Catching Up With Head Volleyball Coach Molly Alvey
10/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 27, 2010
HOUSTON- University of Houston volleyball head coach Molly Alvey, with team in tow, is riding high after coming off a big win last Saturday against SMU, snapping their five-match win streak. The Cougars are currently 7-4 in Conference USA and tied for third place with cross-town rival Rice. Here are Alvey's thoughts on the season to this point.
How do you feel about the season to this point?
"I feel really good about the season this far. One of the biggest surprises coming into a new program is that the players have responded well. No matter what energy I bring, what dynamic my staff brings or what kind of culture we want to establish here that doesn't get done until the team buys in to what you're trying to present to them. It took a little bit of learning from one another at the beginning, but very quickly they bought into what it is we're doing and it has made the season a pretty successful one."
With a marked improvement over last season's record, how does it feel to be sitting tied with Rice for third place?
"Someone asked me actually before the SMU match, `Hey Coach, if someone told you would be in fourth place in the conference at the beginning of the season, would you have taken it?' I said I would have absolutely taken it. It's phenomenal to be sitting where we are. I can't really speak for the team and the program before but we are doing some really great things. The players have gotten exceptionally better and they've put in the time also to getting better. That makes a difference in picking up some wins. The team is in here extra, doing things on their own time. They're coming and grabbing us and doing extra volleyball work. That's the only way to get better in volleyball; it's such a skills sport."
Coming off this big win against Conference USA's second-ranked SMU Mustangs, what did it mean for the team?
"It was huge! The team knew they were right there with Tulsa and they knew they just lost some consistency that pulled the match away from them little bit. To be able to rebound in less than 24 hours and come back and beat the No. 2 team in conference is a huge confidence booster. It continues to reinforce what we're doing is right, what they're doing is right, and all the extra time they're putting in is paying off. There are bonuses that come out of it. It's a great confidence booster."
Is there any player that is standing out that you thought at the beginning of the season wouldn't?
"It's tough to say. They would agree with me that they were all pretty much strangers to each other. We worked really hard in the spring, they did some things together over the summer on their own and then in preseason we worked really hard to get to know one another. The personalities I have right now are about polar opposite of what I had last spring so everyone has been a pretty large shock to me. I've gotten the opportunity to see who they are and their sense of humor and what makes them sad, what makes them happy and what makes them laugh. That's been the biggest surprise."
How do you see the team matching up with the rest of your opponents this season?
"There are definitely things we need to continue to get better at and we will. We will focus on more of the details and how they involve the team as a whole for match preparation. Up to this point, we match up very well with everyone. We just need to fine tune and clean up the minor details."
How does the team feel about their accomplishments in conference play this season?
"I'm very proud of them. Proud is probably the best word I can use because they've put the time and effort in. When you do those things then it translates. There is no more direct correlation then winning. As a team, we really don't talk about winning, we just talk about getting better and being competitive and showing up to be the same team every single match and its proven to be successful for them."
Do you see any improvements that the team needs to take to move up in the league rankings?
"Absolutely. In the past two to three weeks our first contact on the ball has been very sharp. We need to continue to get more confidence in serving and when its time to make a big play, we need to make a big play from the serving line. Our blocking is much improved and could continue to be just a little bit more fine-tuned. Our offense is developing and we could continue to decision make and make plays."
The last three games you will be playing on the road and that is always challenging. The teams you're playing are either ahead or tied with you in the standings, how do you prepare your team for those challenging games?
"We have been preparing all season and we still are. The way they came out and fought against Tulsa and we had an opportunity to be up 2-0 going in to the break, to bouncing back and beating SMU. We continue to take care of the teams we need to take care of. It gives you confidence and we've actually done really well on the road. We started off the season doing extremely well on the road and not so great at home and then they kind of turned that around. The first half of the season is going to put a little chip on their shoulders to come out strong for the last three matches."
What's the biggest thing, you believe, that affects your team while playing on the road?
"When we talk through those things and try to figure out what is the biggest thing that affects us, focus is usually what comes up but not necessarily complete and total lack of focus. It's just when it comes down to needing to make a play or it's getting tight out there or the match is getting close and we are right in it, it's trying to find that super sharp focus when it's your turn to step up and make the play."
What must your team do the final month of the season to continue to improve and end the season on a successful note?
"We need to stay healthy. That's always big being this late in October. You're going to be hurting no matter what even though you're not necessarily injured. You're going to be sore and tight. It's about being smart, taking practices one day at a time and being able to take adjustments."