NCAA Women's Volleyball Semifinal Post-Match Quotes
December 17, 2004 | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 17, 2004
Opening Statement
"We gave the best effort we could, but it wasn't good enough. I am very proud of our effort. I think the girls benefited greatly from accepting the challenge to go for a third consecutive national championship. It was a great ride."
On USC's blocking...
"In the first game we couldn't get a rhythm. We didn't dig balls so we couldn't block balls. I watched both matches and I thought they both had the same problems. All four teams looked tired. This tournament took a heavy toll. It is hard on the kids with all the games, plus finals."
On the game...
"We couldn't run our plays. I think they did a good job blocking. We just ran out of gas. We fought hard, we fought hard tonight."
USC Senior Outside Hitter Keao Burdine
On how the game felt...
"It felt like the games went fast and we didn't have an opportunity to do what we needed to do."
USC Senior Middle Blocker Emily Adams
On being a success...
"Even though we don't have success in the books I think this is the most successful team I have been on. Just because we don't have a win next to our name doesn't mean we weren't a success. Alica, Keao and I left a tradition here."
On momentum...
"We have had a problem when we get ahead. We relax. That is something we struggled with all season."
Minnesota Head Coach Mike Hebert
Opening Statement
"First of all we beat a great team tonight in USC. I think the match came down to serving and passing which I thought we did a little better. Our blocking scheme really worked and was very effective for us tonight. We passed the ball extremely well. We're very excited... it's the first time we've come this far."
On Jessy Jones...
"Jessy is a great blocker and a fierce competitor. She's playing with a lot of discipline. I thought she played a fabulous match."
On blocking USC...
"We're not an overly big team, but what we do have is a talented group of blockers. We've become a very disciplined team this season. Lindsay and Erin are two of our better one-on-one blockers."
On Minnesota's hitting...
"I felt we were a little rugged tonight. We wanted to find the gaps and set away from the flow. We wanted to make their middles work hard."
On Kelly Bowman...
"Kelly struggled tonight but powered through the match. I think it was just a tough night for her. But we won the match without Kelly really doing her thing. We don't expect to see that performance on Saturday."
On trailing in game three...
"I never really felt we were out of the match. When you're losing points on your own effort some of those points are scored artificially."
Senior Outside Hitter Erin Martin
On the decisive game four...
"I think we knew we had a lot more heart and more to give after the first three games. I think that's what carried us through that last game."
Senior Setter Lindsey Taatjes
On losing to USC earlier in the season...
"We were so close playing earlier this season. Our offense wasn't quite clicking then, but we knew we were a lot better now."
