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8/17/2001
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Welcome Back Issue
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8/17/2001
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Welcome Back Issue
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Exponent File Photo RETURNER: Senior Meagan Petersen returns a serve against Northwestern last season. Petersen is one of three seniors for the Boilermaker volleyball team this season. |
By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor
Walk into the gym in the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility and the first thing you see is sweat-soaked T-shirts on members of the Purdue volleyball team.
And that's on a cooler day.
Team members have been working themselves to the point of extreme soreness every day of training camp in preparation for the 2001 season.
The first day of fall camp, which consists of three shorter practices a day, two longer practices a day, three shorter practices a day and so on, the women ran a mile before practice. They were given seven minutes and they all finished within the time limit and within 30 seconds of each other.
"It was really motivating that we all stayed together like that," senior Christy Case said. "It was our first challenge and we kept together."
That togetherness will be a key during the 2001 season because Purdue’s focus is once again internal. The Boilers believe the opponent is irrelevant as long as they are playing together, focusing and communicating. Thinking too much about who’s across the net can lead to a lackadaisical attitude or a fearful approach.
"What
this group really needs to do is have that group mentality and focus
on everyone being aware of their place on the court," Coach Jeff Hulsmeyer
said.
Having togetherness has been a priority for this team. In fact, Hulsmeyer may even forgo naming captains so he can avoid singling individuals out.
Last season, when the Boilers finished 13-19 after starting the season 8-1, injuries to key players such as Jennie Williams, who eventually retired, Case and senior Julie Doud hurt Purdue's on-court chemistry last season. But if the first weeks of practice this season are any indication, the Boilers should be able to avoid such problems.
"I’ve been on a lot of teams, and I think this year’s team is one of the tightest, most close-knit teams I’ve been on," senior Maegan Petersen said. "We look out for each other, we hang out off the court and we’re always trying to make each other better."
The three seniors this season — Case, Petersen and Lori Knicker — have been sharing leadership duties in camp. Hulsmeyer said the players are responsible for the hard work in practice and that they challenge themselves and each other.
Hulsmeyer is challenging the team with a tougher non-conference schedule. Instead of having a schedule containing teams from the Sun Belt Conference, Mid-Continent Conference and Conference USA, the Boilers will play teams from stronger conferences such as the Pac-10 and Big XII.
The team's first matches will be in Seattle at the Husky Opener. The Boilers will face Texas Aug. 31 and Washington and Brigham Young Sept. 1. The Big XII, which includes Texas, is the nation’s second toughest conference, behind the Big Ten, and it contains defending national champion Nebraska.
The Boilers' home opener is against Tulane Sept. 14 in the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility, the first of three games in the 13th annual Mortar Board Purdue Premier. Hulsmeyer is confident in his team's ability to use its strengths.
"This team plays really hard, and they don’t give up," he said. "And that can be very intimidating to an opponent."
Hulsmeyer also hopes to utilize the intelligence of his team, which has four returning Academic All-Big Ten players — Case, Knicker, and juniors Lisa Parker and Tiffany Yoskey — returning.
"It’s going to be an interesting year as far as how we play," Petersen said.
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SPORTS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111
ext. 251
Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki
Assistant sports
editor:
Anne
McLaren
To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org
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