University of Tennessee Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES
December 02, 2005 | Volleyball
Dec. 2, 2005
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TENNESSEE POST-GAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Rob Patrick: "First of all, Jacksonville State played very well. They didn't back down to our seed or our ranking or anything, so my hat is off to how they played. They played very hard the entire match, great defense. They ran what they wanted to run against us. I'm really proud of our players who really played a good match against JSU, I thought Julie's setting set the tone. She set the ball perfectly to our hitters. Our hitters were able to find openings in their defense."
(on UT's offense): "We're really good in the 5-1, we're still a little more comfortable playing that offense. Going into a tournament like the NCAA, where our freshmen have never experienced that type of excitement, maybe a little nervousness, I thought it would be best to have Julie out there running the show like she's done for four years. When we go to a 6-2, we have a lot of freshmen on the court. I felt we could be successful against Jacksonville State running the 5-1, and we were. It's a testament to the passing of Amy, Julie, and Kelsey. Kristen opened up a lot of things with her hitting. We went to 6-2 late in the game. I wanted to get some jitters out of the freshmen because we're going to have to play the 6-2 more tomorrow, to match up with Minnesota's size and their block. We want them thinking about three hitters all the time instead of just two."
Julie Knytych: "We try and go one match at a time. It's just another step on our way to the Final Four. We're really excited to play Minnesota. It looks like they've got some fans coming out."
Kristen Andre (on closing out the game): "I don't think that's very characteristic of our team, normally when we're close to game point we'll finish strong. They really played their hearts out the last couple of points. They really deserved to come back."
(on NCAA experience): "I think we were probably playing a little more relaxed, especially our upperclassmen. I think they played really well."
JACKSONVILLE STATE POST-GAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH RICK NOLD: "We are very proud to be here, and is something we have pushed for all season long. Tennessee is a great team. I thought we came out and played pretty well the first game. We out hit them, out dug them; but then the second game is where experience came in to play. We are just proud of what we have done and will now push for next year."
(On Tennessee playing with a 5-1 and 6-2 offense): "I know they have been running a 5-1 all year and they are going to be comfortable with that style. It is (6-2 offense) something that will take time getting used to. There are positives both ways and they obviously showed that tonight."
(On the JSU fan support): "It has been something really exciting for our school and we appreciate it very much. A lot of our students and fans drove up for the match tonight. It is very special to us."
EMILY WITHERS: "It is a privilege just to be here. We have never been here before so it is a new thing for us. Taking in everything has just been really awesome. We would have liked to come out on top, but I think we gave a good effort."
(On Tennessee): "They were just an all-around confident and athletic team, and earned a lot of respect."
MEGHAN CUMPSTON: (On the team losing its seniors to graduation): "It is definitely more of an emotional loss than a skills loss. Over the past two years our team has become extremely close. They are definitely going to be missed."
