really surprised, we have transplanted Hawai'ians all over the country and there were a lot here. There were a lot of students, actually, who were here. I don't know who they're going to root for tomorrow night but we had a lot of UW kids from Hawai'i so it's not surprising. We have a lot of Hawai'ians in the area so that was nice to see.
Hawaii's Chanteal Satele
On whether they were afraid to play after last week's loss
I don't think we were afraid. I think we were ready and confident to come out and show everyone that last week was just a fluke for us and we are a good team.
Hawaii's Kanani Danielson
On when the first game started to turn around in their favor
I think it was more towards the latter half of the game. I think a lot of it was jitters. Everybody was so excited and then everybody doesn't want to blow it, being that it's our first one and it could be our very last. So, everybody was trying just a little too hard and I think after we got through that first set, and everything leveled out, we got to see a lot more of Hawai'i ball.
On how they felt after last week's loss coming into today's game
I just know as soon as that game was over and we came to that first practice, we were ready to go. Nobody wanted to think (back on) it even though we had a lot of people asking us "What happened? What happened?", we just answered their question and just looked forward to the next practice and just trying to get better and put forth what we can for this week.
Portland State Coach Michael Seemann
Opening Statement
I thought we did a decent job in set one coming out and carrying out the game plan we had in mind and that was to contain Kenani [Danielson] and Chanteal [Satele]. However, I felt like we didn't do a lot of the routine stuff that we've done all year, turning tips into three-option opportunities for our hitters in transition. But yet, in the first set, I felt like we did some good things and blocked well enough to stay in the set. We had some opportunities to win it or at least put ourselves in a position to win the first set and it fell short. From that point on, I felt like it was a little bit touch and go in the second set and, as they started pulling away, I felt like we never really responded very well. The third set was, in my opinion, embarrassing for us and for this program and, not to take anything away from Hawai'i, they played very well, but we certainly self-destructed in the third set.
On any changes he'd have made to the gameplan
We felt the middles didn't have good lateral speed and, in fact, they don't. Our passing broke down enough where it didn't matter. They were able to set up on us. I felt like we had a lot of good punches and at least made them play defense and got them out of system and rallies ensued after that. And, definitely, their right pin blocker is undersized. We felt like we could expose that, too, with the right matchup and we just weren't able to do that. When your passing breaks down, and you've got a great defensive team like Hawai'i just waiting for you, it's going to be tough to score points.
On advice he'd give other coaches playing against Hawai'i
I'd say make Kenani [Danielson] handle the ball and, once in awhile, sprinkle some balls to the DS, I think she shanked a few or gives you an overpass, one or two. I think releasing some blockers to both #5 and #14 and make their middles play. I felt like we could've handled them if we were one-on-one with the middles, as far as defensively, and I don't think they respond to the tip very well in the middle of the court.
Portland State's Garyn Schlatter
On the offensive plan
A lot of it is determined by our first contact of it but, just exposing weaknesses in the block that we had kind of prepared for and trying to give the hitters their best opportunity.
Portland State's Christie Hamilton
On what she thought went wrong for them in this match
I think their serve-receive, our serve just kind of broke down and it made it really easy for them to run their offense, especially in the third game. If we don't give them tough serves, then it's pretty easy for them to just take advantage of their big hitters and it makes it hard for us to play defense.
