Volleyball Opens BIG EAST Tournament Against No. 3 Pittsburgh
11/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 15, 2006
MILWAUKEE - As the No. 6 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament, the Marquette volleyball team takes on No. 3 Pittsburgh (22-8, 10-4), Friday at 10 a.m. ET, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Golden Eagles (15-12, 10-4), winners in six of their last seven matches, are 7-1 on the road against the conference this season, with their only loss coming at Notre Dame, 3-1. For live streaming video and statistics during the match, click here.
"It's a great seed," said head coach Pati Rolf. "It was interesting that after a four-way tie for third in the conference, based on other factors, we got the number-six seed. We wanted the number three seed - it was our goal. This is a good match up for us against Pittsburgh and puts us in a great position. I think our strengths will be offense and blocking and our goal is to get into a good position for the conference final."
Rolf has guided the Golden Eagles to the conference tournament in each of her first four years as head coach and is 3-1 in the first match of those tournaments. With a goal of reaching the conference final, Rolf knows how important it is not to look past the first match.
"We have prepared completely for the first game. It's important not to look beyond the first game. I've always been trained and teach to respect the first team and be disciplined and present. We have been working all week on gearing our offense to go against Pittsburgh. Everything we have worked on will also work well against the winner of the Louisville and Connecticut match because those team's strengths are the outside hitters as well. We always make sure we don't look past the first opponent."
Top to bottom, from the coaches and players to the trainer and managers, patience has paid off for Marquette. Rolf is excited that the team is continuing to peak at the right time.
"Patience has been the best it has been all season. We have been very persistent and patient with each other and our defense is coming together with confidence. That is the most significant thing people will see in the tourney. Our leadership has been performing much better and it helps everyone. Our younger players have really stepped up as well."
The Panthers are led offensively by junior Diana Andreyko, who ranks fifth in the BIG EAST with 4.08 kills per game, and senior Azadeh Boroumand, who is fourth in the conference with 11.92 kills per game. Pitt garners three of the top-10 blockers in the league as well in sophomore Jessica Moses (1.52 B/G), Kim Kern (1.45 B/G) and freshman Meagan Dooley (1.17 B/G).
"Pittsburgh has one of the best setters in the conference in Boroumand," commented Rolf. "She is very competitive, aggressive and clearly likes to win. She will be the toughest part of the team. Andreyko, an outside hitter, is one of their strongest players and hits the ball hard."
Junior Kimberley Todd, first in the BIG EAST with 4.71 K/G, and senior Jamie Mueller, fourth in the BIG EAST with 4.13 kills per game, will lead the Golden Eagles offensively. Aiding the pair is junior setter Monica Renfrow, who ranks seventh in the conference with 10.73 assists per game.
"For us to be successful, it's simple," said Rolf. "We need to execute our X's and O's, serving and passing, and blocking and defense. If we can do those things, we will do very well, but if we don't do those things well, we will struggle."
This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. On Oct. 20, the Panthers visited the Al McGuire Center and defeated the Golden Eagles, 3-2 (30-25, 25-30, 30-14, 23-30, 13-15). Todd led MU with 19 kills and was one of four student-athletes to reach double-figures in kills. Todd, with 14 digs, and Mueller (17 kills, 16 digs) each recorded double-doubles, and Renfrow tallied a triple-double (10 kills, 51 assists, 14 digs). Andreyko led Pitt with 20 kills.
"Losing is about learning and there are some things we have learned," said Rolf. "If we would have beaten Pittsburgh earlier in the season, we would have been third. Ultimately, we don't mind them having won. Playing the underdog has never been a problem and this second time around we will be more disciplined, both skillfully and emotionally."
The winner of this match will advance to meet the winner of the No. 2 Louisville - No. 7 Connecticut match, Saturday at 1 p.m. ET in the semifinal.
