TCU volleyball draws confidence from competitive NCAA showing
Before the first volleyball match of 2016 is played, TCU can draw something from the last match of 2015.
That it was right there with Hawaii, one of the best teams in the nation a year ago, in the NCAA tournament.
“I was a little nervous because because they were ranked so high, but once we started playing, after the first set, I was like, ‘We got we’re about to take this home,’ ” senior hitter Sarita Mikals said with a smile, remembering the first-round postseason match.
I think coming off from that, I think our team is a lot more confident, and now we’re aware that we can get to the tournament, we can make it past the first round.
TCU hitter Sarita Mikals
Instead, hitter Ashley Smith went out with an injury in the fourth set, and TCU eventually fell in five to seventh-ranked Hawaii, ending a 17-10 season in coach Jill Kramer’s first year.
“It was just like a boost of confidence,” Mikals said Monday during a Media Day news conference at TCU to preview the season. “I think coming off from that, I think our team is a lot more confident, and now we’re aware that we can get to the tournament, we can make it past the first round.”
It was just TCU’s second NCAA tournament appearance since 2009, and now as a new season begins Friday against North Carolina State, the Horned Frogs believe back-to-back appearances are possible.
“One hundred percent,” Mikals said.
Said Smith: “We know what it looks like, how to get there, and hopefully we know now how to play in an NCAA tournament and we can put ourselves in a better position going forward through it.”
I really think any team can beat any team on any given day. To be a great coach, to be a great leader, you’ve got to believe things like that. I think our players believe that, too.
TCU coach Jill Kramer
TCU was picked fourth in the Big 12 coaches’ poll, its highest debut since joining the Big 12 in 2012. The Frogs had been the No. 7 pick the previous three years.
Kramer doesn’t blame her players for thinking they could win that last match of 2015, or for believing that feeling will carry over.
“We had a really good shot to win that match,” she said. “We had put ourselves in a very good position. I believe firmly that when you work really hard and you prepare really well, anything can happen. I really think any team can beat any team on any given day. “To be a great coach, to be a great leader, you’ve got to believe things like that. I think our players believe those things, too. And that’s why we could make some things happen this year.”
Carlos Mendez: 817-390-7760, @calexmendez
This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 9:22 PM with the headline "TCU volleyball draws confidence from competitive NCAA showing."