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Dec. 2, 2008

Coach Kritza's Comments Following Tuesday's Practice

NEW ORLEANS - There is a saying in sports, especially around the postseason, that playoff experience is something that is difficult to replicate.

With the Tulane University volleyball team will be making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance over the weekend in Dayton, Ohio, the only player on the 2008 roster with postseason experience is assistant coach Meg Henican, who went to the NCAAs during her collegiate career at Notre Dame.

To make up for that lack of overall experience, however, Tulane head volleyball coach Liz Kritza will only have to have her team look in the mirror as she expects that lack of championship experience to be easily overcome by the drive and determination her team has shown throughout its record-breaking campaign.

"I think experience comes in many different forms," Kritza said. "For us, we have plenty of experience on our bench well beyond the collegiate game. (Assistant coach) Sinisa Momic has played and coached at the highest possible levels. Meg has considerable experience through her successful college career. She knows what it is like to be a student-athlete, to go into postseason, to know what it is to balance finals and playing the toughest matches all season, and striking that balance while being successful at it.

"Our players individually have had numerous successes on many different levels as far as preparing themselves to play very important matches. Every individual is going to draw on their own levels of experience and I think collectively, this group is determined to make some noise in the NCAAs. Whatever we lack in experience, we more than make up in enthusiasm and expectations in this group and they are willing to work hard every day to get it."

The team was back on the court on Tuesday evening in another attempt to get better and following a two-hour practice at Fogelman Arena, the Green Wave are one day more prepared for their opening-round opponent, Tennessee Tech.

Tulane (27-5) will take on the Golden Eagles (19-12) at 4 p.m. (CST) to open the first round at the Frericks Center while host Dayton (21-12) will take on Western Michigan (26-6) at 6:30 p.m. The winner of those two matches will play on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m. for the right to advance to the Sweet 16.

"We continued preparation today, but it was more specifically geared toward playing our Friday opponent, Tennessee Tech," Kritza said. "We have our scout going and we have a clear idea now of what we need to do within our system to come out victorious. Today, we made sure that we focused on our defense because it will be a huge component for us playing well against Tennessee Tech on Friday.

"They are a very solid team, they are well coach and they have a good compliment of skills. We need to make sure that our offensive and defensive systems are both ready for Friday. We need them both to be at the highest level that we can perform if we are to move on."

Tulane is 2-0 all-time against Tennessee Tech, but the last meeting between the two teams came back in Oct. 20, 1978, when the Green Wave defeated the Golden Eagles 15-1, 15-1, in the Memphis Tournament in Tennessee. Thirty years have passed since that victory, but Kritza is confident that her team will be ready and that her staff will have the team prepared to put its best foot forward on Friday night.

"That is the beauty of technology," Kritza said. "We can get scout film and there is a lot that a coach can tell by watching it. That is our job - to devise not only the best possible scouting report on them but also the best possible strategies based on what we have. Fortunately, I have some of the best coaches on my staff so I am confident that we will be prepared.

"For us as a team, it is a balance of these kids getting ready to go out and perform their best because we are still seeking continual improvement. It is not like we went from the preseason and this is the best we are going to be and that is it. We are actually going out every day and focusing on the small thing because the details matter more and more every day."

Tickets to the 2008 NCAA first- and second-round matches in Dayton, Ohio, are now available through the Tulane and Dayton Athletics Ticket Offices. All-Session tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and $4 for children aged 3-12. Single-Session tickets cost $6 for adults, $5 for students and seniors and $4 for children aged 3-12. Children two and under are admitted for free.

Fans can purchase tickets in person on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center, by calling (504) 861-WAVE or on-line at www.TulaneGreenWave.com. In addition, fans can also contact the Dayton Ticket Office by calling (937) 229-4433.