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Tigers look to get better late in games
8/27/2009
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
One of the difficulties for the 2008 Fort Hays State University volleyball team was performances in close sets and close matches. In sets decided by four points or fewer, Fort Hays finished 15-25. The Tigers went 1-5 in five-set matches. That record was a factor in the Tigers ending the season on a 14-match losing streak and finish 9-25 overall and 2-18 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. In the spring and fall, first-year head coach Kurt Kohler has addressed play late in matches, especially fifth sets. Fifth sets are played to 15 points, instead of 25.
"In a 15-point final set there, you don't have time to let teams go on runs," he said. "A team goes on a run because the other team has let down mentally. That is going to be the key for us. Number one, just mentally being in that game and having that confidence to win. The other thing is conditioning. A lot of times, those fifth sets, it's going to be the stronger team, the team that is more conditioned will be able to play a fresher game."
Rezende returns
Outside hitter Lilian Rezende started slowly in 2008, her first year of playing NCAA Division II volleyball. After the first nine matches, Rezende collected 3.04 kills per set, 2.20 digs per set and hit .110.
"On the beginning of the season, I was kind of not into it," she said. "I kind of lost my game and then I got what I was doing. I got more mature and I got to think more experienced."
Rezende, 6-foot-1 senior from Brazil, steadily improved as the year progressed and finished with all-MIAA honorable mention honors. She collected 3.53 kills per game, third in the conference, 3.44 digs and finished with a .195 hitting percentage. She was second in the conference in points per game and is considered one of the top returning players in the league.
"I am pretty excited for this next year. It is going to be my senior year, so I am kind of excited to go hard and help the team with everything that I can to make us go to nationals," Rezende said. "Make this last year a good year. Finish with a good year."
Liggett healthy; Tholen status
Junior defensive specialist/setter Whitney Liggett suffered a stress fracture in her left foot during track season. This fall, Liggett is healthy and could start at several positions. She might be one of two setters, along with sophomore Lindsey Larson, in the 6-2 offense. Liggett could play libero after Katelyn Lapham left the team last weekend. In terms of total sets played, no player has more experience than Liggett. The Limon, Colo., native played in 102 of a possible 119 sets as a freshman and 123 out of 124 in 2008. Liggett averaged 2.63 assists and 2.36 digs per set last fall.
"I'm good," she said. "I went to the doctor in June and I'm 100 percent, they said. I noticed that after I got my boot off that after I would sprint or something, it would hurt, so I had to take a few weeks off. Good to go now."
Freshman Trisha Tholen, a Wheatland-Grinnell graduate, redshirted in 2008 with a shoulder injury. She did not play in the Tigers' Black and Gold Scrimmage on Monday and was listed as a student assistant coach.
"We still don't know with her (Tholen), what is going on," Kohler said. "She has to go back to the doctor here in the next couple days. Hopefully get cleared."
Witzel impresses
Sophomore outside hitter Morgan Witzel redshirted last year but enjoyed a terrific spring track season. The 5-foot-9 Witzel, a Broomfield, Colo., native, won the MIAA high jump title and narrowly missed qualifying for nationals. Her leaping ability helped in Monday's scrimmage. Witzel worked with the first team and is considered one of the team's top four hitters.
"Morgan, she is getting clear flat off the floor," Kohler said. "It's incredible how high she can jump. That is going to be nice. She may end up working into our starting lineup pretty quick, too."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| SB | 03/08 | Fort Lewis | W 5-4 |
| BB | 03/07 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 13-7 |
| BB | 03/06 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 16-4 |
| BB | 03/06 | No. 9 Emporia State | W 3-0 |
| MB | 03/05 | Emporia State | L 65-61 |
| BB | 03/05 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 10-3 |
| WB | 03/04 | No. 15 Emporia | L 72-66 |
| WB | 02/28 | No. 12 Emporia State | L 87-80 |
| MB | 02/28 | Emporia State | W 94-47 |
| SB | 02/28 | Quincy | L 6-0 |
| SB | 02/27 | Mo Southern | W 9-3 |
| SB | 02/27 | Missouri S&T | L 8-3 |
| SB | 02/27 | Drury | W 17-10 |
| BB | 02/27 | Mo. Western | W 17-0 |
| BB | 02/27 | Mo. Western | W 3-2 (10 inn.) |
| BB | 02/26 | Mo. Western | W 12-8 |
| BB | 02/26 | Missouri Western | W 11-10 |
| MB | 02/24 | Pittsburg State | W 69-60 |
| WB | 02/24 | Pittsburg State | L 78-74 |
| MB | 02/21 | Mo. Southern | L 76-57 |