Tigers rest before facing Longhorns
The Tigers beat Texas in the last match, but much has changed since.
Published Nov. 10, 2006
The Missouri volleyball team has used its second week off of the season to rest and gear up for a tough match Saturday night against the No. 8 Texas Longhorns in Austin, Texas.
After the Tigers beat the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, coach Wayne Kreklow gave his team both Sunday and Monday off.
"It's easy to forget it's a long season," he said. "It's physically and emotionally tough on the kids, so it's important to take a day off."
Senior middle blocker Nicole Wilson said the team was able to take the time to focus away from the court.
"We got a chance to focus on school work," she said. "And we had a chance to relax (Wednesday) night, when we'd normally be playing, so that was nice."
Both Kreklow and Wilson agreed that beating Colorado heading into the off week was a big confidence booster for a team that had lost five of its last six matches.
"It could have been a really frustrating week," Wilson said. "But the win was a huge confidence booster."
Kreklow added that he liked how the team had to bounce back from losing the third game to win in four.
"On one hand, I would have preferred to win in three," he said. "But in the long run, I think it was beneficial to the team to have to come back."
The Tigers have spent the rest of the week getting ready for the Longhorns, who will be without senior middle blocker Leticia Armstrong. Texas announced the All-American's career is over after she suffered an undisclosed injury, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Kreklow didn't put too much stock into the idea that MU's win in the first match between the teams this year would provide any advantage.
"I mean, sure, when you beat anyone the first time it helps," he said. "But it was a month and a half ago. In this conference, that's almost another season ago."
Junior libero Tatum Ailes agreed, saying that the teams have changed since Missouri swept then-No. 5 Texas.
"We were a different team then than we are right now," she said. "And besides, we're going to their place this time."
Wilson said the team would be relaxed because it doesn't have to worry about coming in as the favorites. She acknowledged that MU, in previous matches where they had been favored, looked tight and tentative.
"It's easy to play as an underdog," she said. "We have nothing to lose, really, so what do we have to worry about? We don't have that pressure."
Ailes said it's not about whether the Tigers win or lose, but how they play.
"The thing I think we're concerned about is our performance at Texas," she said. "It's not really about getting the win. It's about how we're playing. If we get swept, that's not going to give us anything to build on."
Ailes said Missouri has a difficult task tomorrow night in Austin.
"It's going to be a real tough fight at Texas," she said. "They're a really strong team."