By Paul Freelend Skiff staff The TCU volleyball team wrapped up a series of spring tournaments Saturday with a successful showing in a tournament hosted by Southern Methodist. The VolleyFrogs entered into competition against SMU, Tulsa, Cameron University and a team of players without a team affiliation. TCU won four of eight games before it and SMU mutually agreed to cut the match short because SMU's setter was unable to keep playing because of illness. The VolleyFrogs took both games from Cameron, one from Tulsa and SMU and got swept by the unaffiliated team. While their 4-4 record in games may not seem stellar, head coach Sandy Troudt said spring tournaments are used more for player evaluation than competition. "You have to understand that we use spring tournaments like the NFL uses its preseason," Troudt said. "I play everyone to see what they can do, win or lose. Of course, we'd like to win all the matches, but our focus isn't on wins and losses but seeing what people are capable of." The increased player rotation allowed the VolleyFrogs to reap the benefits of a number of players on an upswing as the spring season closes. TCU also saw the return of freshman outside hitter Stephanie Watson, who had missed the previous tournament due to a bout of mononucleosis. Troudt, though, directed most of her praise to one of her more unheralded players, junior defensive specialist Chrissy Grimm. "Chrissy Grimm has made huge improvements over the spring," Troudt said. "She had a great day Saturday and the Saturday before that. Also, we got Stephanie Watson back. She struggled, but she had a better afternoon session than morning session, which is encouraging. (Sophomore outside hitter) Marci King played a much better tournament than she did last week and (junior outside hitter) Bethany Toce had a good day in the front row for us." Personnel issues weren't the only adjustment TCU had to make in its practices. The SMU tournament incorporated the rules that the NCAA currently uses as opposed to the experimental rules the VolleyFrogs saw in both the University of Arizona and TCU spring tournaments. Rather than multiple rally-scoring games, the SMU tournament used the regulation 15-point games with one rally-scoring game if necessary. Troudt said the VolleyFrogs had trouble adjusting back to the regulation rules but eventually found their rhythm. "It was strange to play traditional rules again," Troudt said. "We hadn't played with those rules since the tournament in Lubbock. The last two tournaments were nothing but rally-scoring so it took a while for us to adjust. Our play wasn't fluid at all at first, in fact, it was pretty ugly. We came around eventually, though, and I was excited with how the team adjusted." Despite having to deal with injuries and illnesses throughout the spring, Troudt still looks back on the season with high regard. "The spring went the best that it has ever gone here at TCU," Troudt said. "The team's attitude, their work ethic and the amount of progress that each player has made were absolutely amazing." With the spring season having been completed, the focus of the program now shifts to the volleyball players. The coaching staff is allowed limited contact with the players over the summer so players are left to train individually. Troudt said she would also like her players to take a break from the rigors of collegiate athletics. "The players have a very detailed conditioning program that they need to follow, but that's not all that we want them to do over the summer," Troudt said. "We want the players to take some time to be college students again. Summer is a time when the players can get re-energized, get a job, take some summer classes, earn a little money, stay in shape and play as much volleyball as they can." The VolleyFrogs will open their 2000 campaign at the Miami, (Ohio), volleyball tournament against the host school Redhawks, University of Denver and the University of Tennessee. TCU's first home match will be Sept 5 against Texas Tech.
Paul Freelend |
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