Seen: Mixed formations for this weekend's opponents.
Coach Ryan Theis, along with assistants Meghan Keck, Kyle Weindel and wife, Jenny Manz Theis, gave the squad some new looks and sets for this weekend's Big Orange Tournament in Syracuse, N.Y.
The defense was exposed in three straight losses to open the season in Hawaii, but a few tweaks got the D in gear for last weekend's tournament win in Pittsburgh.
Last week
we needed to get back to our auto-system defense and getting outside blocks junior outside hitter Ellen Herman said.
This week we're working on hitting the holes (in the defense) and hitting balls to the corners and the deep lines.
Theis described Northeastern as a team that can frustrate the opposition to no end, and one way to keep pesky teams in check is to neutralize their attack.
Even the coaches got in on some of the sets, with both Theis taking up outside hitter positions in practice--showing the hitters how to hit the holes in constantly-changing defenses.
The staff knows their stuff, too. Keck was an All-American at Illinois-Chicago, Weindel at Ball State and Manz Theis at Florida.
Overheard: No dead air.
Theis constantly shouted these three words to his players during a scrimmage to end practice on Tuesday.
The team was divided up and practiced some of the different sets to prepare for the upcoming matches in Syracuse. One of Theis' main principles in constant communication between teammates, calling for sets and letting those in the area know who is getting the ball.
Each team Theis sensed calm in the air, he penalized the side which chose to hit the mute button.
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Rob Mixer
