NCAA Final Four Press Conference Video
December 14, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 14, 2011
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SAN ANTONIO -- USC head coach Mick Haley with seniors Alex Jupiter and Kendall Bateman talk to the media prior to the start of the 2011 NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas.
Head Coach Mick Haley
Opening statement ... "I think we are really happy to be here. Surviving Honolulu was a major, major thing and traveling here and getting our legs back has been a good thing. We are really pleased to be here and it's always fun to come back to Texas for me, personally. I think it's a good place, a good venue to play and great for the coaches association to be here. I think this is probably going to be one of the best Final Fours and one of the best attended, so we are just really pleased to be a part of it."
On how Illinois compare to other teams you have faced this season...
"You're going to get me in trouble. Illinois is a good team, and I kind of like the way they do it. They are not tricky, they are not going to do a lot of different things, they are going to run (Paul) Hourning around the end, off tackle just like the Green Bay Packers and if they can beat you with that, they are going to beat you. I appreciate that execution. I think my job is to stop that and see how well we can do in maybe forcing some change if at all possible. We are a little bit like that ourselves so it should be a great battle. It's a good matchup."
On facing a similar team this season that will help prepare the team for Illinois...
"In our conference, there have been several teams. UCLA brings the two big left sides at you and they just dare you to do something else. They are a little bit more willing to change than I have seen Illinois. Cal has been that way in the past. They bring the two left sides and then when Oregon can get (Alaina) Bergsma and another left side coming at you, they really pound it. So the big, big teams that really bring the left sides with the 6-5 players are very difficult and they win a lot the way volleyball is in our country. I think that's why Illinois is here. They have that personnel that can bring it, they use it, they believe in it and they keep doing it. That's how I think they would match up. I think they would match up well in our conference because of the way they play."
On if Alex Jupiter did anything to surprise him against Pepperdine and Hawaii...
"Alex always surprises me. She seems to raise the level of her game and has raised it every year. It's situations, more so this year than the first three years, she has become fearless in changing, trying things and trusting herself. But I thought true greatness appeared in the Hawaii match and then again against Pepperdine where she elevated her game when we needed her the most. If you remember in the Pepperdine match, it was 13-13 in the fourth game when we were down 2-1. We called a timeout and Alex came out three straight times, went over the top of the block and bounced it in front of the libero in the middle back, who was exceptionally good that night, and that was a separation for us to make it 16-13. That was really a big game-changer, and Pepperdine blinked for the first time. I thought that that's when they blinked and then we rode that pretty good. There was time and time again in the Hawaii match that Alex brought us back in that second game and that was absolutely the most important game. We couldn't go in halftime down 2-0 with that crowd. To go out on top was very, very important in the second game. Then in the fifth game Alex just stepped it up. We haven't asked her to do that and it's just something that happened. We have had other players that have stepped up like that, but Alex has come to the forefront without anybody asking. She just kind of appears and that's the sign of greatness."
On past players that compare to Alex Jupiter...
"That's the unique thing about our game. It's very difficult to compare one athlete to another, except for what they do for their team. Demetria Sance was special because on nights she couldn't hit, she figured out how to hurt you with the serve, or she passed it and she played great defense. That was her trait. If you shut her down one place, she could get you some place else. She was good at that."
Kendall Bateman, Sr., S
On what she learned last year that's helped this season...
"I think last year we came here with pretty wide eyes, unsure what to expect. I think that experience has helped us a lot. We know how things go here and we can help our freshman too. Just knowing what we know, I think that will help us to prepare for our games."
On how good Alex Jupiter is...
"Where to start? It's been such a pleasure playing with her for the last four years. She keeps her composure even when the games are tight. She's smart, dedicated, works hard and the list could go on and on. I really am lucky to have such a wonderful teammate and athlete. I know she probably hates it that I'm complimenting her so much, but it's been such a wonderful experience playing with her. She really cares about her teammates, and she is just such a treat to play with."
Alex Jupiter, Sr., OH
On what she learned last year that's helped this season... "I think that last year's experience was really big and we gained a lot of maturity from it. All of the returning players have just been helping the younger players, making sure that they are in control and still on task and focused on the games."
On your game as a powerful hitter...
"Growing up, people used to tell me that I have a heavy arm and a heavy ball. That's about as much as I acknowledge from it. I just try and play hard and be successful and efficient for my team. As far as being feared, a lot of people have given me really tough challenges, really figured me out and given me a really tough time. I have had many bad games. I am just as scared as they are probably scared of me. I just come back the next day and try to play my best. I don't really think much about how much people are scared of me."
