The Creighton volleyball team hopes to get the opportunity to extend their season after their trip the MVC Volleyball Tournament this weekend, which starts Thursday.
Northern Iowa, the host school, has not lost a conference game in the past three seasons. The MVC Tournament is back in Cedar Falls for the second consecutive year. The Panthers will have a decisive advantage in the tournament, as the league’s best team will play on their own home court.
The MVC Tournament was a real help to the Bluejays last season, when they earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after getting to the MVC Tourney finals for the first time in school history. After their win over Drake last weekend, the Bluejays have some momentum in their opening round match-up against Illinois State on Thanksgiving. If the Bluejays win that match, then, you guessed it, they will have to get through UNI to have a shot at the league’s automatic bid.
We had a chance to talk to head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth about the week ahead and the potential to continue their season.
White & Blue Review: What momentum do you take into the MVC Tournament after the win over Drake last weekend?
Kirsten Bernthal Booth: “I think it is always good to figure out a way to win and we played three really good games on Saturday night. I thought we really dominated games one and two. I thought we let down and I thought we regrouped and played a good fifth game. To Drake’s credit I thought once they got momentum in game three, they played better too. I think it is always good to go into the tournament after a win.”
WBR: Illinois State is your first opponent, and the Redbirds always play Creighton tough. Do you do anything different versus the previous two times you have played them this season?
KBB: “It is not a matter of Illinois State playing us tough, they are flat out good. They barely lost to Missouri State on Saturday night where it went five. They won one game 25-12. When they are on fire, they are not lucky, it is a matter that they have hitters all over the place, good defense, and a good setter. We will need to be ready to go. They have to players that are really leading their charge and some really good role players to back them up. We need to be ready for a dogfight Thursday night.”
WBR: With Laurel Sanford and Karisa Almgren as seniors, do they have any different drive this week to keep their season going?
KBB: “I think they have been driven all season long. I don’t necessarily see a difference but they want to play their best at the end of the year just like anyone else does. They have been two wonderful seniors for us and I think all of us want to put out our best and give us an opportunity to play into next week.”
WBR: With the tournament being in Northern Iowa again this season, does it make it a lot tougher that it is there instead of somewhere else?
KBB: “I think Northern Iowa generally plays better on their home court but I think they are good regardless. I think it is unfortunate that the decision was made to return there. In my nine years, it has been a rotating site based on teams that have traditionally qualified. So I think, including the Northern Iowa coach, we were all pretty shocked to see it land back at Northern Iowa. But it is what it is. The McLeod center is a great place to play and they have great fans. I definitely don’t walk in saying our players are intimidated. I think our players really feed on great atmospheres and it is a great atmosphere to play. I’m excited, this is what it is all about. It is go time.”
***
Notes:
- All matches except for the championship on Saturday can be seen live for free on Valley-Live TV, the Missouri Valley Conference’s online web platform.
- The Championship game on Saturday night can be seen on Fox Sports Net and Fox College Sports. In Omaha it will be on Cox Channel 76. See the Creighton Athletics game notes for other channel designations based on where you live and your provider. If you live outside of the MVC footprint, the match will be available on ESPN3.com.
- You can also listen to all the matches on 1180 KOIL AM.
- Creighton has won 12 of the last 13 meetings against Illinois State.
- If Creighton makes it to the semifinals against Northern Iowa, the Panthers have eliminated the Bluejays from the MVC Tourney almost every year in recent memory — the Panthers ended Creighton’s run in the tourney every year since 2006.
