Thursday: #2 Washburn vs. #7 West Florida
*Conor Nicholl*
Fist pumps, high-fives and signature Argonaut cheers were in full Thursday afternoon.
No. 7 University of West Florida, boosted by their trademark high-fives, Tiger Woods-esque excitement, and outstanding front line play, swept No. 2 seed Washburn University 3-0 in the first round of the South Central Regional at Pershing Arena. It was the country’s biggest upset in the first half of the initial day of the NCAA play.
“Without a doubt [that was our best match of the season],” West Florida middle hitter Carly Moyers said.
The Argonauts, who also defeated Washburn 3-1 in the Henderson State University (Ark.) tournament Oct. 13, led nearly the entire match and completely throttled the Lady Blues, holding them to a .177 hitting percentage, one of their lowest marks of the season.
Washburn, beset by injuries the entire year, came out flat and seemed dispirited for the most match – especially compared to the excitement exuded by the Argonauts.
“They wanted it more than we did,” Washburn libero Erica Cowhick said. “We didn’t come out as aggressive as we knew we could.”
Washburn head coach Chris Herron called the Oct. 13 match the “worst his team played this season.” This one wasn’t much improved, as the Lady Blues, playing without Ashley Shepard (.421 hitting percentage in the first match against WFU) rarely could string points together offensively. Shepard is one of three Lady Blues that will need offseason surgery (torn ACL).
“Today was a disappointment,” Herron said.
The loss marked the fourth time this season Washburn was swept, but the first occasion that is was against an opponent that wasn’t ranked in the AVCA Top 15. West Florida executed their game plan to perfection, shutting down every Lady Blues attacker except senior outside hitter Tessa Jones, the Lady Blues’ best offensive player this season.
“It’s not just about one player,” West Florida head coach Melissa Wolter said. “You can’t win a match with one player. We knew Tessa was going to get a lot of kills, but we just wanted to contain her as much as we could and make certain she didn’t spark any runs.”
Jones, who didn’t practice on Monday and Tuesday because on a knee injury, enjoyed a terrific match, hitting .415 with 19 kills. Three days after a cortisone shot allowed her to play, she tried providing a spark for Washburn.
But every time she tried put up a vicious kill, the Argonauts came right back with a first pump, shout, and another huge play. West Florida took the first set 30-25 and led nearly the entire way in the second set.
In the second set alone, Jones collected six kills, helping Washburn remain close. The Lady Blues managed to tie the score at 25, but West Florida went on a 5-2 run to close out the set and effectively end the Lady Blues’ season.
Nairara Fernandes, West Florida’s best offensive player, had one of her 26 kills – and fist pumps – in the run and Moyers closed out the set with a kill and a double fist pump.
“I have always been competitive,” Wolter said. “And I want my players to be the same way. If you have a kill, why not celebrate it? As long as we do it positively, I have no problem with showing excitement and adrenaline. That’s what it’s all about.”
West Florida jumped out 3-0 in the third set, echoing another goal that Wolter set before the match. They never trailed, winning 30-25.
“We never wanted them to come back,” Wolter said. “Washburn is a tough team to beat and we knew it was going to be a struggle. We just wanted to start out fast and win in three sets. I told the players to work hard at the beginning of every set, take a lead and then trade sideouts the rest of the set.”
And West Florida never relinquished the lead, using a strong defense and Moyers’ and Fernandes’ offense.
“We just played incredibly, digging balls that I have never seen us dig before,” Fernandes said. “That was an incredible match.”
Overall, Moyers – who hit .513 in the first match against Washburn – crushed the Lady Blues, hitting .421 with nine kills. Fernandes led both teams in kills (26) and fist pumps.
Fist pumps, high-fives and signature Argonaut cheers were in full Thursday afternoon.
No. 7 University of West Florida, boosted by their trademark high-fives, Tiger Woods-esque excitement, and outstanding front line play, swept No. 2 seed Washburn University 3-0 in the first round of the South Central Regional at Pershing Arena. It was the country’s biggest upset in the first half of the initial day of the NCAA play.
“Without a doubt [that was our best match of the season],” West Florida middle hitter Carly Moyers said.
The Argonauts, who also defeated Washburn 3-1 in the Henderson State University (Ark.) tournament Oct. 13, led nearly the entire match and completely throttled the Lady Blues, holding them to a .177 hitting percentage, one of their lowest marks of the season.
Washburn, beset by injuries the entire year, came out flat and seemed dispirited for the most match – especially compared to the excitement exuded by the Argonauts.
“They wanted it more than we did,” Washburn libero Erica Cowhick said. “We didn’t come out as aggressive as we knew we could.”
Washburn head coach Chris Herron called the Oct. 13 match the “worst his team played this season.” This one wasn’t much improved, as the Lady Blues, playing without Ashley Shepard (.421 hitting percentage in the first match against WFU) rarely could string points together offensively. Shepard is one of three Lady Blues that will need offseason surgery (torn ACL).
“Today was a disappointment,” Herron said.
The loss marked the fourth time this season Washburn was swept, but the first occasion that is was against an opponent that wasn’t ranked in the AVCA Top 15. West Florida executed their game plan to perfection, shutting down every Lady Blues attacker except senior outside hitter Tessa Jones, the Lady Blues’ best offensive player this season.
“It’s not just about one player,” West Florida head coach Melissa Wolter said. “You can’t win a match with one player. We knew Tessa was going to get a lot of kills, but we just wanted to contain her as much as we could and make certain she didn’t spark any runs.”
Jones, who didn’t practice on Monday and Tuesday because on a knee injury, enjoyed a terrific match, hitting .415 with 19 kills. Three days after a cortisone shot allowed her to play, she tried providing a spark for Washburn.
But every time she tried put up a vicious kill, the Argonauts came right back with a first pump, shout, and another huge play. West Florida took the first set 30-25 and led nearly the entire way in the second set.
In the second set alone, Jones collected six kills, helping Washburn remain close. The Lady Blues managed to tie the score at 25, but West Florida went on a 5-2 run to close out the set and effectively end the Lady Blues’ season.
Nairara Fernandes, West Florida’s best offensive player, had one of her 26 kills – and fist pumps – in the run and Moyers closed out the set with a kill and a double fist pump.
“I have always been competitive,” Wolter said. “And I want my players to be the same way. If you have a kill, why not celebrate it? As long as we do it positively, I have no problem with showing excitement and adrenaline. That’s what it’s all about.”
West Florida jumped out 3-0 in the third set, echoing another goal that Wolter set before the match. They never trailed, winning 30-25.
“We never wanted them to come back,” Wolter said. “Washburn is a tough team to beat and we knew it was going to be a struggle. We just wanted to start out fast and win in three sets. I told the players to work hard at the beginning of every set, take a lead and then trade sideouts the rest of the set.”
And West Florida never relinquished the lead, using a strong defense and Moyers’ and Fernandes’ offense.
“We just played incredibly, digging balls that I have never seen us dig before,” Fernandes said. “That was an incredible match.”
Overall, Moyers – who hit .513 in the first match against Washburn – crushed the Lady Blues, hitting .421 with nine kills. Fernandes led both teams in kills (26) and fist pumps.
posted by Conor Nicholl at Thursday, November 09, 2006
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