NCAA Ladies
December 13, 2023
By Joey Johnston for VolleyballMag.com
TAMPA — The Texas Longhorns have battled expectations, a 5-3 begin to the season and staring their demise squarely within the face whereas overcoming a match level within the area semifinals.
For the defending nationwide champions, it has been one problem after one other.
Now for a actually sizable job.
How can the Longhorns address the entrance line of Wisconsin, which incorporates junior Anna Smrek (at 6-foot-9 the tallest participant within the school recreation) and Carter Sales space (6-7)?
For Texas to face tall in Thursday night time’s NCAA Division I Ladies’s Volleyball Championship nationwide semifinals at Amalie Area, it should discover a solution to keep away from getting stuffed on the internet. Simpler mentioned than accomplished.
When the Longhorns (26-4) problem the Badgers (30-3), it’s a query of whether or not their pace and athleticism can overcome the Wisconsin Wall. Many have tried. Few have succeeded.
“I believe we now have a brilliant aggressive fitness center,’’ Texas coach Jerritt Elliott mentioned. “We see massive blocks in our fitness center on a regular basis. Clearly, Wisconsin is absolutely massive. We’ve got tremendous dynamic athletes. We’ve got our personal physicality. We’ve got our personal pace.
“It’s a part of the enjoyable matchup, at all times attempting to determine the puzzle of learn how to beat groups. Some groups are tremendous quick. Some groups are a little bit bit larger. It’s the element that we’ll have to determine. I believe they (Texas gamers) have a little bit chip on their shoulder to exit and discover a solution to make that occur.’’
It might be folly to color Texas as a severely mismatched opponent, although. The Longhorns are also one of many nation’s prime blocking groups, so motion on the internet may very well be riveting.
“Clearly, she (Smrek) is quite a bit larger than I’m, quite a bit taller,’’ mentioned center blocker Asjia O’Neal (6-foot-3). “Their entire whole workforce, they’re a big block. However we now have a very massive block in our follow fitness center each single day. And I believe simply how dynamic all of our gamers are to seek out methods round that.
“They aren’t going to get annoyed. It is going to be actually enjoyable to see as a result of these are two actually good defensive blocking groups.’’
Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield described O’Neal as “among the best blockers on the planet,’’ saying the Badgers should be cautious of her competitiveness and expertise.
“Texas goes to play the way in which they wish to play,’’ Sheffield mentioned.
However it’s plain that Wisconsin’s stature will affect the match’s tone.
“I’ve hit in opposition to that every single day in follow and it’s a little bit demoralizing to get completely roofed by Anna or Carter,’’ mentioned senior exterior hitter Sarah Franklin, the Massive Ten participant of the yr. “It’s actually thrilling to see that in a recreation and know that they’re in your workforce. We’ve got so many different features of the sport that put strain on the opposite workforce and to have one other block on prime of that may be a lot to cope with.’’
Setter Izzy Ashburn agreed that Wisconsin’s total recreation is top-notch.
“It’s nice to coach in opposition to (massive blockers),’’ Ashburn mentioned. “It’s enjoyable to see what one other workforce sees from that perspective. Not solely is our entrance court docket tall and nice blockers with plenty of pace, however our again court docket does plenty of work that doesn’t get as a lot recognition.
“So working these two issues collectively, we’re an important defensive workforce. It’s onerous to set in opposition to. It’s onerous to hit in opposition to. It’s onerous to serve in opposition to.’’
Sheffield mentioned Texas poses its share of issues with a fast-paced offense, just like the Oregon workforce encountered within the area last that he known as “greased lightning.’’
“That’s one of many enjoyable issues in regards to the NCAA Match as you go, that each workforce has the power to emphasize you out … and the stress is totally different from match to match,’’ Sheffield mentioned. “It may very well be behind the service line or tempo or their measurement or the participant that they’re working.
“Actually, Texas stresses you out in a really, very totally different approach. However that stress may be very actual as a result of what they do — and the way they’re doing it — is at an elite stage.’’
Sheffield mentioned he truly believes mindset and mentality would be the largest elements to resolve Wisconsin vs. Texas.
“While you get to this stage, the No. 1 factor you’ve acquired to do is handle the second and the feelings,’’ Sheffield mentioned. “It’s not simply recreation plan or executing, however are you at a spot the place you may get higher because the match goes on? In the event you’re not studying the sport and studying as you’ll be able to, then you definitely’ll have actually massive issues.
“All of those last 4 groups are glorious defensively. You might have a number of individuals who can terminate from all 4 groups. And there are 4 groups that may win in additional than only one approach. I don’t keep in mind too many occasions the place lets say that a few last 4.’’
