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Aug. 27, 2009

Head coach Jerritt Elliott
On the importance of Texas’ opening weekend: I think it is important that we finally start playing someone else after a great few weeks of preseason. I’m excited to see where we are at at this point. You never know until you actually play another opponent. I think this trip is going to be a good test for us. Obviously we scheduled tough so we can get challenged early.

On the progress of his team: We are doing some good things now, but we still have a lot of work to do. I have been impressed with the play in our practice gym and the way different people are stepping up. Overall, I have a lot of confidence in being able to look to the bench. We haven’t had such a deep team in years past.

On returning home to California: I will have an opportunity to see a lot of my friends when we are out there. I have a huge network of friends in California. I will also have a chance to see my family on Sunday after our second match. This trip will also be a great opportunity to showcase all of our California players.  It is important that we get to showcase Texas Volleyball in the state of California.

On the importance of recruiting in California: Recruiting in California is very important. Our No. 1 priority is to keep the best kids in Texas at home, but after that California is a high priority. In the sport of volleyball there are usually about 10 players each year that can really help out a program and keep us at this level. California is one of the recruiting hotbeds, if not the hotbed in terms of significant talent. We have been drawing a lot of players from there and that has helped the success of our program. Fortunately those kids come here and really like it here in Austin.

On the trip to Hawaii: When we go out there it is going to be a final four or elite eight type of environment with four great teams. We want to go into a hostile environment and be tested. I want us to be pushed and see how we are going to respond emotionally.

On the support of her family: All of my family will be around this weekend. Both of my grandparents, my parents, my sister, my sister’s husband and a lot of friends will be out there. It is not too far from home for them to come out to the matches.

On getting the season started: We are ready to finally see someone else on the other side of the net. It has been a long and successful preseason, but when you work that hard you are anxious to see how you match up against other teams. We are really looking forward to getting things going. The Pyramid at Long Beach State is a really cool place to play and I’m sure they will have a big crowd, so it will be a good way to kick the season off.

Junior outside hitter Juliann Faucette
On returning home to California to open the season: I’m looking forward to finally having our first match. I think after being in the gym so long with one another, we are excited to have another team on the other side of the net. I’m also very excited to see my family and friends that are going to have the opportunity to come up and see our two matches in Long Beach.

On her favorite things about California: I love to eat at In-N-Out Burger, but fast food is something we try to stay away from on a game weekend. With this being our first tournament I am not that worried about being back in California, but instead focusing on playing the best volleyball I can. Hopefully we can get two wins in the opening weekend in front of some of our southern California fans. This is definitely a business trip with volleyball being our main focus.

Sophomore libero Sydney Yogi
On going home to play in Hawaii: I’m excited to go home and play in front of my family and friends. I also want to have the opportunity to show the team what it is like to live like a local Hawaiian and not just a tourist. We will also be playing some girls that I know really well. One of my really good friends plays for Cal and I know pretty much the entire Hawaii team because I grew up playing with them.

On what she absolutely has to do when she returns home: Obviously our top priority is winning. Coach Elliott has stressed to us that this is a business trip. We are there to try to take care of business against our three opponents and maybe we will have some down time on the side to do enjoy the beaches or see the sites. However, we have to take care of business first.

On her mindset as the team travels to Hawaii: I have a different mindset on this trip. I am not going home to relax. This is a business trip, but it always nice to go home.