Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Use Offseason to Build on Success of 2002
4/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
April 10, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Coming off a season in which it earned the program's most victories in 12 years and its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 18 seasons, the Northwestern volleyball team has a reason to have an aura of confidence around it. The Wildcats have used that confidence builder in its offseason training, including during the spring training season.
"I think that making the tournament last season was a big confidence boost for our team," head coach Keylor Chan said. "Everyone is more relaxed now. We're just trying to evaluate our expectations for the upcoming season. We seem to have a calm confidence around us now."
Following up on a 17-16 record, a sixth-place Big Ten finish and an NCAA berth for the first time since 1984, the 'Cats have used the offseason to build as a unit. Although the loss of five seniors from the 2002 squad has left Northwestern with only eight players on the roster, Chan doesn't necessarily see having the small group as a negative.
"It's been a positive in that a lot of kids have been able to get a lot of individual attention," Chan said. "It's a negative in that we couldn't scrimmage, but for the most part it worked out pretty well for us this spring.
"I think one of the biggest focuses of the offseason has been stripping away some of the obstacles that were in our way in the past. We've worked hard at our training and building relationships with one another as teammates and as a coaching staff."
The Wildcats took a spring break training trip to Florida from March 23-30, taking on opponents in Orlando and Tampa. NU scrimmaged Central Florida in Orlando on March 25 before moving on Tampa to face off against the Golden Knights again, in addition to South Florida and fellow NCAA Tournament participant Miami.
Although Northwestern played to win its matches against the opposition, Chan said that wasn't the primary focus of the competition.
"Our biggest focus, in addition to trying to win the matches, was to put people in different positions. We're giving the kids the opportunity to experience the game in a different light."
NU returned to Illinois and competed among a group of 24 of the top teams in the country at the Palos Heights Tournament on April 5. The Wildcats competed against Kansas State along with familiar Big Ten foes Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois.
With the spring season now completed, the players will now have more time to focus on the student aspect of their student-athlete status. The 'Cats will have eight weeks off from volleyball, but will still have the opportunity to work on their conditioning or go through individual workouts with the coaching staff.
With five starters returning from last season's successful squad, including All-Big Ten selection and All-America candidate Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg), NU returns a solid nucleus for 2003. Combine that with a solid incoming freshman class, and the Wildcats look to have what it takes to contend for a Big Ten title and make an NCAA Tournament run.
