Going up against Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State University volleyball, head coach Carol Price-Torok talks about adjustments the team is making heading into this weekend.
This year the ‘Runners have six freshmen, four transfers and six returning players. When discussing the Roadrunners most recent win against Sam Houston State University, Price-Torok spoke about the team’s dynamic and things they could work on for their upcoming games.
“We saw action from a lot of different people again which is always great that we can call on somebody to jump in and contribute and help us continue to earn points and eventually win sets,” Price-Torok said. “Hoping to brush up on some technical things we need to work on coming into the weekend.”
She went on to explain that it’s important to get new players out there to make sure that they can do what they need to do and to learn how to lead.
“We really want to use our whole entire roster,” Price-Torok said. “Being able to make adjustments is the name of the game. So we want to continue to get our key players working with our setters and continuing more point production out of the middle. I think that’s one of the biggest goals going into this weekend.”
“We’ve put ourselves in a great position to have those adjustments, so if someones having an off game or maybe they can’t just get into a rhythm, we have someone that can come in and continue,” Price-Torok said.
Recently, freshman outside hitter Ally Tribe was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week.
“We’re really fortunate Ally Tribe made the commitment to come in this past spring,” Price-Torok said. “She had some added time in the gym to get used to our system, to what we’ve been doing, to what we’re asking of her and she’s just been really patient. She’s a natural competitor. She’s been very successful in her career thus far.”
When Price-Torok went into how she evaluates her roster and how she is making adjustments to prepare the team for their next game, she said it’s about organization. Going into this weekend the ‘Runners know what is ahead of them.
“A lot of volleyball in one day,” Price-Torok said. “We just have to be gritty. I think that prepares us for conference because we do have some pretty brutal travel weekends where we play on the road and then come back and play at home. So we just have to have the mindset of what we can control at this moment and what we need to do to stay organized and that’s going to be a big thing on friday.”
Price-Torok acknowledged that this weekend is going to be tough.
“We’re seeing teams in our conference beating four power teams,” Price-Torok explained. “We think that we’re right there on the edge as a volleyball conference in the American to compete and win games against power four teams, [and] to give our kids that boost.”
“I think it’s going to be anybody’s game [and] who can outlast who,” Price-Torok said ahead of this weekend’s matches.
When talking about the ‘Runners chances, “The more you’re in it the more comfortable you are. [and]. So I expect some tight sets and some long matches.”
