The Creighton volleyball team sits at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference standings at 5-0 after wins over Illinois State and Indiana State. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the next two weeks will make a dramatic statement where the Bluejays are at in the mix of the MVC race.
Creighton hits the road this weekend for a series against the teams right below them — Missouri State and Wichita State. Both of those places have been challenges for the Bluejays. The Bears are 28-7 all-time against the Bluejays, including 14-3 against them in Springfield. The Shockers on the other hand have a slight edge over Creighton 20-17, but Bluejays have won three of the past five meetings.
One great advantage for head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth and her team is that the season is now into October, where the Bluejays made their big run, setting up their at-large berth to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. With the ranked Northern Iowa Panthers waiting in the wings next week, they have to be careful not to look too far ahead and focus on this big road trip.
The Bluejay women received more recognition after last week’s performance. Leah McNary continues her rise on the outside. The freshman won the MVC Freshman of the week honors for her play against the Redbirds and Sycamores. Also, Julianne Mandolfo manned the floor with MVC Defensive honors. The Volleyball team has now had six different players recognized (five by the MVC) for their play this season.
While the team was preparing Wednesday afternoon, we talked to coach Booth about the team and what they are doing to get ready for the big weekend.
White & Blue Review: The season started off a little rocky, but now in Valley play, the team seems to be playing with a lot more confidence lately. How do you see the team?
Kirsten Bernthal Booth: I think we have gotten better each week. I still think we have a long way to go. I think we have the talent to get better. We have had a really good week of practice and hopefully we will have a good one today. I think we are progressing and as a coach that is what you are shooting for. You are always hoping to play your best at the end of the year and we are at the midway point. We want to make a push and obviously we will find out where we are after this weekend playing two of the top teams.
WBR: Heather Thorson has sort of blown up here over the past few weeks and more than her first couple of seasons. What has been the thing for her to be able to shine a little more?
KBB: Confidence. Heather is a kid that when she thinks she is playing well, she plays well. She did that last year, she did that in preseason, and has been playing incredible in practice. She had her knee injury, was out for a little while and lost a little of that confidence. She perfected her play and now she has her swagger back.
That is one of the things we get on Heather for a lot. Even if you aren’t playing well, remember the way it feels when you are playing well, because she can come back and play great.
WBR: Along the same lines, Leah McNary has really been playing well since she was inserted into the rotation. How has she progressed from coming into fall camp to where she is today?
KBB: Our intent was to redshirt Leah and she had progressed so fast, we felt like she was ready to go. From a coaching standpoint, she is so fun to coach because she is so eager to take feedback. She has a pretty good mind and body control that she can take stuff that we give her and put it into action. Those are always really fun kids to coach and she has literally improved every day.
Some kids you have to be careful on how much you give them because they start to break down a little bit. Leah is one who seems to relish at getting as much feedback as she can.
WBR: This weekend, you have your biggest challenge in conference play so far. What are the environments like in Missouri State and Wichita State?
KBB: Missouri State has a good environment and Wichita State has a great environment. Wichita State will drop several thousand a game. They will have a loud crowd. Missouri State will have a good crowd too, but Wichita State is quite the environment. This is what is fun. Playing teams you are supposed to beat is great, but teams that are really going to challenge you, that is what it is about.
WBR: What is the one thing that will determine the outcomes of these games this weekend?
KBB: I have been really focusing on Missouri State. I think we are going to need to work to neutralize them. Missouri State has some great parity. So our serving is going to be very key in being able to limit their selection they are running offensively. So serving is going to be very important.
Our defense is going to have to be better than it was last weekend to be successful.
And sometimes it is just the team that wants it more.
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NOTES:
- Both matches on Friday and Saturday will start at 7:00 p.m. and they can be heard on 1180 KOIL AM.
- Follow the live stats of the game Friday and Saturday
- Last weekend, Coach Booth notched her 150th and 151st win at Creighton. Also Booth will be inducted into the Truman Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night, but will be unable to attend the ceremony because of the game in Springfield.
- The team to win the first set has won 3 of Creighton’s last 35 matches and 30 of the last 31 contests against MVC competition.
- Check out the rest of GoCreighton’s game notes.