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St. Cloud State University
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Feisty Huskies lose two again
By Adam Czech
Published:
Monday, October 21, 2002
Media Credit: Blair Schlichte
SCSU freshman Jamie Schlagel tries to hit around the UNO block. The Huskies went on to lose the game against the Mavericks, 1-3.
The SCSU volleyball team’s losing streak is now at 10 games after a pair of home losses to the University of Nebraska-Omaha and the University of South Dakota Friday and Saturday night.
Two weeks ago, in the middle of this 10-game slide, most of the Husky players would have told you that despite the losses the team was putting forth great effort and giving it all they had.
You wanted to believe them, but something in their voices would have told you that it just wasn’t true.
Finally, after an Oct. 4 match against the University of North Dakota, third-year setter and team co-captain Kari Turkowski came right out and said that the team basically gave up during the contest.
A team meeting was held and feelings were aired. Then, in an Oct. 12 match at Minnesota State-Mankato, things seemed to change.
There now seemed to be more spring in the Huskies’ step. They started to play as a team and communicate better on the court. Talk to any of the players now and one gets a more laid back, confident vibe.
They seemed to have realized that they are young, that wins do not come easily for young teams and that volleyball is about having fun and improving, not constantly worrying about losses to much more experienced teams.
“We’re taking big steps,” Turkowski said. “We need to keep playing harder each night.”
“The past two weeks have been different on the court,” added third-year hitter Jane Backes. “There’s a different attitude now. There’s more intensity. It seems like we’re really going places now.”
SCSU dropped the first two games to Nebraska-Omaha Friday night, 30-25 and 30-23. Two weeks ago the Huskies would have stepped on the court for game three simply hoping to get it over with. Friday night they braced up and won game three, 30-27, before dropping the fourth game, 33-31.
Turkowski tallied 34 set assists, 13 kills and five digs in the contest. Second-year hitter Leah Herrboldt finished with 16 kills and 10 digs.
Second-year hitter Lindsay Ashburn added 14 kills and eight digs, while second-year back-row specialist Megan Hardy had 17 digs.
The scenario was the same Saturday night when South Dakota came to Halenbeck Hall for a match. SCSU dropped the first games, 30-27 and 30-22, but didn’t wave the white flag and won game three, 30-24. South Dakota then took the fourth tilt, 30-24.
Turkowski finished the evening with 38 set assists, 12 kills and 22 digs. Herrboldt added 14 kills and 13 digs, while Backes and Ashburn totaled 15 and 12 kills respectively.
Despite the new attitude of the team, the fact remains that the Huskies are still winless in NCC play. Many times on losing teams fingers tend to be pointed, and dissention starts to build. Is any of this happening with the Huskies?
“We all seem to be holding up pretty well,” Turkowski said. “We know we’re young. We know it’s harder for us to win games than other teams with more experience. To win games we have to keep playing hard. We know we can win games.”
Backes is enthused about Thursday’s match with Minnesota State-Mankato at Halenbeck Hall.
“I’m just really excited,” she said. “We feel like we’ll be able to win now.”
