The Creighton volleyball team is having its best season in program history since relaunching in 1994. After last weekend’s disposal of Illinois State and Indiana State, the Bluejays head into this weekend’s match against Drake sitting at 17-3 for the season as well as on the top of the Missouri Valley Conference race with an 8-1 record. Despite being on the verge of a top 25 ranking, head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth still thinks they have plenty to do as the season continues.
“I don’t feel like we are on top of the conference, but that I feel like we are playing pretty well,” said Booth. “It is such a cliche, but we have a big match on Saturday night. There is too much of the season and you want to be playing at your best at this point in the year and that is what we are focused on.”
Teams have given the Bluejays their best shot, but now with the Bluejays on top of the league, teams are likely more motivated to put a little more energy against Creighton.
“There is no question, generally as competitive people, when you are playing a team in front of you as an underdog, you want to play your best and upset them. We have to be ready for that. This week in particular, Drake always gets up for playing Creighton. It is a very big match for them, just as it is for us. I anticipate Drake to play very well, especially at home.”
The Bluejays have been very balanced this season with different players stepping up at different times. Bernthal Booth also pointed out how their serving has become better. “Our passing continues to get more consistent which has to be a key for us to be successful. I also think we are serving pretty well. I always think the team that can serve and pass the best has the edge to win.”
The consistency becomes key as we look back at the Bluejays three losses. There has been plenty to be excited about this season. The Bluejays have pretty much buzzed through their schedule, but had setbacks against three opponents that they probably wish they had a chance to play again, one they do get to face again in Omaha next weekend.
Their first lost came against #14 Kansas State, where very early in the match Michelle Sicner went down with an ankle injury which caused some disruption in the offensive and defensive schemes. That could have caused the Bluejays to lose some focus in eventually getting swept by the Wildcats. The Bluejays rebounded that same day by adjusting and winning their nightcap.
The second loss was down in Lawrence, Kansas against the #21 Jayhawks. Creighton was down 0-2, but rallied back to take the next two and was just a couple hits away from pulling out the victory in the fifth set.
The third loss came against a much improved Southern Illinois team the week after the Bluejays broke Northern Iowa’s 59 match MVC regular season winning streak. The loss against the Salukis broke a 19 match winning streak of their own against SIU. In that match, the Bluejays lost the first set in the fourth set rallied back from behind to take a 24-22 lead only to allow Southern Illinois to rally back themselves to take a lead 25-24 and eventually knock off the Bluejays with a 28-26 victory.
While the match against Drake could easily be a victory on Saturday night against the 3-17 Bulldogs, it is these three examples above on how important it is to not take an opponent lightly and to not let themselves lose focus.
While the basketball teams use Creighton’s week of fall break to get an early jump and put in as many practices as they can, Bernthal Booth did exactly the opposite with her team in preparing for the final half of the MVC volleyball grind.
“We actually gave them, the first time probably in my 10 years here, two days off. They normally get Sunday off and then we gave them Monday and Tuesday off. It has been great. They get their legs back and some mental rest. I trust this team can take rest effectively and come back and practice well.”
Libero, Kate Elman appreciated the extra time off earlier in the week
“We didn’t lift or do anything. A couple of us came in for our training. I hope things go well or we won’t get another day off.”
Although only a freshman, Elman understands how important it is to be prepared on Saturday.
“Things are very positive. We hold ourselves to a high standard. The attitude in the gym is that we are here to get better and we have things to get improved on. Let’s not mess around and get things done. To be able to play consistently at the same high level no matter who we are playing, that is one of the things we are working on. I think we have been a lot better at being consistent with our play.”
Elman was the MVC Freshman of the week for the third time this season for her play against the Redbirds and Sycamores last week. She is currently on pace to eclipse a couple records established by former high school teammate and Bluejay, Julianne Mandolfo. Elman has at least 10 digs in all 20 matches played this season. Mandolfo scored 10 digs in 23 consecutive matches as a freshman. Elman is also on pace to eclipse Mandolfo’s freshman marks in digs and digs per set.
While all the honors and records are great, the team will not be satisfied until they finish the regular season strong and get back to the NCAA Tournament.
“Are we in a position to see some of the goals we setup at the beginning of the year? Yes,” said Bernthal Booth. “It is one match at a time, just like it is wherever we are at in the league.”
NOTES:
- The match against Drake will be broadcast this weekend on Mighty 1290. You can also follow the live stats.
- With the Jays sitting at 8-1 and on top of the MVC standings heading into the second half of the season, the school sitting at the top has won at least a share of the MVC regular season championship in 18 of the 19 seasons women’s sports have fallen under the MVC umbrella
- 18 of 22 teams in the MVC who have started 8-1 or better in conference play has made the NCAA Tournament.
- A victory at Drake on Saturday would mark win number 100 on the road for the Bluejays since reinstating volleyball in 1994.
