Ohio State NCAA Championship Pre-Match Press Conference – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Ohio State NCAA Championship women’s volleyball pre-match quotes
Dec. 3, 2009
St. John Arena
Columbus, Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State women’s volleyball team (24-9 overall, 12-8 Big Ten, tied for fourth) received an at-large bid to the 2009 NCAA Championship and will host first and second round matches, Friday and Saturday, in St. John Arena. First round action begins at 6 p.m. Friday with the ninth-seeded and 10th-ranked California Golden Bears (18-10, 11-7 Pac-10, fourth) facing the Lipscomb Lady Bisons (28-3, 20-0 Atlantic Sun, first). The scheduled 8 p.m. match has Ohio State hosting the Cincinnati Bearcats (25-10, 12-2 Big East, tied for second). First round winners will return at 7 p.m. Saturday to play for a berth in the Gainesville (Fla.) regional semifinals.
Geoff Carlston, Ohio State head coach
On making the NCAA tournament
“I’m really proud and happy for these guys, especially our seniors. From day one of our first year, they have been supportive of us. For us to be in the tournament and hosting in just the second season is really neat.”
On Ohio State
“I’m pleasantly surprised with this team. By the end of last season you could tell something neat was happening with this team. We knew coming into this year we had the foundation but you never know what is going to happen, especially in the Big Ten.”
On Ohio State’s variety up front
“Ashley Hughes has done a good job of running our offense and distributing the ball to all our hitters. For us to win Friday and setup another game on Saturday, we are going to need all our players ready to go.”
Ashley Hughes, senior setter
On making the NCAA tournament
“It means a lot to the seniors because we knew how much hard work it would take.”
On what it is going to take to win
“A big key is what our athletic director Gene Smith talked with us about Monday after we were selected to the tournament. One of the key factors is heart. We aren’t learning new things and we aren’t going to throw a new gameplan at Cincinnati tomorrow. It is all about heart and how that will carry through in the game.”
On Ohio State’s run at the end of the year
“We started playing as a team and that has had a lot to do with our success at the end.”
Kelli Barhorst, sophomore middle blocker
On Ohio State
“We are more experienced this year and we know what we want now.”
