Tuesday, August 28, 2001

C-USA provides the Volley Frogs with a new challenge
By Colleen Casey
skiff staff

The Volley Frogs are set to begin their first Conference USA schedule ever, but they aren’t too worried about not knowing what to expect, head coach Sandy Troudt said.

Even though the change to a new conference means they won’t be playing near the sun-drenched beaches of Hawaii this season as they did in the Western Athletic Conference, the team’s outlook is as bright as it has ever been.

Although TCU won’t play the five-time WAC champions, Hawaii, Troudt said the teams that top the C-USA are still all very good.

The Frogs are preparing to compete with twice the amount of conference teams that make up an overall similar schedule.

“This conference is bigger than the WAC and we’ll be playing teams for the first time ever, but it will be good for the program,” Troudt said. “It will be entertaining.”

Freshman middle blocker/outside hitter Amber Sims said she is confident of both her own and the team’s newest challenge.

“I think that because we are new (to C-USA), we are able to come out and play without any self-doubts,” Sims said.

TCU is ranked seventh in the C-USA pre-season coaches’ poll out of 14 total teams. Four C-USA teams, Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville and South Florida, played in the NCAA tournament in the 2000 season.

Troudt said she thinks the current ranking will not satisfy her team of thirsty competitors and she doesn’t believe it’s an accurate prediction of the season.

“I think that (the preseason poll) isn’t worth the paper it’s written on,” Troudt said. “I know we won’t be happy unless we are the champs.”

Being within the top three teams of the C-USA rankings is one team goal for the Volley Frogs. Other goals include each player bringing their own “A” game to the court each day, despite their virtually unknown competitors.

“They are ready to meet their goals,” Troudt said. “I see that their determination and drive is really there.”

Although the motivation is there, senior middle blocker Allison Lynch said adjustment is still needed.

“The traveling is going to be a lot different. We fly and play on the same day,” Lynch said. “We’re really going to have to be on our toes all the time.”

Yet, Troudt said the staff has done a good job of scouting the C-USA teams’ games so the Frogs will have an idea of what to expect on the court.

She also said that the novelty of the teams scheduled is welcomed, and not stressful for the team.

“It’s a huge challenge, but they’re doing fine with that,” Troudt said. “This way the team doesn’t have any old ghosts that come to haunt them. It’s all a new challenge and we have a tradition of always looking for new ways to challenge ourselves.”

Although the unfamiliarity with the new conference is something TCU volleyball must face everyday, the move to C-USA has made the Volley Frogs the most excited about their season they have ever been, Troudt said.

Colleen Casey
c.m.casey@student.tcu.edu