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Aug. 20, 2010

Head coach Jerritt Elliott
On the way the team responded to the loss in the National Championship match:  I think you always see how the team handles a loss - how they come back and how they prepare themselves.  Obviously it was a devastating loss.  We were very close to experiencing what winning a National Championship is like.  Ever since they've been knocked down, they've gotten back on their feet.  They've been working really hard.  In the spring they improved their vertical three inches, each player.  They stayed here all summer long to be committed to having another crack at it.  They're very connected.  I'm very pleased with where we're at mentally and emotionally right now.

On the team's preseason No. 3 ranking:  As I told the team before we started double days is that we have an opportunity to be really special.  That opportunity is going to be based on what we do and the building blocks that we build every day in terms of the fundamentals that we're able to show and the statistical categories.  The wins will take care of themselves if we're able to perform at that level.

On the team's biggest challenge:  I think balance.  Obviously we lost some big players, but we have some great returners.  We've got a big program.  When we're playing well we can compete with anybody.  It's also relative to who is good that year.  There are a handful of teams that can win this year and we're in that mix for sure.  We'll see how good we are over the next few weeks.  We'll keep building.  We know it's a long season.  We've got plenty of time and we've got to be peaking in December.

On what the team does better at this point than last year's team:  I think our defense is a lot better at this point already.  We've been making some really nice plays.  Our touches have been better.  In this sport it's so important to have the first contact, whether it's passing or defense to give yourself an opportunity.  We're pleased in that area.

On his message to the UT students:  The message to the student body is that it's one of the most enjoyable college events in college athletics when you come into Gregory.  The athleticism and speed of the game is exceptional.  It's really a sport that you have to see first-hand, because a lot of people have seen high school volleyball, but they don't understand the magnitude or physicality and the speed at which this game is played.

Senior outside hitter Juliann Faucette
On how last season's ending set the tone for this year:  It's definitely a motivation.  I think looking back on last year, it's a tough loss but at the same time we know what we have to do to get to that point.  I think that's really important for our program to build on a loss like that.

On her confidence in this team:  I definitely think we still have a lot of great pieces to our team.  We're a really tight-knit team this year.  Chemistry is going to be huge. We know we have to push harder than we might have last year, and I think we're ready for that.  It's a really hard-working mentality that we have.

On how the team has built chemistry:  I think the summer and spring helped us build the chemistry with the people we already had and the freshmen coming in and knowing the tradition and culture of Texas Volleyball.  I think that's huge for this program and what we've built on for the last four or five years.

On if her expectations have changed:  I think every year we set the same type of goals.  We want to win the Big 12.  We want to win a National Championship.  It's knowing what to do to get there each year has changed, because we have increased each year.  I think the knowledge of that has changed.

Junior middle blocker Rachael Adams
On what the team has been working on:  The little things.  Two years in a row it's been so close.  We have this thing called 212 degrees.  It's to get that extra degree to what can take us over that edge this year.

On what it takes to take the next step:  Coming in extra early, getting extra reps, the little things in the weight room, eating right.  It's the small things that are going to take us over.

On the similarities between last season for the volleyball and football teams:  I feel like we always go down the same road together.  They're right there with us.  We have so much pride together.  They're (ranked fourth).  They're right there with us.  They're going to have to fight as much as we are.  I feel like we're going to be in this together again this year.

Senior middle blocker Jennifer Doris
On how the team has rebounded from last year:  We talked about it preseason.  We brought in our team psychologist.  We debriefed about it a final time.  We tried to put it behind us, but not forget about why we lost.  We just come into the gym every day.  Like Rachael (Adams) talked about - 212 degrees.  We try and do the little things every single day.  Our work ethic is contagious in here.  People come into the gym to watch and see how hard we're working.  We just try to go after balls and make smart shots.  We do little things that caused us to lose points last year to make sure we don't make the same mistakes.

On the freshman class:  Our freshman class came in and they're great.  They're able to step in and contribute right way.  They have great personality.  I think they're adding a lot to our team right now.  We already have really good chemistry.  So it's going to be an exciting time.  We're all ready to suit up and start playing but we still have a lot to work on.

Junior outside hitter Amber Roberson
On the team's expectations for this year:  I'd say they've increased a little bit just because we know what it takes.  We have a little bit more experience.  We know what it takes to get back there.  We just push ourselves that much harder.

On if the team will improve throughout the season:  Possibly.  There are a lot of good people that are coming in.  They're doing very well.  It puts us at a higher step I would say.

On the end of last season:  I'm not going to say it's invisible, because it's definitely not.  We definitely didn't store it away.  It's in the back of our head.  We're not going to forget it, especially because we were that close.  It pushes us every day to get better, stronger, faster, anything that can get us there.

Junior setter Michelle Kocher
On her excitement for the start of the season:  We're really excited to get into the gym finally.  It seemed like we were here the whole time, but finally getting into the gym and trying to figure out where the pieces fit together and how we're going to be as a team and our dynamic this year.  We're all really excited and can't wait to get started.

On her expectations for the team:  I expect the same thing as usual.  It's a high standard.  We're a fun team.  I think the biggest difference from this year to last year is the dynamic of it.  I think we're a lot closer and I think we're going to need that.  We don't have as many outlet hitters.  We have a lot of depth.  We're all going to need to contribute.  That's something that can work against us or for us.  I'm excited to see how that works out.

On how good this team can be:  Really good.  That's why it's exciting.  It's because right now it's a process and taking one step at a time and improving each day.  If we improve each day, we have a good chance to get to that same position as last year.