Dec. 6, 2008
WESTERN MICHIGAN HEAD COACH COLLEEN MUNSON
Opening Statement "
Amazing is all I can say. We've got such a great group of young women that we are so tremendously proud of. Western Michigan is so proud and so is the volleyball community, but what we just accomplished out there was truly great. That was a great Tulane team and a veteran team that knows how to play volleyball. We kept our composure. We weren't stellar in a couple of the games but we brought it together when we needed to. It was a team effort all the way around. We could not have asked for any more energy, enthusiasm or passion from this group of girls."
On team's attitude in the huddle going into game four
"It was something we challenged the girls. We said this is not how we want to be represented. We allowed a very good team to dictate our pace and tempo and determine the outcome of the game (three). We knew we had more to give and we knew we were better than that. A young team and immature team would have folded. We challenged them to enjoy this moment, but enjoy it with no regrets. We saw passion and competitive spirit; the drive that this team has had all year. It was a wonderful place to be: the calmness, the composure and the poise in game four and five."
On the importance of getting ahead in game five
"We had the momentum in four and came up with a fairly strong lead. They started fighting back and as we all know anything can happen in game five. We kept our composure. It was something we talked about prior to and during every timeout that Tulane called. We put Tulane in a possession to start thinking, overanalyzing and that doubt that this shouldn't be happening. Every team has been there. It's not a good feeling to be in that situation."
WESTERN MICHIGAN JUNIOR LIBERO CAITLIN STRIMEL
On Tulane's serves
"We were a little shaky at the start. Once we got into the second game we started to settle down. We were jabbing at the balls that were coming at us high so we made an adjustment to move our serve receive back on certain people and up on other people and that helped us out a lot."
On game five
"Right off the bat you could see it in everyone's eyes that we wanted it and we were going to do everything in our will to fight for the win and we did. Every single person on our team has that competitive spirit to take it to the next level. It was amazing. I can't even explain my feelings right now. "Most importantly we were just trying to stay composed. We know when we're composed and steady that is when we play our best. As far as their jump serves, that is my favorite serve to pass. They can serve those at me all day."
On taking on No. 1 Penn State
"It's going to be a really good environment to play in because we have probably never played in an environment like they're going to have. We're really excited to have the opportunity. We want to play the best team in the NCAA tournament."
WESTERN MICHIGAN JUNIOR SETTER JILLIAN MITCHELL
On feeling in control of the match
"After our serve receive calmed down in game one it felt like we were in more control. I think that yesterday was different than today. I think, today, was seriously, just going for it. I can't even remember what happened. I just tried to get the ball off as many times as I could and put the ball down on the other side as many times as we could."
On game five strategy
"We just wanted to get the ball up. I don't even think I thought one thought that whole game except we're winning this match. You could see it on everyone's face. When we looked at the other team; they knew they were losing and we knew we were winning. We were just pushing forward the whole time and that's what our strategy was; play our game and play volleyball like we know how to play."
WESTERN MICHIGAN SOPHOMORE OUTSIDE HITTER KATE CORBETT
On blocking adjustments made throughout the match
"We were just talking to each other more. It was just a matter of getting there. We knew they hit high. Caitlin (Strimel) was talking to the blockers and that helped us out a lot. We picked it up."
TULANE HEAD COACH LIZ KRITZA
Opening Statement "Obviously this situation is one that no team wants to be in. However, all but one of us have to be in this situation. It's hard to see all of the positives right now but there are plenty for this team. I am extremely proud of this team. The fight that they showed throughout the match at times and especially in the fifth set is indicative of this program and the run that we made this year. I think that Tulane volleyball has been changed forever, regardless of the outcome tonight. It's changed forever because of this group and I am pleased that we will have a bright future ahead of us because of this season, and the coaches and the players."
Talk about the blocking by WMU in the fifth set... "That is something that we had to battle throughout the entire season. We are a very offensive minded team and the offense we run sets up teams that can block and play good floor defense. When we play a team that can adjust well on their block, we need to make sure that we are creating more offense. We didn't do that, and we were too predictable in the fifth set."
JENN MILLER
Talk about how this program has changed since your freshman year... "We have gone through so much together starting during freshman year, not being at home and only having three wins. To come back the next year and pick up our play and continually get better each year and to know that this was the reason I came to Tulane because I knew we would be good and have a shot in the Top 25. We played hard and it had to end at some point, it is okay that it ended this way."
