By Patrick Stumpf
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The mantra for the Green Bay volleyball team entering the season was simple: prepare one match at a time, and not look ahead.
Over the last two weeks, it's easy to see that formula is working.
The Phoenix had five players record double-digits kills, including a team-high 16 from junior Megan Powers, as Green Bay outlasted IPFW in its second five-set match of the season (19-25, 25-19, 25-16, 26-28, 15-13) on Friday afternoon at the Miami Invitational in Oxford, Ohio.
With the win, the program has won five consecutive matches for the first time since Nov. 3-17, 2006, when it did so at the tail end of Horizon League play. Overall, the Phoenix have won in seven of its past eight decisions, with the only loss over that span coming at North Dakota on Sept. 10 (3-2).
“I think certainly there's a level of confidence,” said head coach Sean Burdette of the team's recent play. “It's good to see our players not panic if they get down a few points. We want to play from in front as much as we can, but it's not always possible because of people game-planning for what we do.”
After dropping the opening set 25-19, hitting just .156 as a team, Green Bay hit .433 and .485 in the second and third sets, respectively, to take a 2-1 lead. IPFW staved off elimination with a 28-26 win in the fourth set, before another closely contested final set ended on a kill from Phoenix freshman outside hitter Samantha Anthon.
“Offensively we wanted to stay aggressive, correct some of our errors and did a good job,” said Burdette. “Even in the fourth set that we lost we hit 22.9 percent, which in [Horizon] League if we're at 20-25 percent we're probably doing pretty well.”
“We challenged the outside hitters before the match that they had to be better in this contest and hit for a better clip and try to get after the defense on the other side.”
Powers, for one, was certainly up to the challenge, finishing with a team-best .517 hitting percentage.
“Before the game (assistant coach) Jeannette (Waldo) told me to not think too much, just play my game and not get too fancy, which I often tend to try with new shots," Powers said. "It was nice to go out there with an open mind and play instead of trying to be perfect.”
As has been the story for the Phoenix all season, others stepped up across the board, too. Lydia DeWeese (12), Taylor Totka (10), Jessica Wolf (10) and Anthon (11) all tallied double-digit kills, while senior Emily Riese (53 assists/15 digs) picked up her sixth double-double this season.
Green Bay overcame a 26-kill effort by the Mastodons' junior outside hitter Somer Johnson, which was the most kills by an opposing player in a match against the Phoenix this year (prev. 19, Courtney Place, UND).
BOX SCORE – GREEN BAY 3, IPFW 2
UP NEXT
Green Bay completes non-conference play tomorrow afternoon against Miami (Ohio), with first serve coming at 11 a.m. Central Time. Horizon League play will begin next week Thursday when the Phoenix travel to Youngstown State.
Said Burdette on the upcoming match-up: “All eyes will be on Miami tonight; we will get a chance to scout them against Northern Kentucky. We want to see what they do. They're a more physical team and play a little bit different style than Fort-Wayne did today, so I'm excited for us to get out there tomorrow and see what challenge is ahead.”
RADIO APPEARANCE
Before the Phoenix arrived in Ohio to begin this weekend's tournament, Appleton Sports Radio AM 1570 "The Score" host Marques Pfaff caught up with Green Bay head coach Sean Burdette to discuss the team's start to 2015. To listen to the full interview, click here.
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