NCAA Ladies
August 7, 2024
CHICAGO — The Massive Ten volleyball coaches and student-athletes agreed that the game’s future is vibrant, regardless of not realizing what precisely that can appear like.
Even with a lot uncertainty surrounding volleyball, together with convention realignment, booming attendance and tv numbers and the pending Home settlement, everybody expressed optimism for its route throughout Massive Ten media days Tuesday.
“It’s on a rocket ship proper now, all girls’s sports activities. It’s fairly thrilling to see,” Nebraska coach John Cook dinner stated.
Faculty volleyball is coming off a season by which groups set information for viewership for the common season and the championship match, which was broadcast on ABC because the most-watched match. Nebraska crammed a soccer stadium with 92,003 individuals to observe a match final season, and Wisconsin attracted greater than 17,000 individuals to a regular-season match.
This yr is poised to construct upon that momentum with a pair of early-season occasions. Nebraska and Wisconsin will play Kentucky and Louisville on the KFC Yum! Middle in Louisville, website of December’s NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship.
Wisconsin and Minnesota will play Texas and Stanford on the Fiserv Discussion board in Milwaukee on Labor Day weekend, and the matches will likely be on FOX. As well as, NBC will broadcast its first school volleyball matches on its community, a trio of Massive Ten matches on Saturday afternoons.
“Volleyball is rising so much as a result of it’s very easy to choose up on, and also you may not have to know the game in any respect. You’ll be able to watch it. And you’ll understand how intense and thrilling it will get when somebody scores some extent,” Minnesota junior Mckenna Mucherer stated. “Lots of groups have been doing so much to advertise the game… These alternatives for us athletes are unimaginable. Simply being in that ambiance and seeing the followers have a good time for our sport is tremendous thrilling.”
Past the faculty recreation, the Skilled Volleyball Federation completed its first season earlier this yr, and a second skilled league (League One Volleyball) launches in January.
Ohio State assistant coach Michelle Bartsch performed with the Columbus Fury final season. OSU coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg stated it was wonderful for her gamers to see her figuring out with them within the morning after which play with the Fury within the night.
“I believe the reference to the Fury, but additionally each leagues are there with all of our connections that now we have as a employees, and it’s simply good. It’s good for the game, and I’m excited to see the expansion,” Oldenburg stated.
The game additionally hopes to construct on the Olympics, with the USA able so as to add one other medal. Two Massive Ten coaches, Michigan’s Erin Advantage and UCLA’s Alfee Reft, couldn’t be right here as a result of they’re USA Olympics assistants. Two different coaches, Kelly Sheffield of Wisconsin and Chris Tamas of Illinois, simply returned from Paris, the place they watched their former gamers.
“The satisfaction and pleasure that’s simply round for everyone—it was simply such an ideal vibe,” Sheffield stated. “I’m fired up for it to get to Los Angeles in 4 years. Hopefully, we’ll have some gamers, but when not, I can assure you that me and my household will likely be there.”
Within the school recreation, roster administration gave the impression to be headed to a extra regular state as virtually all gamers impacted by the 2020-21 COVID eligibility waiver are ending their careers this season. Nevertheless, the Home lawsuit settlement may upend how coaches construct groups.
The proposed settlement may allow direct compensation for student-athletes. As well as, it may set a roster restrict of 18 however permit for scholarships to all staff members.
Purdue coach Dave Shondell stated the NCAA would probably want to determine income sharing for soccer and basketball, however gender equality may imply that volleyball would profit from the settlement. He stated the Massive Ten colleges can keep up with the adjustments due to the league’s funding in volleyball.
“Being within the Massive Ten places you in a greater place than a variety of conferences for that,” Shondell stated. I do know our administration is satisfied that we’re going to have the ability to present the funding that would be the cap, so I’m enthusiastic about that.
The settlement has but to be finalized, nevertheless it may very well be as quickly as early subsequent yr. Nevertheless, coaches stated they’re having conversations to organize for potential large adjustments.
“Our administration is staying on prime of it and maintaining us educated as we proceed to maneuver ahead,” Washington coach Leslie Gabriel stated. “They’re keen to ensure that we’re supported in a manner the place we are able to compete with all one of the best colleges.”
As volleyball continues to evolve, Minnesota coach Keegan Cook dinner stated he tries to remain nimble and adapt to the adjustments.
“Being versatile ” might be a very powerful factor for the subsequent 5 to 10 years, as we are able to see in school sports activities. In the event you’re not versatile, it’s going to be powerful,” he stated. “Issues are altering rapidly and it’s a must to be okay with it. It’s important to transition rapidly. I’m fairly assured in Minnesota, within the Massive Ten, and even within the NCAA for the work they’re doing proper now to make the scenario higher for volleyball.”
Laborious-hitting questions
One of many highlights right here was the inclusion of scholars from close by Milton Brunson Math and Science Specialty Elementary Faculty. They took turns asking the coaches and gamers questions.
The younger reporters requested questions akin to what skilled athletes they appeared as much as, what hype music they listened to, in the event that they ever felt like quitting and why coaches selected to work at their college. The gamers and coaches usually needed to pause to think about responses. When requested if he ever considered quitting volleyball, Aird provided the scholars some phrases of knowledge to wrap up this time on the podium.
“My recommendation for you is on the opposite facet of exhausting is all the time whole pleasure, and also you’ll get to some extent in your profession the place you’ve bought to decide and also you’re like, man, that is actually powerful. In the event you can simply get previous that half, the opposite facet of it’s a variety of enjoyable. I believe these guys will inform you a similar factor; these guys are within the one % of 1 %, nevertheless it takes a variety of exhausting work. Sort of what you guys are doing proper now and studying extra and being right here when different persons are perhaps sleeping. It’s a reasonably good transfer by y’all.”
The most effective of day 2
There have been 9 extra groups Tuesday because the two-day occasion concluded. It is a listing of who represented every college and what they needed to say:
Indiana
2023 document, end: 21-12, 11-9 tie for sixth place
Coach Steve Aird Smith (125-173 total, 80-99 at Indiana), sophomore libero Ramsey Gary, graduate defensive specialist Delaynie Maple
“I bought actually comfy within the sand and I sort of bought to some extent the place I used to be feeling actually good about my recreation, feeling actually assured by the top of the season, after which two weeks later I used to be like Bambi once more. I believe it was actually humbling, however in all probability top-of-the-line issues I may’ve finished for myself,” Maple on her transition to enjoying indoors after profitable 4 nationwide titles and two first-team All-American honors with USC Seaside.
“Lastly, we didn’t coordinate the outfits, however we do look good. Shout-out to Sizzling Sam’s in Detroit, Michigan, for my blazer,” Aird on the matching cream outfits for the Indiana delegation.
Purdue
2023 document, end: 23-9 15-5, tie for third place
Coach Dave Shondell (458-226, 458-226), senior center blocker Lourdès Myers, sophomore outdoors hitter Chloe Chicoine
“I’m simply happy that we’re at some extent proper now that we’re being thought of for these issues in a league stuffed with groups which have unbelievable traditions. And we’ve labored exhausting over the course of time to get thus far. Now we have some thrilling gamers. If we didn’t have the gamers now we have, we wouldn’t be on NBC. We wouldn’t have 12 or 13 video games on linear TV. So I believe that’s a credit score to our gamers and what they’ve finished. The identical with being in Mackey. You don’t go in Mackey until you will get 14,000 individuals. We predict we’ll get 14,000 individuals. We predict Boilermaker Nation will thrive in that atmosphere,” Shondell on the chance to play a match in Mackey Area that will likely be proven on NBC
“I actually loved Indiana final yr simply because it was a rivalry recreation and it all the time is simply a lot enjoyable. We blare their battle music in practices earlier than to get us prepared, which is tremendous enjoyable. I additionally like enjoying at Penn State as a result of their scholar part is correct on prime of you,” Chicoine on her favourite locations to play within the Massive Ten.
UCLA
2023 document, end: 18-12, 10-10, sixth in Pac 12
Affiliate Head Coach Amir Lugo-Rodriguez (Head Coach Alfee Reft (18-12, 18-12) is a USA Olympics assistant coach), graduate center blocker Anna Dodson, graduate setter Audrey Pak
“It hasn’t been too unhealthy. I believe we’re operating on a variety of adrenaline and pleasure, which I believe will in all probability be how it’s on the street. I believe we’re simply going to have a variety of gratitude for having such cool alternatives like this, that we would really feel a bit bit drained however I believe the joy overcomes that,” Pak on the challenges of beginning their press convention earlier than 8 a.m. Pacfic Time and adjusting to the time challenges within the season.
“We wish to be inventive. We wish to be dynamic. An incredible phrase that Alfee makes use of is fierce. You watch our type of play and we play for arguably top-of-the-line coaches on the earth,” Lugo Rodriguez on the type of play UCLA brings to the Massive Ten.
USC
2023 document, end: 18-13, 12-8, fifth in Pac 12
Coach Brad Keller (63-47, 63-47), senior outdoors hitter Ally Batenhorst, senior setter Mia Tuaniga
“Certainly one of my favourite quotes is, ‘Creativeness is extra highly effective than data. Data is proscribed.’ And why meaning one thing to me is I would like individuals which can be keen to go for all of it and have an enormous urge for food. They dream. They aren’t afraid. They’re go-getters… So, after all, I’m going to have these varieties of individuals up right here speaking to all of you as a result of I wish to you see, get an excellent visible of what my program is, and that is precisely the illustration I would like. So it was a very easy selection for me on the subject of having her,” Keller on why he selected to carry Batenhorst to Media Days regardless of her becoming a member of this system this summer season.
“I’m not the largest fan of that new rule. I believe, personally, that there are particular performs in a recreation the place if a setter goes and he or she doesn’t double, that’s displaying how a lot time she places into her craft. I’m not saying that folks don’t put time in there; individuals do. Nevertheless it’s like if we’re going to alter the double rule and let doubles slide, what else are we going to let slide? What rule goes to return subsequent, that lets us, properly, we are able to do that too?” Tuaniga on the brand new double contact rule
Minnesota
2023 document, end: 17-13, 12-8, fifth place
Coach Keegan Cook dinner (215–69, 17-13), senior outdoors hitter/reverse Lydia Grote, junior outdoors hitter Mckenna Wucherer
“It’s the toughest factor is to know when to go away one thing, particularly a staff I supposed to educate at Washington my total life. I signed a brand new contract at Washington. I had gamers I liked teaching. However in some sense, I perhaps thought I had stopped rising in that I had turn out to be a bit too comfy a bit too quickly. That’s not what it’s about. For you as an adolescent or for me as a much less younger individual, we’re nonetheless rising. It’s important to put your self in areas that show you how to develop. That’s what Minnesota felt prefer to me. So I made the soar,” Cook dinner on why he selected to go away Washington for Minnesota. .
“I used to be actually blown away. Is that this even actual life? I get to go house. As a result of by no means in my 4 years I might have thought I get to go house and play in my house state of Milwaukee. And we get to go to Inexperienced Bay and Madison; we get the entire Wisconsin tour this yr. I’m so pleased to be enjoying at house in entrance of my household and associates. My home is actually quarter-hour away from Fiserv. That’s an actual insane expertise. It jogs my memory of highschool, like, I get to go house. We even bought to play in Waterloo in spring. I really feel like I’ve been on like my entire Wisconsin tour,” Wucherer, a Brookfield, Wisconsin native, upon studying they get to play two matches this season in Milwaukee.
Oregon
2023 document, end: 29-6, 16-4, second in Pac 12
Coach Matt Ulmer (142-69, 142-69), senior outdoors hitter Delay McClellan, senior center blocker Onya Ofoegbu
“I believe we’re simply tremendous excited to introduce ourselves. Our entire tradition, our entire — what we would like individuals to see after they play us. We’re simply very excited for our first yr in Massive Ten, and the competitors clearly goes to be tremendous, tremendous excessive degree. So we’re simply very excited for our first yr,” McClellan on what she’s trying ahead to of their first yr within the Massive Ten
“We’re truly altering our court docket this yr. I do know there’s a variety of followers all over the world which can be going to be actually unhappy about that, however we’re not going to have the bushes on the ground anymore for volleyball. We’re going to have TeraFlex. I attempted to get TeraFlex to imitate our actual court docket however they weren’t in a position to try this fairly but. Perhaps subsequent yr we’ll get the bushes on the TeraFlex. So all these streamers on the market I do know they’re going to be actually unhappy. We’re enthusiastic about having TeraFlex, the staff is happy about it. That’s going to be good for us,” Ulmer on their distinctive court docket design in Matthew Knight Area
Nebraska
2023 document, end: 32-2, 19-1, Massive Ten champions
Coach John Cook dinner (850-173, 689-100), senior outdoors hitter Lindsay Krause, senior setter Kennedi Orr
“I’m within the tank a bit bit as a result of Jordan (Larson) laid into me final week as a result of I didn’t go to Paris, and I’m like, ‘Jordan, I’m the grand marshal on the Burwell Rodeo. I can not go to Paris.’ So she’s by no means, ever stated — that is her fourth Olympics. She’s by no means stated something to me about not going,” Cook dinner on why he’s in hassle with United States Olympian and Nebraska assistant coach Jordan Larson.
“We’re probably the most motivated staff within the nation proper now. We left so much out on that court docket, and I believe we’re all actually fired up. I believe we’re balancing issues caught prior to now whereas on the identical time utilizing it to gasoline our future. I believe now we have discovered that wholesome stability, and I believe that’s actually making us all so excited to get again within the fitness center,” Krause on utilizing the loss within the nationwide title match to inspire them this season.
Ohio State
2023 document, end: 11-18, 8-12, tenth place
Coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg (76-38, 76-38), senior defensive specialist Sydney Taylor, sophomore Mia Tuman
“My dad performed on the Workforce Up North, however I believe it was simply actually cool to undergo the recruiting course of the place he’s like — I imply, you understand the place I would like you to go, however I would like you to make this determination for you…He does (put on Ohio State gear.). So long as it says Tuman No. 9 and volleyball. It has to say volleyball on it. However he’ll rock it to the house video games, which I recognize. He’s my largest fan, guys. I promise,” Tuman on coming from an athletic household that performed school sports activities
“The unknowns of the Massive Ten this yr change my (scheduling) philosophy simply because we get a shot at all people as soon as and perhaps three individuals twice, proper? It’s important to take a look at RPI. It’s important to work out what will get you in one of the best place to host first and second spherical, or are you able to host regionals, regional finals. I believe you take a look at all these issues, however the largest factor for this group is getting again to the postseason. I believe the method modified with the unknown of the Massive Ten, but additionally we wish to host first and second spherical, and that’s our path,” Oldenburg on altering their scheduling philosophy after going 3-6 in nonconference final yr.
Washington
2023 document, end: 16-15, 7-13, eighth in Pac 12
Coach Leslie Gabriel (16-15, 16-15), junior outdoors hitter Emoni Bush, senior outdoors hitter Madi Endsley
“We don’t have a lot management over it. We’ve simply bought to float. I really feel like we’ve simply sort of targeted on being current, taking the second because it comes, staying targeted on the volleyball facet. We don’t have management over our journey, the place we keep, what time we go away. We’re simply going to take it someday at a time and attempt to keep on prime of our schoolwork and keep targeted on volleyball,” Bates on how she is getting ready for the rise in journey this season.
“We had an ideal working relationship and we’ve been in a position to stay associates after. He simply talks about how nice this convention is and the way a lot they help volleyball and the way the community actually desires volleyball to succeed and get them out within the forefront,” Gabriel on her relationship with former Washington coach Keegan Cook dinner, who now’s at Minnesota.