Last week, Creighton Volleyball rebounded in a big way. Although the Nebraska Cornhuskers swept CU Thursday night, the Bluejays took some positive steps and rebounded with sweeps of their own against Weber State on Friday and St. Mary’s on Saturday. St. Mary’s was receiving votes in the top 25 heading into last week, meaning the win could be a turning point for the Bluejays.
Creighton returns home this weekend to host the Creighton Classic. Travel partners Drake and Creighton were scheduled to meet this weekend as the only match. However, it’s still early enough that many other leagues haven’t started conference play. That means the Jays had an opportunity to host two other opponents and swap opponents with Drake on Saturday. Non-conference foes McNeese State and Alabama-Birmingham round out the two-day event at Sokol Arena.
We had a chance to talk to Creighton head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth about the play of the volleyball team and a preview of what to expect this weekend.
White & Blue Review: Last week after the loss to Nebraska, you rebounded big time. How do you think the team played after that?
Kirsten Bernthal Booth: I thought in the Nebraska match we played about a game and a half of great volleyball. I thought the first half of the first game we played well, the second game I thought we played well, and the third game we were sort of up and down. Against Weber State, I thought that we played consistently well that entire match. They were definitely a team that could bite you if you didn’t play well. Against St. Mary’s, it was definitely our best effort of the season as far as consistency.
The thing that I liked about the St. Mary’s match is that all three games were up for grabs in the 20-range. Any team could have won any of those three games. We figured out a way to win. Sometimes we stepped up and won and sometimes they gave us points, but I was really pleased with that effort. I think we have seen what we are capable of doing to some degree this past weekend and now it is about building off of that because we still have a long way to go.
WBR: What have you worked the most on this week?
KBB: We did some team work yesterday and will do a lot today, but we have been working individually with a lot of kids. It could be about a certain person’s defense against an attack or some blocking footwork. It has been player specific on the things we have worked on this week.
WBR: Megan Bober and Michelle Sicner were probably put into a different position than they expected. How have they adjusted to the new formation and roles on the team?
KBB: They have been awesome about it. Megan has been set into a 5-1 for two years and literally one morning I throw this at her and she doesn’t skip a beat. She has been coming in early trying to get hitting reps. Michelle was excited for the opportunity to get on the court. The thing I have been really impressed with, and I told the coaching staff, is that they have really communicated with each other. So if a ball is tight, they are pushing each other out of the way saying that they will take it. I have been thoroughly impressed with their communication with each other to make this really work.
WBR: As far as the all the freshmen, who appear to be playing a lot, how are they coming along and working with the team?
KBB: We have been really excited about the progress of the freshmen. I think it is always a work in progress when you see all of these things they have to continue to do. I texted Leah McNary last night because I felt like we threw 10 million things at her yesterday. We have to make sure we are not overwhelming them in the process and make sure we point out all the good things they are doing. So it is a compliment to all five of them how much we think they have the potential of doing and earn extra playing time right now.
WBR: With the invitational this weekend, it also starts conference play. Do you feel like conference play has sort of snuck up on you and the team?
KBB: It does go fast. I think I have been gearing up for Drake and knew all along that we had conference play starting. You always wish you had more time to prepare and I’m sure Drake feels the same way. It is 0-0 now. I see it as three seasons — you have your non-conference play, your conference play, and your postseason play. We are starting season two on Friday
WBR: What do McNeese State and UAB bring to the court this weekend and challenges for the Bluejays?
KBB: I have not watched McNeese State yet — that was one for Tom (Mendoza) to scout. UAB has an RPI ahead of us. They are a very good team. They are solid all the way around. We played them a few years ago and lost to them in five (September 5, 2008). We know they have a great program. Their coaches are actually Ogalalla, Nebraska natives. Since we are talking about connections, McNeese State’s head coach used to coach at Iowa Western and won a National Championship with them (2006) and Terry Gamble is a good friend.
***
NOTES:
- All of this weekend’s matches will be broadcast on 1180 KOIL AM.
- Creighton is 1-0 all-time vs. McNeese State while 0-1 all-time vs. UAB
- Creighton has won 15 of the last 18 meetings against Drake.
- Freshman Leah McNary shed her redshirt last week at the Ameritas Challenge. In the match against St. Mary’s she scored 10 kills to help lead to the sweep.
- Every MVC regular season champ since 1983 has started 1-0 in conference play.