New Life: Volleyball team earns No.5 seed
Curtis Thom
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Sports
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Entering the MIAA conference tournament, the future of the No. 18 Gorillas season still hung in the balance, but after upsetting No.8 Central Missouri and No. 6 Washburn, they were rewarded with a No.5 spot in the Division II tournament. That makes it the team's fourth trip in the last five years.
Truman State University was able to deny the Gorillas the sweep and also their hopes of an MIAA conference championship during the championship game.
After winning the first game 31-29, the Gorillas weren't able to find the winning formula again, as the Bulldogs won three straight sets to clinch the MIAA championship.
Leading the way for Pitt State was junior Sammie Williams with 21 kills. Junior Klaudia Grelowska clocked 15 kills, and sophomore Pamela Cartagena netted 11 kills and 21 digs in the loss.
Despite losing, the team's biggest victory came on that Monday when it received news that it is to be represented in the Division II tournament, and would play a familiar foe in Emporia State University (26-8), a team the Gorillas (28-8) had lost to two times previously in the season.
Senior Sarah Brannock said the team was eager to get back on the floor, especially against Emporia State.
"Well, obviously we're very excited to be in the tournament, and I think all of the jitters will go away when we get on the court, but they're a very competitive team, but so are we," said Brannock.
Entering the game, the numbers are stacked against the Gorillas, considering Emporia is 2-0 against PSU on the season, but head coach Ibraheem Suberu said he was not concerned with the numbers.
"We're a different team this time around, we've become more cohesive as a unit and we're playing very well together at this point in the season," said Suberu.
Brannock echoed Suberu by saying that if the Gorillas play up to their capacity, they're a tough task for any team.
"We have lost to them in the past, but I believe we're a different team at this point, and if we play our game the way we know we can ... it's tough for anyone to beat us," said Brannock.
Suberu said his team is prepared and knows what it takes to win.
"If our hitters are not executing properly, it comes back to our ball control. If our defense is not protecting itself, then our offense cannot perform as well ... so they understand it's an entire team effort from top to bottom."
The Gorillas face the Hornets at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in Kirksville, Mo., on the campus of Truman State University.
Truman State University was able to deny the Gorillas the sweep and also their hopes of an MIAA conference championship during the championship game.
After winning the first game 31-29, the Gorillas weren't able to find the winning formula again, as the Bulldogs won three straight sets to clinch the MIAA championship.
Leading the way for Pitt State was junior Sammie Williams with 21 kills. Junior Klaudia Grelowska clocked 15 kills, and sophomore Pamela Cartagena netted 11 kills and 21 digs in the loss.
Despite losing, the team's biggest victory came on that Monday when it received news that it is to be represented in the Division II tournament, and would play a familiar foe in Emporia State University (26-8), a team the Gorillas (28-8) had lost to two times previously in the season.
Senior Sarah Brannock said the team was eager to get back on the floor, especially against Emporia State.
"Well, obviously we're very excited to be in the tournament, and I think all of the jitters will go away when we get on the court, but they're a very competitive team, but so are we," said Brannock.
Entering the game, the numbers are stacked against the Gorillas, considering Emporia is 2-0 against PSU on the season, but head coach Ibraheem Suberu said he was not concerned with the numbers.
"We're a different team this time around, we've become more cohesive as a unit and we're playing very well together at this point in the season," said Suberu.
Brannock echoed Suberu by saying that if the Gorillas play up to their capacity, they're a tough task for any team.
"We have lost to them in the past, but I believe we're a different team at this point, and if we play our game the way we know we can ... it's tough for anyone to beat us," said Brannock.
Suberu said his team is prepared and knows what it takes to win.
"If our hitters are not executing properly, it comes back to our ball control. If our defense is not protecting itself, then our offense cannot perform as well ... so they understand it's an entire team effort from top to bottom."
The Gorillas face the Hornets at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in Kirksville, Mo., on the campus of Truman State University.
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