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Opening Statement:
Russ Rose (Head Coach) -
“It’s great to be here, I think our team is excited about the opportunity to compete at this level, at the national championship format. We have had a strong season, players have improved throughout the season and again we are excited about the opportunity in front of us.”
Russ Rose – Concerning Cal
“I saw a little of Cal early in the year when they played Minnesota, because they had a match on TV. I thought at that time they looked terrific. Certainly to advance this far, every one knows that the teams that get here, have gotten here based on their performance. The video that we have of them playing Nebraska, they looked great. Their outside hitters had a great evening and had a great impact on the outside.”
“There is a lot of similarity between our two teams, I think both teams lead their conference in blocking and aces and are in last place in digs. There seems to be a similarity that both of the teams have.”
“I’ve seen a number of their players through the junior ranks, but I am not privy to seeing a lot of Pac-10 volleyball, because they play to late for me.”
“Nebraska was the defending champion and for them to get beat 3-0, that is all the indication you need to know that Cal is playing terrific right now.”
Russ Rose – Concerning three Pac-10 School, time change
“The fact that there is three Pac-10 teams is an indication that those three teams played well in their regions and that they advanced.”
“Time issue is more of a challenge for me than the players, because I am never up at midnight and I think they are always up at midnight.”
“I think when you are young you get more excited about opportunities that you are concerned about getting your rest.”
Russ Rose – Compare this team to others reaching the NCAA Tournament
“Well I think every team is different, because the game has changed. Now that we are in a rally scoring era, the game has really changed.”
“The games are a little bit different now, the length of the rallies aren’t as long. You can get some kids that can take some bigger swings and some chances from the end line. I’m not necessarily a fan of the new style of volleyball, but that’s what it is.”
Melissa Walbridge (Senior Middle Hitter) – Compare this team to others reaching the NCAA Tournament
“This team is different than even the past three years, you have new people coming in and we all work together really well. We are working together now, at least last weekend, better than we have all year. We are looking forward to playing tomorrow night and building on what we started last weekend and what we’ve been trying to achieve this season.
Nicole Fawcett (Junior Outside Hitter) – Compare this team to others reaching the NCAA Tournament
“I agree with Mel, the past year I thought we have worked really well in the spring and the summer, playing hard and being a team. I think a little bit in the beginning of the year we fell from that, but we have pulled it together and we are doing that at a good time.”
Russ Rose – With two good blocking teams, what is the matchup and difference you look for?
“It will be easier to say after the match, but going into it their outside hitters get close to 60% of their swings and the success they have had in the Pac-10 is an indication that they are exceptional players.”
“We are not going to change our game plan because Cal sets their outside hitters. It’s one thing to see them on TV, I haven’t seen Pressey play in person since she was a club player in Orlando. She was an exceptional player in that age group then, and the fact that she is having the success she is having now is not necessarily surprising.”
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