Andy, everybody had like at least five kills. What do you think it's like to face this offense when Virginia's gone now? What do you think it's like to face this team?
I mean, I can imagine it's really hard for other teams as a middle blocker. I mean, I have firsthand experience. When you're playing a team and all of their hitters are clicking, it's really, really tough because you have to honor every single one of them. So, when we can do that on our side of the net, it just makes everyone's job super easy. I know it makes the setters job super easy, but it's also all kudos to our amazing passing. I know we talked about we passed a 27 this game, and that's incredible. So, obviously, the passers did their job and then Bergen did an awesome job distributing the ball evenly.
Oh my gosh. Yeah. Um just what does that open up where she's an added element for you?
The same thing. I mean now teams have to honor her as well and that just adds another thing onto your plate specifically the middle blockers again. I mean now you already have to think about pins the middles and now you have a front row setter who's also super aggressive. So it just becomes very overwhelming for other teams and sometimes they adjust and sometimes they don't. And I think that Bergen she saw that it was working and she took advantage of it. I mean, five kills as a setter is ridiculous, but why stop if it's working?
Harper, do you get do you see different defensive looks when other parts of the offense are clicking?
You mean like on our team or the other team?
The other teams give you different looks, you know?
Yeah, I think a lot of teams know I like to swing lines, so that's something I have to adjust to every game cuz we don't know how they're going to come out and play defense against each hitter. I know it's different. Sometimes they front Andy, sometimes they leave me open. So, I feel like that's kind of on Bergen to figure out who's going to be one-on-one, but she does a great job of that and it gives me the opportunity to find new shots because I never know what defense they're going to come out with and what they're going to scout on me. So, that's something I just have to figure out throughout the game.
Parker, have you seen Virginia settle on these last few matches?
I'm really proud of her. She's she seems to be gaining her confidence and it's really fun to be a part of just because I think we give her some confidence, too. Like, we all believe in her and she trusts us in that. So, it's been really fun to see her grow the past few games, especially in the Kraton game and then this game she hit 500. So, I mean 400. So, I mean that's incredible and I'm really proud of her and I hope she continues to do that.
During the match, somebody told her that she swings better when she's smiling. Who told her that? I don't know.
I don't know. Maybe one of the coaches.
I don't know. it seems to be working. Um, just with when you see her play with such joy, like how does that help you guys?
I feel like everyone plays better when they're having fun. And I think that's something I focused on last year and I'm kind of trying to bring it into this year when you're smiling. People tell me I don't smile a lot, too. So, I definitely understand where they're coming from, but I think everyone just plays more free when they're smiling and when they're having fun. And I think that's something that our team probably we all can do a little bit better of because we're all so competitive and serious all the time. But yeah, I mean, I see where they're coming from with that, but you know, that might just be how she plays.
Andy, I mean, with all the pieces you have and kind of deal the game system, you think that everything's starting to click now as you head into Big 10?
Yeah, absolutely. I think this team has done a really good job adjusting. I know Becca and I early on during one of the press conferences, I made the comment that we're working on new things and I think that that's really coming to fruition. I mean, all the new routes that we're running and just the new things that we're doing and Kenna and Mania included. And I think the team overall is just adjusting really well and I think you can really feel it out on the court. It feels like one unit. I mean, it always has, but going into season, I'm really confident that we're just going to be one and play some great volleyball.
Harper, third start for Olivia Labbero. What do you think of the way she was flying around in that first set in particular? I think she had seven digs in game one.
Yeah, I mean, I think anyone who's going to be in that libero jersey is going to have confidence and I feel like she's holding her own really well and her service receive her is her strength. So, that's something we really use back there and I'm really comfortable passing next to her and it's great to have her next to me. But, you know, I feel like it's going to go back and forth between her and Laney, and that's something that's we're going to have to adjust to as a team. But, they both have their own strengths and Olivia definitely performed tonight.
You guys gave up 14 set points tonight. What was just happening at the end of the sets let up a little?
I just think a lack of focus, unfortunately. I mean, it was I mean, it's not an excuse, but it was a long day starting at 8:00 p.m. We have yet to do that. And it can be a very very long day just sitting around waiting for serve and pass and then waiting for the game. And so, learning how to adjust to that obviously cuz I know when we go to the go to the West Coast, those are going to be really late games. So, not using it as an excuse, learning from it this one time, obviously, we bounced back from it and we won. And we've talked about it a lot. We're grateful to win. You know, we don't want to feel relief when we win. It's it's an exciting thing. So, taking it for what it is, but not letting it happen again and adjusting from here on out.
Harper, where do you think this team is at now? You guys not have those portions of the schedule.
Yeah, I mean, I think we still have some things to work on and going into Big 10, we're confident 10 and0 and starting big Big 10 play is always super fun and exciting, but it's also a little bit of pressure cuz it's starting to get real and you know, we want to win three Big 10 championships in a row. So, it's we have to take that seriously and Big 10 is really fun, but it can be a lot. It gets hard with traveling, with school, all the things in between. So, I think we're in a good place, but we just really have to stay focused like Andy said, because in moments like that, that's what's going to catch up to us in the end in December. So, just working on getting focused and continuing that.
Um, for both of you, John Cook was honored with the statue earlier this week. What does it mean to still have to be part of the program, but to also get to be part of a ceremony like that?
We we went to his ceremony on uh Wednesday. So, it was really cool just to see that because we all know how much of a legacy he left here. So, being able to honor him and, you know, have a statue out there is really cool. And I'm sure it's cool for him, but he's not going to admit that. And I know it means a lot to him and it means a lot to us, too, because, you know, he's the one that recruited us here and he's the one that started this program and really brought it up the past 25 years. So, I think it's just really exciting and we're grateful that he was here and he left that legacy.
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