| SPORTS
| SEPTEMBER 16, 2005
Down the Line
VOLLEYBALL
Mavericks start SLC season this weekend
The Mavericks volleyball team begins its Southland Conference season
with two road games this weekend. The team travels to face UT-San
Antonio at 7 tonight and then to San Marcos for a match against
Texas State at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Head coach Diane Seymour said conference expectations have not changed
after a tough 2-7 preseason.
“To make the conference tournament, win the conference tournament
and go to the NCAA’s — those goals still remain,”
she said.
During the preseason, the Mavs faced blockers that were more than
6 feet tall, and despite significant height disadvantages, the team
still managed the second-best hitting percentage in the conference.
Seymour said the preseason schedule showcased types of players not
featured in the SLC, and she’s confident the team will find
success.
“They’re more determined than ever,” she said.
“Nobody likes to lose. We should see them respond well.”
During last weekend’s 2005 Hilton UTA Invitational, the coaching
staff changed the lineup, using Ashley Smith at libero and setter.
Seymour said she feels comfortable with the players in rotation
now.
“We may switch the middle blockers and put Gina [Kalb] by
the setter,” she said. “That’ll open up the offense.”
Seymour said that although the Mavs traditionally do well in conference,
the preseason rankings show the challenges ahead. The Mavs were
picked No. 3, behind Stephen F. Austin and Texas State.
UT-San Antonio outside hitter Meagan Daniel, a two-time all-conference
first-teamer, leads the Roadrunners (3-5, 0-1 SLC). Daniels, who
is averaging 3.29 kills per game, ranks in the conference top 10
in three categories: kills, digs and aces. The Mavs split two matches
against UTSA last year, with the home team winning each.
Texas State (2-6, 1-0 SLC), the defending conference champion, snapped
a six-match losing streak with a win over the Roadrunners on Wednesday.
Outside hitter Elizabeth Nwoke ranks eighth in the conference with
3.31 kills per game to lead the Bobcats. Although the Mavs hold
a decisive 36-16 advantage in the all-time series, the Bobcats won
the last meeting, knocking the team out of the conference tournament.
For players who have never played a conference match, Seymour said
the coaching staff has talked to the team about accomplishing small
goals first.
“Most of them have played big district games, so they’re
used it to,” she said. “They already know there’s
a big rivalry with us and Texas State. We tell them conference play
is 20 matches, and we want them to take it one match at a time.”
— Princess McDowell
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