Spring Break
Volleyball digs in for fall camp
Good things on horizon for Beaver volleyball, says coach Liskevych, players playing with a chip on their shoulders
Nick Lilja
Issue date: 8/13/08 Section: Sports
The Beavers come into the year ranked ninth in the Pac-10 coaches poll - just ahead of Washington State.
"I've never been a big poll guy." Liskevych said. "The poll that's most important is the one that is done [at the end] of the year."
While Liskevych didn't put much weight on the preseason poll, the women on the team carry it like a chip on their shoulder.
"We're not necessarily happy about it," Knitter said, "Our coaches brought that up in the first meeting, saying, 'look at this. This is what they think of you.'"
"We're a lot more focused," Evans said.
A more focused team this season allows Liskevych and his staff to refine the team and continue to mold the women to play up to their capabilities - capabilities that include a trip to the NCAA tournament. The Beavers are looking to make a berth in tournament this year for the first time since 1983. Liskevych thinks it will take a solid preseason and at least six wins in the Pac-10 will be enough.
"I think it's a realistic goal," he said. "I really feel we will be able to compete with every team in the Pac-10 this year."
Stanford, Washington, USC and UCLA are the perennial powers in the Pac-10. Add Oregon to that list, since it has made big steps in recent years, and it makes a tough schedule for the Beavers. But Liskevych says he feels comfortable competing against Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State and Washington State, and thinks the team can wrestle with Washington, USC and UCLA.
"We control our destiny," Liskevych said. "We know what we need to do."
The Beavers start their 2008 campaign at home on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m. with the Orange and Black Scrimmage before hosting the Corvallis Invitational the following weekend in Gill Coliseum.
"I've never been a big poll guy." Liskevych said. "The poll that's most important is the one that is done [at the end] of the year."
While Liskevych didn't put much weight on the preseason poll, the women on the team carry it like a chip on their shoulder.
"We're not necessarily happy about it," Knitter said, "Our coaches brought that up in the first meeting, saying, 'look at this. This is what they think of you.'"
"We're a lot more focused," Evans said.
A more focused team this season allows Liskevych and his staff to refine the team and continue to mold the women to play up to their capabilities - capabilities that include a trip to the NCAA tournament. The Beavers are looking to make a berth in tournament this year for the first time since 1983. Liskevych thinks it will take a solid preseason and at least six wins in the Pac-10 will be enough.
"I think it's a realistic goal," he said. "I really feel we will be able to compete with every team in the Pac-10 this year."
Stanford, Washington, USC and UCLA are the perennial powers in the Pac-10. Add Oregon to that list, since it has made big steps in recent years, and it makes a tough schedule for the Beavers. But Liskevych says he feels comfortable competing against Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State and Washington State, and thinks the team can wrestle with Washington, USC and UCLA.
"We control our destiny," Liskevych said. "We know what we need to do."
The Beavers start their 2008 campaign at home on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m. with the Orange and Black Scrimmage before hosting the Corvallis Invitational the following weekend in Gill Coliseum.
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