Fall Update - Q&A With Coach Humphreys
8/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – It has been two weeks since the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack volleyball team reported for training camp and head coach Debbie Humphreys answered a few questions about how it has gone thus far.
Q&A – Head coach Debbie Humphreys
On the first two weeks of camp:
“It has been great to get started. We’ve been excited about it all summer long and we’re always glad when the official report date rolls around. It has been very productive. I feel like the consistency level has been there in terms of the work ethic, having the right attitude and a positive energy level every day. Those are the things that are going to allow us to move forward like we need to as a team. The biggest question mark for us coming into camp was the left side. We will have new people at both left side hitter positions and so that has been a big focus of ours. We feel very solid and experienced at the setter position, in the middle, on the right and our ball control and floor defense is phenomenal."
On leaders on the team:
“It is a neat thing, because this year we have a leadership corps of five girls. The group includes our three seniors – Paige Holland, Jill Ivy and Janet Hill. We also have Jacque Allen, who is a junior, but four-year member of this team after taking a redshirt, and junior OJ Olson. We have some people who play some very key roles both on and off the court. These girls are players that have been in the system and are upperclassmen. I think you can definitely lead as a younger player, but it is really nice to have those older players who understand what it takes and can take the ownership of that. They can help the younger ones to really understand what it takes to be successful at the Division I level."
On new players and their progress:
“The newcomers are adjusting, all at different rates. Jordan McArdle certainly had a jump on everybody else, having come in the spring and being able to train with us since then. J'Keisha Evans, our other transfer, is catching on quickly and picking up our style very fast. Both of them are a big benefit for us, because it is nice to have a couple of players who can fill those left side hitter roles that aren’t freshmen. The freshmen are adjusting well though and two of those are outside hitters in Kelsi Bartlett and Abby McIntyre and they are getting better everyday. As a freshman, there is a lot of information that is thrown at you during preseason and some are things they’ve never heard of before. Lexus Cain, coming as a defensive specialist/libero, is really catching on well. Her skills and athleticism is great and for her it is just continuing to learn our system. Once she becomes more comfortable with the system, the vocal side of what goes on at her position will also improve. Overall, I’m really pleased with how quickly they are catching on and making the adjustments that we need them to make."
On first scrimmage of camp:
“I thought our floor defense was very good last night, along with our serving. Both of those were two big strengths for us. With our blocking, there were times where it was very, very good and times where it was a little less disciplined than I would’ve liked. Overall, I though our production was very good. Our right side attack was strong. In the middle, we were a little up and down, but overall they did a solid job. Then also seeing the left sides, at some point during the match, playing very well was great. Now we just need a couple of them to step up and be able to do that on a little more consistent level."
On excitement of upcoming season:
“There is certainly a high-level of excitement entering this season, as we have a group of girls who understand what they’re capable of. With our seniors, there is definitely a sense of urgency to go out with a ring. They know that we are talented enough to win the Southland Conference."
On ”Get On Board” mantra:
“It is our slogan for this year. It was something when we were talking in the spring, we decided we really wanted to hammer home that team concept and importance of working together. The girls always ask what it was about those teams from 2004 to 2007 that won those conference championships and went to the NCAA Tournament and won a round. They ask what was different from those teams, because this team has that type of talent and they know that. We explained to them that it is one thing to have that talent individually, but it is another thing to be a team. These girls want to be a team and they bought into that concept. Our ‘Get On Board’ is me talking about what they need to do if they want to be one of those successful teams. I have asked all of them specifically, along with our support staff, to get on board with what we are doing, to trust the process and understand what needs to be done.”
-SFA-
