Compared with other recent personnel moves in Ohio's athletic department, the hiring of volleyball coach Ryan Theis was a relative whisper G
it was a totally different atmosphere junior Ellen Herman said.
Having him here early has brought us a long way ' from what we worked on this spring now we're doing it well in the fall.
It's progressing each and every day. We trust our coaching staff, and they keep us focused in practice, and we know what we have to do.
Herman pointed out the little things Theis does which have a bigger impact than X's and O's.
He's taught us that it's more about energy and team chemistry, Herman said. That's the key to volleyball. If you're not cheering and celebrating, it has wear and tear.
The progression has been evident from week to week as well. Theis harps on his defense to be in the right positions
and Ohio's blocking numbers have increased to over two per game.
We can take advantage of teams when we feel that positive air on our side, middle blocker Jane Sytsma said. Theis tells his blockers that getting a hand on every ball can affect the opposition
and the defense is taking notice.
Even if it's not a straight-down block, he wants us as blockers to get a touch on the ball and get the defense into it, Sytsma said. -
and Herman admitted that although the team was disappointed with the results in Hawaii
another tournament was around the corner.
Going to Hawaii, we played three of the top-ranked teams in the nation, and we had some expectations, Herman said. We wanted to go 2-1, but it didn't happen.
Winning three (in Pittsburgh) really brought us back to our confidence level
and it tells us that we're back to doing things right.
JORDAN COMMITS
Ohio's latest volleyball recruit won't have to move very far once she enrolls at Ohio in the fall. The story was first reported last week by WCHI 1350 in Chillicothe.
Ashley Jordan, from Adena High School in nearby Ross County, has committed to play for Theis' Bobcats following her senior season.
Jordan comes from a championship-caliber program, too. Adena is a top-10 ranked volleyball program in Ohio, and has won three straight conference championships and appeared in the state Final Four once with Jordan on the roster.
Recently converted from middle blocker to right-side hitter, the 5-foot-11 Jordan will be a preferred walk-on next fall.
NO 'POLL' POSITION FOR 'CATS
A weekend of three straight wins in Pittsburgh wasn't enough to vault the 3-3 Bobcats into the national rankings.The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its weekly Top-25 rankings for the second time this season Monday, and the Bobcats didn't garner a vote from the panel of coaches.
All three of Ohio's opponents in Hawaii jumped into the Top 10 this week, with Penn State retaining its No. 1 ranking. UCLA jumped from sixth to fifth, and Hawaii rounded out to the top ten, up from No. 12 last week.
The Nittany Lions earned all 60 first-place votes in the poll.
rm234405@ohiou.edu
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