Quote the Horns: Dec. 13
Dec. 13, 2010
Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott On playing Penn State in the NCAA Semifinal: Arguably, last year's championship match was the greatest match of all time. We've got so much respect for Russ (Rose) and his program. It's going to be a lot of fun for us in that venue. We're very confident in our preparation for this week. Our players will do a great job of coming out ready to play. On the memories of last year's championship final against Penn State: The match was such a good match, and it could have gone either way. We gave everything we had in that match. It's a new year and a new opportunity. You've got to get in those final four situations, and at one point in time, we'll break through. Hopefully we can put a string together of national championships - that's the goal. On how last year's loss affected him during the offseason: I don't think you'll ever get over that match, because we had such a good team. As coaches, you can live with losses if your team gives everything they had, and they did. We matched up with a very good team. It's been heartbreaking though. I've gone back and watched that match probably 20 or 30 times, just to see if there's anything I would have done different, and I wouldn't. We'll get another chance at it. On his confidence in the team: We're the underdogs. Nobody is picking us to win. This team has been really good when the game is on the line. We've been winning a lot of sets when there is just a two-point difference. There's something unique about this group.
Senior outside hitter Juliann Faucette On playing in a third-straight final four: It's more special for me, especially as a senior and a leader on this team. I've tried to take this team on my back, and have them believe in my vision. It's a sweet experience, because our road was very hard. It's been tough to make it to this point, and it's going to be tough from here on out. Our team has faith and trust in each other. On her leadership role: It's been a development. Last spring, I was still a junior and trying to feel the team out and get them to trust and believe in me. As the season has progressed, up and down with adversity, the team has really just believed in what we have established here. It's been fun for me. On meeting Penn State again: For me right now, I just see them as another team. I'm not really thinking about last year, and what we went through in that final, losing in five games. That doesn't really affect now. We're two totally different teams. We've both graduated really good players. It's going to be a fun match. On maintaining the goal despite adversity: It was distant, a lot more distant that last year, just because of our ranking. No. 9 seeds aren't usually expected to make it to the final four. But I never doubted that we could be here. I always felt that if we battled and trusted, we could do it. Our heart is special. We can pass, and we can hit, but it's more about our passion. Our motto all season has been, "Passion outweighs talent." We have the heart and will to win. Junior setter Michelle Kocher On the memories of the loss to Penn State: It's definitely stuck with us. It's always in the back of our minds, the bitter taste we felt almost having it and then it slipping away. We're looking forward to this match. It should be fun and totally different than last year. On the team's confidence: It's the invisible aspects that are in our favor, especially the teamwork and the heart that we have. You can't see that on paper. It's a thrill to play with this team. Senior middle blocker Jennifer Doris On the adversity this season: I think we've all embraced the situation we were given. You can let that hold you back, or you can look at it as positive and keep going. When you look back on our season, we've overcome so much, and I think we've used that to our advantage. On how the team stayed focus: We believe in each other so much. We've had some five-gamers and tough times throughout the season, but I think that's made us better when it really matters.
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