Links to all interviews done during the 2019 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament:
Sunday:
VIDEO: Debbie Humphreys of SFA
VIDEO: Corin Evans of SFA
AUDIO: Ann Hollas of SFA
AUDIO: Maddie Miller of SFA
AUDIO: Danae Daron of SFA
AUDIO: Ariana Pagan of SFA
Saturday:
AUDIO: Brenda Gray of Sam Houston State
AUDIO: Catherine Krieger of Sam Houston State
(Unfortunately, the video interviews with Debbie Humphreys & Corin Evans of SFA did not properly process and had audio failures. Insert sad face here.)
Friday:
VIDEO: Xariah Williams of SFA
VIDEO: Chloe Simon of Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
VIDEO: Hannah Brister of Northwestern State
AUDIO: Breanne Chausse of Sam Houston State
AUDIO: Alexis Warren of Northwestern State
AUDIO: Sean Kiracofe of Northwestern State
AUDIO: Debbie Humphreys of SFA
Thursday:
AUDIO: Jodi Edo & Jeremy White of Southeastern La.
AUDIO: Abbie Harry of Central Arkansas
AUDIO: Marissa Collins & John Newberry of Central Arkansas
AUDIO: Taya Mitchell of SFA
SFA VolleyBlog Radio
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Monday, November 18, 2019
11th Annual SFAVolleyBlog.net All-Southland Conference Teams and Awards
I finally got the "preface" to this post exactly as I wanted it in 2017, so I am repeating it now for a third time in 2019:
If you scroll to the picks, argue with me and don't read the following paragraphs and bullets then don't expect me to listen to you for very long.
If you scroll to the picks, argue with me and don't read the following paragraphs and bullets then don't expect me to listen to you for very long.
· This list was published before the official All-Southland Conference teams. This was published on Monday, November 18. The conference released the official lists after this date.
· I don't do this the way the conference does. I have claimed for years - staunchly - that coaches have WAY too much control over the official lists. Get a coach or SID to explain to you how they vote, then go read the tiebreaker rules for conference tournament seeding, then ask me for a syllabus to an advanced calculus class and you decide for yourself which procedures are most unduly complex.
· I view these as individual awards, not team awards. I outright reject the reasoning that the order of the standings should dictate how many picks should show up on these lists or that the Player of the Year, Setter of the Year, Coach of the Year, etc. HAVE TO or SHOULD come from the best teams. If you want to see what a team award looks like, click here or here. We are honoring INDIVIDUALS here.
· I am a numbers person. I teach statistics for a living. I take notes, talk to coaches, SID's, use my impressions from doing radio/tv when SFA plays opponents, but in the end we here at the blog live my one mantra: In God We Trust. All Others Bring Data. Numbers matter.. a lot. If you don't like statistical analysis in sports, then your picks won't look anything like mine. I'm happy to defend my reasoning. Just know you are going to get numbers, if you ask.
And now for the stuff that I have written for 10 straight years but still need you to know if you are reading this:
Like in previous years, I suspect I will periodically comment on this article over the next week. People love to debate this stuff and I'm fine with that. After all, trying to decide who to honor is a noble pursuit and I can appreciate the passion that other fans have for their picks and reasons. I will indicate updates at the bottom of the post with boldface time stamps.
Recall, I actually pick "teams". The conference does not do this. Typically, the conference puts 12 athletes on the first team, six on the 2nd team and has 6 to 9 ladies listed as honorable mention for a total of 24 to 27 folks recognized. I will have three teams of seven for 21 girls honored and then a list of the players I considered for the lists and "just missed".
As I have said each of the last ten years: There are seven starters each night for any particular team, so we will pick seven athletes per team. Each team below is required to have a setter, libero, two middle blockers, two hitters and the seventh player can be a 'wild card' that can either be an MB, OH or RS.
2019 SFA VolleyBlog.net All-Southland Conference Teams and Awards:
First Team:
OH Hannah Brister, NSU
OH Corin Evans, SFA
MB Jodi Edo, Southeastern La.
MB Danae Daron, SFA
S Ann Hollas, SFA
L Maddie Miller, SFA
MB Taya Mitchell, SFA
MB Taya Mitchell, SFA
Second Team:
OH Ashley Lewis, SHSU
OH Mikayla Vivens, HBU
RS Ehize Omoghibo, UNO
MB Ebonie Ballesteros, HBU
MB Lorin McNeil, ACU
S Madison Green, AMCC
L Addison Miller, SHSU
Third Team:
OH Emily Gauthreaux, Nicholls
OH Alexis Warren, NSU
OH Abbie Harry, UCA
MB Kennedy Shelstead, ACU
MB Amari Mitchell, UCA
S Morgan Dewyer, HBU
L Carissa Barnes, AMCC
Just Missed (in order of position played): OH Bethany Clapp (UIW), OH Alexis Lambert (McNeese), MB Sh'Diamond Holly (UNO), MB Kaira Hunnicutt (SHSU), RS Marybeth Sandercox (ACU), RS Xariah Williams (SFA), RS Breanne Chausse (SHSU), S Lucie Pokorna (UNO), L Emily Doss (UCA), L Megan Lohmiller (NSU).
Player of the Year: Hannah Brister, NSU
Setter of the Year: Ann Hollas, SFA
Libero of the Year: Maddie Miller, SFA
Newcomer of the Year: Taya Mitchell, SFA
Freshman of the Year: Carissa Barnes, AMCC
Coach of the Year: Debbie Humphreys, SFA
Quick Initial Posting Thoughts:
__________________________________________________________________
Update: Wednesday, November 20 at 9:00 PM
Reaction to Official All-Conference Teams and Awards
Well, I'm a little torn. On one hand, I am encouraged that the conference embraced change. For the first time that I can remember, the Southland Conference went to a "three team" format for the All-Conference Teams. Only problem is, the voters about shot themselves in the foot with the composition of the third team and they wound up honoring LESS athletes than in the past. For instance, in 2018, under the old format with two teams and an honorable mention list there were a total of 26 ladies honored. Under the new, and more appropriate, three teams of seven players, we only get 21 names mentioned. So, that's one thumbs up and one thumbs down. Suggestion: Keep the three team format. Bring back "Honorable Mention". The honorable mention list can be short, but it might get us up to 25, 26, 27 names again and give us an idea of who "just missed".
Now, to the main curiosity. Do we not value defense? Especially from middle blockers? I mean, the title of the position implies the concept of blocking, does it not? There are a couple players that made the lists that I take strong objection to their inclusion. But, it's best not to name names in posts. After all, the point is to honor players and that attempt should be lauded even when there are curiosities. If you chase my points below, you can easily determine the biggest head-scratchers for me. Let me just point out a few things:
Quick Initial Posting Thoughts:
- The first team is flooded with SFA athletes, which I think is more than legitimate given that the team has had a historic season to date including being on the edge of the AVCA Top 25 and consistently posting an RPI that is Top 50. It stands at 34 as of this writing. SFA is the most complete club in the conference by quite a large margin.
- That said, I originally was going to pick Ann Hollas as Player of the Year. My heart really hopes an SFA player wins the "actual" award. Ann is an incredible leader and is really the key piece to the entire SFA machine. I will feel odd if Ann or Corin wins POY and I didn't pick them, but I need to stay true to what I have said over and over in this space. I do not believe POY is a team-award and I do not believe the POY has to be from the first place team. I know some people really feel strongly about those things, but I do not. It's just my point of view. Brister is 13th in the nation in kills/set, 11th in the nation in total kills, 16th in the nation in points per set, was third in the Southland in attack percentage among OH's (behind Lambert and Samantha Rodgers of SHSU) despite nearly 1300 attacks. She was player of the week five times and in addition to all that offense was 5th among all OH's in the conference in blocks per set and tied for 7th among all OH's in the conference in digs per set. I ranked 25 OH's and she was one of only three to finish in the Top 10 in all of kills, kills per set, attack %, digs/set and blocks/set (Evans and Lewis were the other two). It's just too much. The gap between her kill per set mark (4.69) and the next highest (Harry, 3.76) is very, very wide. The numbers are just overwhelming and they just can't be pushed aside for Hollas's amazing leadership and high volleyball IQ. I want Ann to win in my heart, but the most impressive player I've seen this year is Hannah Brister. The most impressive team I've seen this year is led by Ann Hollas. There's a difference.
- I doubt Edo, the ACU middles and Gauthreaux rank as high on the official lists. Voters don't like to honor low seeds and teams that don't make the tournament. To which, I say: Keep being you, ya'll.. keep being you. Whatever. That makes no sense to me.
- I'm really in love with my first two teams, but I had a hard time with my "3rd Team". If you prefer some of the "Just Missed" athletes higher, I don't know that I'd put up a terrible fight.
- We have some great liberos in our conference this year. Five Southland liberos rank among either or both of the Top 50 in the nation in digs per set or total digs. Another one was SLC POW four times. That said, I am confident that I'd take the three I chose (Maddie Miller, Addison Miller and Barnes) over the others. In fact, here's proof that I called Maddie Miller as 2019 Libero of the Year before she even transferred to SFA (scroll to the bottom). I mean this as no disrespect to Lohmiller, who won player of the week four times, nor Doss, who I called "smooth as silk" in the article linked above. The group is crowded and the way I pick the teams doesn't leave room for five or six liberos.
- Picks I most enjoyed making per team:
- First Team: Mitchell (unbelievably dominant at the net, 6th in the nation in blocks and blocks/set)
- Second Team: Omoghibo (probably had more coaches bring her name up in casual conversations than anyone else)
- Third Team: Gauthreaux (I always find a "stealth sophomore" and this is my pick) I'll be doing an All-Sophomore Team tomorrow like I did last year and Gauthreaux is on it. I'm a major fan. I understand she didn't put up great defensive numbers, but outsides need to score while also being efficient, right? Here's a list of the OH's that finished in the Top 8 within their position in BOTH kills/set and attack percentage: The almighty trio of Brister, Evans and Lewis.. and then... Emily Gauthreaux and Alexis Lambert.
__________________________________________________________________
Update: Wednesday, November 20 at 9:00 PM
Reaction to Official All-Conference Teams and Awards
Well, I'm a little torn. On one hand, I am encouraged that the conference embraced change. For the first time that I can remember, the Southland Conference went to a "three team" format for the All-Conference Teams. Only problem is, the voters about shot themselves in the foot with the composition of the third team and they wound up honoring LESS athletes than in the past. For instance, in 2018, under the old format with two teams and an honorable mention list there were a total of 26 ladies honored. Under the new, and more appropriate, three teams of seven players, we only get 21 names mentioned. So, that's one thumbs up and one thumbs down. Suggestion: Keep the three team format. Bring back "Honorable Mention". The honorable mention list can be short, but it might get us up to 25, 26, 27 names again and give us an idea of who "just missed".
Now, to the main curiosity. Do we not value defense? Especially from middle blockers? I mean, the title of the position implies the concept of blocking, does it not? There are a couple players that made the lists that I take strong objection to their inclusion. But, it's best not to name names in posts. After all, the point is to honor players and that attempt should be lauded even when there are curiosities. If you chase my points below, you can easily determine the biggest head-scratchers for me. Let me just point out a few things:
- We repeatedly leave national statistical leaders off our top teams. This has been done consistently for years. In 2014, Nicholls had a libero named Kalynn Egea that finished 4th in the nation in digs per set and she didn't even make honorable mention. In 2012, Oral Roberts had a middle blocker named Jessica Pancratz that blocked 164 balls. Her coach didn't nominate her and she didn't even make honorable mention. These are just two examples that I remember off the top of my head, but if you give me an hour, I can come up with a least a half dozen more from the archives. It's ridiculous and it makes us all look bad. To this end, Taya Mitchell is currently 6th in the nation in blocks per set and total blocks and she skates in on the 3rd team? We don't value blocking when voting for these awards.
- Take the time to rank all the middle blockers in blocks per set and then look at the lists. You'll be shocked. We value attack percentage to a nonsensical degree. This is 2019. Have we not learned? Baseball has moved beyond batting average. It's a useful stat, but not as useful as you think. Let's make the same strides with attack percentage, ok? For instance, suppose a middle blocker hits .340 for the season in 100 sets played, 450 swings and 30 matches. If this player makes one more error per match, the corresponding attack percentage drops to .278. One error PER MATCH. The average attack percentage for all starting MB's in the conference this year was .264. An attack percentage of .340 would have ranked 2nd. An attack percentage of .278 looks far more average for the position. One error PER MATCH. Let's make middle blockers block balls to make all-conference. We don't value blocking when voting for these awards.
- Half of the top 10 players in blocks/set per set for the entire season and the #2, #3 and #4 blocks per set leaders in conference play did not get mentioned on the lists at all. We don't value blocking when voting for these awards.
- I had really hoped that Ann Hollas or Corin Evans would be the winner of Player of the Year. But, Hannah Brister's case for Player of the Year is incredibly strong. Like I mentioned yesterday, once I got deep in the numbers, her case convinced me. Plus, despite seeing Ann lead for four years in such an amazing way, it's hard to deny Madison Green and her performance at Corpus. Green's attacking numbers compare favorably with Hollas' and then you have almost two more assists per set and those six triple-doubles. It's entirely possible that if I watched Green play every day like I have Hollas for four years, that I would see similar leadership... so, while I wanted Ann to repeat as Setter of the Year, and still believe she's the best overall choice, I can't quibble with honoring Green. Madison Green is a special volleyball player.
- I know I might be accused of hometowning it a little with this comment, but in all honestly, the only players on the OFFICIAL conference lists that I think should be higher up are SFA players. That said, there are at least a half dozen that I think should be lower.
- On this same theme, I'm genuinely surprised that Maddie Miller didn't win Libero of the Year. I said in the original post that we had a lot of good statistical performances by liberos in the Southland this year, so I know making this pick could be seen as tough. I also realize that Addison Miller played OUT OF HER MIND against us in Nacogdoches. I do have to admit, Addison Miller was DOMINANT that night vs. SFA. But, let me feed you just one number here. Maddie Miller has currently put up 5.26 digs per set (the value on the team/conference website is not correct). That would rank as the 5th best season in SFA history. If she ups it to 5.28 or higher, then the only libero at SFA to have posted better season dig rates is Stephanie Figgers, who is/was/and shall always be the best libero to ever play in the Southland Conference. The voters missed this one. Maddie Miller was the best choice here.
- I really liked the official lists in 2017 and 2018. I think the 2019 lists took one step forward with changing formats, but also, I think they took one step back with a little less accuracy in terms of honoring the conferences best players. That's just my two cents. Someone who puts out their own lists is always going to prefer his/her own methods and choices. Maybe it's just me, but if we're evaluating the whole contributions of a volleyball player, I'd prefer to factor in defense to some extent. I think it a reasonable part of the criteria especially if the position you play has the word "Blocker" in it. But again, might just be me.
2nd Annual SFAVolleyBlog.net All-Sophomore Team
I like to look at sports from more than one vantage point. My late father told me when I was a young child that in order to learn about football I needed to watch what was going on away from the ball. Once I got to college and developed a deep, deep love for baseball, I realized the same was true for that sport. I learned to watch infielders move, outfielders take routes and players run the bases.
I enjoy this same perspective about volleyball. Doing play-by-play, I have to watch the ball, of course. My job is to tell the story and articulate the action. So, following the ball is a necessity. But, when I watch volleyball in a gym and I'm not "working", I often find myself watching just one player continuously. I'll just watch the setter.. or watch how the middles transition in a long rally, or my favorite... just watch a back row player like a libero or defensive specialist.
Often juniors and seniors wind up on leadership teams and can disproportionately appear on award lists. This is natural. They are more experienced and adjusted. So, in this post we'll take a different vantage point.
The sophomore class can be full of players about to "break out" and have two huge upperclassman years. Sometimes these sophomores don't reach the projected potential they show half way through their collegiate career. But, at other times they provide us with diamonds-in-the-rough or candidates for greater accolades in the two years following.
To celebrate just the sophomore class in the Southland Conference, last year I began picking an "All-Sophomore" team. This is the second annual installment of this concept. After a few more years of this, we'll be able to see which of these athletes truly do blossom into upperclassman leaders and award winners. To see last year's "All-Sophomore Team", click here.
From last year, I'd say Brister, Vivens and Miller have continued the career arc upward. Mueller got hurt in 2019. Williams transferred out of the conference and Patillo and Waddington still played important roles for their schools. We'll see how that crew does as Seniors, but for now.. last year's all-sophomore team still looks pretty darn good.
Here's the list for 2019:
The 2019 2nd Annual SFAVolleyBlog.net All-Sophomore Team:
OH Bethany Clapp, UIW
OH Emily Gauthreaux, Nicholls
MB Ebonie Ballesteros, HBU
MB Kaira Hunnicutt, SHSU
RS Breanne Chausse, SHSU
S Skylar Besch, NSU
L Vacant
There were no sophomores that regularly wore a libero jersey in the Southland Conference this year. If you allow that spot to flex to include DS's then the two two sophomore defensive specialists that I'd mention (they led all other sophomore DS's in digs per set) are Kylie Lockhart of Nicholls and Kaylee Payne of Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. With the Islanders back row anchored by freshman libero Carissa Barnes, Payne may not project to be a libero in the near future. However, the libero position will be open at Nicholls since trickster and libero Emily Venable is a senior. So, theoretically, Lockhart could be in the conversation to be the Colonels next libero. So, if we have to fill that "vacant" libero slot, Lockhart might be the best choice.
Everyone around the conference knows Bethany Clapp should continue to produce. She was the 2018 Freshman of the Year, made my third team last year and was also my pick for Freshman honors. Gauthreaux I have already written about in the post above. Clapp and Gauthreaux actually posted very similar numbers in 2019, but I saw Gauthreax's efficiency as the difference maker for my third team vs. "Just Missed". They actually ranked as the 7th (Gauthreaux) and 9th (Clapp) OH's in my rankings spreadsheet that I create for my all-conference picks.
Ballesteros and Hunnicutt were two of only four middles to post over 100 blocks in the regular season. The other two are Edo (SLU) and Mitchell (SFA), both of which I believe easily belong on the first team for all-conference honors.
Chausse was second to Ehize Omoghibo (UNO) in kills per set among all right-side attackers. The sophomore setters in the conference were Besch, Pilar Gonzaba (UIW, 6-2), Kendall Kilchrist (McNeese, 6-2) and Madison Rohre (ACU, 5-1). I gave the nod to Besch for her agressiveness. First of all, she put down some monster kills against SFA that stuck in my mind. Plus, she finished 5th among all setters in total attacks while also hitting .204 to lead the sophomores in that category. That was enough to warrant the selection with only a handful to choose from. My favorite setter profile is 6' or taller, lanky and highly aggressive on 2nd touch. Besch is only 5'9", but she fit the aggressive mold enough by way of her stats to stay on my radar.
Hope you like the picks and maybe now you've got a sophomore or two to follow into their upperclassmen years. Who knows? Maybe there's a future Player of the Year or Tournament MVP in this group. It's fun to watch.. and fun to give out accolades to players half way through their tenure.
I enjoy this same perspective about volleyball. Doing play-by-play, I have to watch the ball, of course. My job is to tell the story and articulate the action. So, following the ball is a necessity. But, when I watch volleyball in a gym and I'm not "working", I often find myself watching just one player continuously. I'll just watch the setter.. or watch how the middles transition in a long rally, or my favorite... just watch a back row player like a libero or defensive specialist.
Often juniors and seniors wind up on leadership teams and can disproportionately appear on award lists. This is natural. They are more experienced and adjusted. So, in this post we'll take a different vantage point.
The sophomore class can be full of players about to "break out" and have two huge upperclassman years. Sometimes these sophomores don't reach the projected potential they show half way through their collegiate career. But, at other times they provide us with diamonds-in-the-rough or candidates for greater accolades in the two years following.
To celebrate just the sophomore class in the Southland Conference, last year I began picking an "All-Sophomore" team. This is the second annual installment of this concept. After a few more years of this, we'll be able to see which of these athletes truly do blossom into upperclassman leaders and award winners. To see last year's "All-Sophomore Team", click here.
From last year, I'd say Brister, Vivens and Miller have continued the career arc upward. Mueller got hurt in 2019. Williams transferred out of the conference and Patillo and Waddington still played important roles for their schools. We'll see how that crew does as Seniors, but for now.. last year's all-sophomore team still looks pretty darn good.
Here's the list for 2019:
The 2019 2nd Annual SFAVolleyBlog.net All-Sophomore Team:
OH Bethany Clapp, UIW
OH Emily Gauthreaux, Nicholls
MB Ebonie Ballesteros, HBU
MB Kaira Hunnicutt, SHSU
RS Breanne Chausse, SHSU
S Skylar Besch, NSU
L Vacant
There were no sophomores that regularly wore a libero jersey in the Southland Conference this year. If you allow that spot to flex to include DS's then the two two sophomore defensive specialists that I'd mention (they led all other sophomore DS's in digs per set) are Kylie Lockhart of Nicholls and Kaylee Payne of Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. With the Islanders back row anchored by freshman libero Carissa Barnes, Payne may not project to be a libero in the near future. However, the libero position will be open at Nicholls since trickster and libero Emily Venable is a senior. So, theoretically, Lockhart could be in the conversation to be the Colonels next libero. So, if we have to fill that "vacant" libero slot, Lockhart might be the best choice.
Everyone around the conference knows Bethany Clapp should continue to produce. She was the 2018 Freshman of the Year, made my third team last year and was also my pick for Freshman honors. Gauthreaux I have already written about in the post above. Clapp and Gauthreaux actually posted very similar numbers in 2019, but I saw Gauthreax's efficiency as the difference maker for my third team vs. "Just Missed". They actually ranked as the 7th (Gauthreaux) and 9th (Clapp) OH's in my rankings spreadsheet that I create for my all-conference picks.
Ballesteros and Hunnicutt were two of only four middles to post over 100 blocks in the regular season. The other two are Edo (SLU) and Mitchell (SFA), both of which I believe easily belong on the first team for all-conference honors.
Chausse was second to Ehize Omoghibo (UNO) in kills per set among all right-side attackers. The sophomore setters in the conference were Besch, Pilar Gonzaba (UIW, 6-2), Kendall Kilchrist (McNeese, 6-2) and Madison Rohre (ACU, 5-1). I gave the nod to Besch for her agressiveness. First of all, she put down some monster kills against SFA that stuck in my mind. Plus, she finished 5th among all setters in total attacks while also hitting .204 to lead the sophomores in that category. That was enough to warrant the selection with only a handful to choose from. My favorite setter profile is 6' or taller, lanky and highly aggressive on 2nd touch. Besch is only 5'9", but she fit the aggressive mold enough by way of her stats to stay on my radar.
Hope you like the picks and maybe now you've got a sophomore or two to follow into their upperclassmen years. Who knows? Maybe there's a future Player of the Year or Tournament MVP in this group. It's fun to watch.. and fun to give out accolades to players half way through their tenure.
Coming Later Today: 11th Annual SFAVolleyBlog.net All-Conference Teams
By 11:59 PM on Monday, November 18, the 11th Annual SFAVolleyBlog.net All-Conference Teams will appear in this space.
To review the selection process and take a look at my 2018 teams, you can click here. This is always one of the most - if not the most viewed post of the year.
Keep checking back in this space Monday night and keep an eye on twitter for the announcement that the lists have been posted here.
I'll see everyone at the tournament this weekend. As always, I'll have audio and video interviews going all weekend long with players and coaches.
My Southland Confererence Digital Network assignment for 2018 is to handle all of the matches on the first two days. Please introduce yourself if you are a fan from one of the eight teams that will be playing. I'll be in the gym all day so feel free to catch me between matches for a chat.
Catch all the action in the first two rounds on the Southland Digital Network and the final on ESPN+. You can also check out the Southland Conference Apps for your digital device.
To review the selection process and take a look at my 2018 teams, you can click here. This is always one of the most - if not the most viewed post of the year.
Keep checking back in this space Monday night and keep an eye on twitter for the announcement that the lists have been posted here.
I'll see everyone at the tournament this weekend. As always, I'll have audio and video interviews going all weekend long with players and coaches.
My Southland Confererence Digital Network assignment for 2018 is to handle all of the matches on the first two days. Please introduce yourself if you are a fan from one of the eight teams that will be playing. I'll be in the gym all day so feel free to catch me between matches for a chat.
Catch all the action in the first two rounds on the Southland Digital Network and the final on ESPN+. You can also check out the Southland Conference Apps for your digital device.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Southland Conference Coaching Legends Staring Down 700 Wins
The 2019 NCAA Volleyball season is upon us as virtually every collegiate program in the land is preparing for Match #1 this weekend. Tweets flying at record pace, Instagram posts at the airport, the obligatory shot getting on the bus, or the photo of the quiet before the storm at the home gym populate team websites and social media accounts as the excitement builds for first serve. But some of the folks in charge of these squads have seen it before. They've seen it many, many times before. Now, they'll give you the coach speak about how every squad is different and each new team has it's own challenges and yada yada, but nothing gets by veterans as savvy and coy as Sam Houston head coach Brenda Gray and our own Debbie Humphreys.
The collective deans of the Southland coaching ranks, Gray and Humphreys have faced off against each other in numerous battles. Many of these matches have etched permanent memories for players and fans on each side and we'll get another version of SFA/Sam Houston on none other than Halloween night in Shelton Gym later this season. You can bet that tilt will be all treat and very little trick. After all, Humphreys and Gray have already seen just about every trick in the proverbial book.
But as the cycle begins once more, both Gray and Humphreys are interestingly on the verge of the same milestone: 700 Career Division 1 coaching victories. Let that sink in for a minute. Seven Hundred Wins. Start doing the math with the 20-win plateau defining a decent year and you quickly realize how elusive and how much tenure a coach has to amass in order to eclipse such gaudy numbers. Humphreys for years has told me that she doesn't keep up with such things. She's fond of saying things like "if it weren't for SID's and people like you reminding me about it, I'd never even know". I used to call bull on stuff like that, but I've watched her enough to know now that she's telling the truth. The most important match is only the one you are about to play.
Gray, for her part, also doesn't seem too caught up in all the zeroes at the end of her win total. In a recent article in the Huntsville Item she was quoted as saying "This is a new team that gets to make their own history, so to me, we're starting back over at zero." Do these coaches practice saying stuff like that? I mean, that's the most "first interview of the year" stuff I've ever chuckled my way through reading. If they do practice it, they've had plenty of time. Gray enters her 36th year guiding the Bearkats and Humphreys will carry the clipboard for campaign #32.
Despite the neutral quote, I've got to wonder about the convenience of playing a first match in a home tournament against lowly Prairie View A&M. After all, the Bearkats opening tournament is aptly named the "42nd Annual SHSU Invitational". Sheesh. And they say numbers don't matter? Don't believe it.
Gray begins the season with 699 wins. By Friday evening the NCAA D1 coaching ranks will add another 700 match winner to the list. An elusive tally? You bet. When the Bearkats polish off Prairie View, Gray will become only the 26th coach in history at the Division 1 level with 700 victories. Gray had a shot at getting to 700 during last years' Southland Conference Tournament, but a semifinal loss to Central Arkansas (that I had the privilege to call) thwarted that plan. Still, the resume is clearly impressive and anyone who knows SLC Volleyball history can confirm that more years than not, Gray gets her club in the mix of things at the top of the Southland standings.
I'll share two memories of Coach Gray that really gave me a ton of confidence as a volleyball enthusiast, writer and broadcaster. In 2010, the second year for my blog, the 'Jacks were preparing to play Sam Houston in Huntsville. I wasn't doing radio at that time, but during that era "court-side chat rooms" were one way to engage fans who wanted to follow along with the match. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am obsessive in my preparations and so I was watching a few of Gray's recently taped interviews to see what I could learn. At one point she shockingly broke off from answering a question and said "that's interesting.... there's a guy over at Stephen F. Austin named Greg who just addressed that in a post he wrote.... if you aren't reading his stuff, you really should, it's pretty good." I about lost my lunch. Brenda Gray had just confirmed a) that she could tell me apart from the dust ball that was gathering over in the corner of the gym and b) that she actually read and paid attention to something I said or wrote. I had made the big time. I felt like the kid in the middle school lunch room that the popular crowd had just acknowledged for the first time. Pure validation, but I probably didn't deserve it.
Second, the following year in 2011, the Bearkats rode a four game conference winning streak into the SLC Tournament in Conway, Arkansas. Sam Houston had outlasted UTSA during that streak and then matched up with the Roadrunners again in the second round of the conference tournament. But, this time SHSU lost a hard-fought first set and never recovered. UTSA swept the Bearkats and finished their season. I was seated at the secondary media table doing my "chat" thing and after the loss, the Bearkat squad came and briefly sat in the stands to watch the next game before travelling home. Gray sidled up to me at the media table and began to talk about the loss very openly. Surprised already that she was even conversational after that match and that she had picked me to talk to about it, she then proceeds to lean in to the conversation and asks me "What do you think happened? Look at my team over there. They are all so down and dejected. What happened?" Like I had an answer to that!? I gave her a line of "media speech" mimicking all the "coach speech" I had heard before and hoped that pacified her in the moment. Brenda Gray was asking ME for my opinion? What universe had I been transported to? Again, pure validation.
Now, she probably doesn't remember either of those two short moments in time, but as you can tell, I clearly do. That's what I've always enjoyed about Coach Gray. A rival for sure, but she's repeatedly engaging, respectful, makes players available and is able to compete while still encouraging learners like me. Sure, I'd rather us beat Sam Houston that just about anyone, but respect is respect, and she's got mine.
Humphreys enters the 2019 season at 694 wins for her career. She'll be coach number 27 at the D1 level to reach the 700 club. Apply whatever formula you want to our pre-conference tournament schedule, but at some point in September we'll have our own celebration of the nice round number. It will give Debbie another chance to tell us she didn't see it coming until I or Charlie Hurley, our volleyball SID, told her she was at 699 the day before.
Humphreys, of course, doesn't need a pair of vignettes told about her relating to my volleyball work. Humphreys is single handedly responsible for me even having an opportunity in this game. Most of what I know originally comes from talking with or watching her. I've ask her countless interview questions and paid attention to thousands of phrases, listened to hundreds of times that she has addressed the team or a player in practice or in a match. I've tried to basically hang on her words because I knew I could have no better local teacher than someone of her caliber. The fact that I get to type in this space is due to her. The fact that I worked public address for our club starting back in 2006 was due to her request. The blog, Internet radio, ESPN, opportunities with the conference, access to players and coaches and everything that comes with it is all because of Debbie Humphreys. Selfishly, I hope win #700 doesn't come while the club is in Illinois. I want to add another item to the long list of accomplishments that I was there to witness. But alas, it's not about me.
I am blessed to have worked with SFA Volleyball for 14 seasons and every time Humphreys says to me "OK, I'll tell you this off the record...." I think to myself how lucky I am to be trusted. I don't take that for granted.
To even have the chance to "talk the game" with standouts like Gray and Humphreys is memorable for me. But as you gear up for what should be another exciting season for Ladyjack and Bearkat volleyball, do me this favor: Whatever side you fall on, think deeply about the impact of Brenda Gray and Debbie Humphreys. Think deeply about how many lives they have impacted and how much wisdom they have imparted. Think about how many relationships that they have helped to coalesce. Think about how many people they have taught. Think about your own personal definition of "success" and then realize that no matter what it is -Gray and Humphreys have met your criteria for using the word.
Keep climbing the list below Coach Gray and Coach Humphreys... thanks for the memories and keep 'em coming.
Division 1 Winningest Active Coaches Entering 2019 Season
1. Russ Rose, Penn St. (1272)
2. Mary Wise, Florida (931)
3. Karen Chisum, Texas State (895)
4. Chris Poole, Florida St. (824)
5. Joe Sagula, North Carolina (802)
6. Barry Goldberg, American (750)
7. Tom Hilbert, Colorado State (735)
8. Carolyn Condit, Miami (OH) (732)
9. John Cook, Nebraska (721)
10. Brenda Gray, Sam Houston (699)
11. Debbie Humphreys, SFA (694)
The collective deans of the Southland coaching ranks, Gray and Humphreys have faced off against each other in numerous battles. Many of these matches have etched permanent memories for players and fans on each side and we'll get another version of SFA/Sam Houston on none other than Halloween night in Shelton Gym later this season. You can bet that tilt will be all treat and very little trick. After all, Humphreys and Gray have already seen just about every trick in the proverbial book.
But as the cycle begins once more, both Gray and Humphreys are interestingly on the verge of the same milestone: 700 Career Division 1 coaching victories. Let that sink in for a minute. Seven Hundred Wins. Start doing the math with the 20-win plateau defining a decent year and you quickly realize how elusive and how much tenure a coach has to amass in order to eclipse such gaudy numbers. Humphreys for years has told me that she doesn't keep up with such things. She's fond of saying things like "if it weren't for SID's and people like you reminding me about it, I'd never even know". I used to call bull on stuff like that, but I've watched her enough to know now that she's telling the truth. The most important match is only the one you are about to play.
Gray, for her part, also doesn't seem too caught up in all the zeroes at the end of her win total. In a recent article in the Huntsville Item she was quoted as saying "This is a new team that gets to make their own history, so to me, we're starting back over at zero." Do these coaches practice saying stuff like that? I mean, that's the most "first interview of the year" stuff I've ever chuckled my way through reading. If they do practice it, they've had plenty of time. Gray enters her 36th year guiding the Bearkats and Humphreys will carry the clipboard for campaign #32.
Despite the neutral quote, I've got to wonder about the convenience of playing a first match in a home tournament against lowly Prairie View A&M. After all, the Bearkats opening tournament is aptly named the "42nd Annual SHSU Invitational". Sheesh. And they say numbers don't matter? Don't believe it.
Gray begins the season with 699 wins. By Friday evening the NCAA D1 coaching ranks will add another 700 match winner to the list. An elusive tally? You bet. When the Bearkats polish off Prairie View, Gray will become only the 26th coach in history at the Division 1 level with 700 victories. Gray had a shot at getting to 700 during last years' Southland Conference Tournament, but a semifinal loss to Central Arkansas (that I had the privilege to call) thwarted that plan. Still, the resume is clearly impressive and anyone who knows SLC Volleyball history can confirm that more years than not, Gray gets her club in the mix of things at the top of the Southland standings.
I'll share two memories of Coach Gray that really gave me a ton of confidence as a volleyball enthusiast, writer and broadcaster. In 2010, the second year for my blog, the 'Jacks were preparing to play Sam Houston in Huntsville. I wasn't doing radio at that time, but during that era "court-side chat rooms" were one way to engage fans who wanted to follow along with the match. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am obsessive in my preparations and so I was watching a few of Gray's recently taped interviews to see what I could learn. At one point she shockingly broke off from answering a question and said "that's interesting.... there's a guy over at Stephen F. Austin named Greg who just addressed that in a post he wrote.... if you aren't reading his stuff, you really should, it's pretty good." I about lost my lunch. Brenda Gray had just confirmed a) that she could tell me apart from the dust ball that was gathering over in the corner of the gym and b) that she actually read and paid attention to something I said or wrote. I had made the big time. I felt like the kid in the middle school lunch room that the popular crowd had just acknowledged for the first time. Pure validation, but I probably didn't deserve it.
Second, the following year in 2011, the Bearkats rode a four game conference winning streak into the SLC Tournament in Conway, Arkansas. Sam Houston had outlasted UTSA during that streak and then matched up with the Roadrunners again in the second round of the conference tournament. But, this time SHSU lost a hard-fought first set and never recovered. UTSA swept the Bearkats and finished their season. I was seated at the secondary media table doing my "chat" thing and after the loss, the Bearkat squad came and briefly sat in the stands to watch the next game before travelling home. Gray sidled up to me at the media table and began to talk about the loss very openly. Surprised already that she was even conversational after that match and that she had picked me to talk to about it, she then proceeds to lean in to the conversation and asks me "What do you think happened? Look at my team over there. They are all so down and dejected. What happened?" Like I had an answer to that!? I gave her a line of "media speech" mimicking all the "coach speech" I had heard before and hoped that pacified her in the moment. Brenda Gray was asking ME for my opinion? What universe had I been transported to? Again, pure validation.
Now, she probably doesn't remember either of those two short moments in time, but as you can tell, I clearly do. That's what I've always enjoyed about Coach Gray. A rival for sure, but she's repeatedly engaging, respectful, makes players available and is able to compete while still encouraging learners like me. Sure, I'd rather us beat Sam Houston that just about anyone, but respect is respect, and she's got mine.
Humphreys enters the 2019 season at 694 wins for her career. She'll be coach number 27 at the D1 level to reach the 700 club. Apply whatever formula you want to our pre-conference tournament schedule, but at some point in September we'll have our own celebration of the nice round number. It will give Debbie another chance to tell us she didn't see it coming until I or Charlie Hurley, our volleyball SID, told her she was at 699 the day before.
Humphreys, of course, doesn't need a pair of vignettes told about her relating to my volleyball work. Humphreys is single handedly responsible for me even having an opportunity in this game. Most of what I know originally comes from talking with or watching her. I've ask her countless interview questions and paid attention to thousands of phrases, listened to hundreds of times that she has addressed the team or a player in practice or in a match. I've tried to basically hang on her words because I knew I could have no better local teacher than someone of her caliber. The fact that I get to type in this space is due to her. The fact that I worked public address for our club starting back in 2006 was due to her request. The blog, Internet radio, ESPN, opportunities with the conference, access to players and coaches and everything that comes with it is all because of Debbie Humphreys. Selfishly, I hope win #700 doesn't come while the club is in Illinois. I want to add another item to the long list of accomplishments that I was there to witness. But alas, it's not about me.
I am blessed to have worked with SFA Volleyball for 14 seasons and every time Humphreys says to me "OK, I'll tell you this off the record...." I think to myself how lucky I am to be trusted. I don't take that for granted.
To even have the chance to "talk the game" with standouts like Gray and Humphreys is memorable for me. But as you gear up for what should be another exciting season for Ladyjack and Bearkat volleyball, do me this favor: Whatever side you fall on, think deeply about the impact of Brenda Gray and Debbie Humphreys. Think deeply about how many lives they have impacted and how much wisdom they have imparted. Think about how many relationships that they have helped to coalesce. Think about how many people they have taught. Think about your own personal definition of "success" and then realize that no matter what it is -Gray and Humphreys have met your criteria for using the word.
Keep climbing the list below Coach Gray and Coach Humphreys... thanks for the memories and keep 'em coming.
Division 1 Winningest Active Coaches Entering 2019 Season
1. Russ Rose, Penn St. (1272)
2. Mary Wise, Florida (931)
3. Karen Chisum, Texas State (895)
4. Chris Poole, Florida St. (824)
5. Joe Sagula, North Carolina (802)
6. Barry Goldberg, American (750)
7. Tom Hilbert, Colorado State (735)
8. Carolyn Condit, Miami (OH) (732)
9. John Cook, Nebraska (721)
10. Brenda Gray, Sam Houston (699)
11. Debbie Humphreys, SFA (694)
Monday, August 26, 2019
The 2019 Season Begins With Radio at SMU
Welcome to the redesign of SFAVolleyBlog.net! I figured after 10 years with the same layout and design that it was time to modernize and shake things up just a bit. The basic arrangement of the site stays the same. Just above where you are reading, you'll see the SFA VolleyBlog Radio banner. Once broadcasts go live, you can click on the "circle icon" above and that will connect you to the audio stream for the match. To the right, you see our clickable logos to take you to the VolleyBlog You Tube Channel, official Blog Twitter site (@SFAVolleyBlog) and to the archive for all the SoundCloud audio interviews. Below that, our traditional links to all things SFA Volleyball and the links to all of the other official Southland Conference school volleyball websites.
Three of the four 2019 Senior Interviews are already done and posted at the YouTube site for your viewing pleasure and we'll finish up with a Danae Daron interview this week. Regular posts in this space will begin next week and audio interviews will begin at the SMU Tournament.
Speaking of the SMU Tournament, we all hope you'll be able to travel to Dallas to cheer on our Ladyjacks in person. However, if you can't, then no worries, I'll have broadcasts of all three matches this weekend available for you right here at SFAVolleyBlog. Just show up here about five to ten minutes before the match starts (see sidebar for upcoming times and matches) and then you'll be able to join the aforementioned radio stream by simply clicking the "circle icon". The radio broadcasts are always free and you don't need any special passwords, software, etc. Nothing to download, just click the icon and you are in.
Later next month, as we get closer to the home opener, we'll remind you of the 2019 ESPN3/ESPN+ streaming schedule this year. For the 5th year, I'll handle play-by-play duties and beginning her sophomore campaign is my trusty sidekick, Brittany Castledine, on color & analysis. I had an absolute BLAST getting to partner with Brittany last year as we began pulling double duty on the air. Having known Brit since her playing days and chatting volleyball with her for years made it easy for us to officially work together on broadcasts.
We have a TON of new athletes with us this year on the 2019 squad, so many of you reading this may be a relative, friend or fan of one of our newcomers. Please feel free to introduce yourself while in the gym. I'd love to meet you and welcome you into the SFA Volleyball family. This is the 11th year for this blog and we've got a lot of cool things coming your way in 2019! 2018 was TRULY special, but I look forward to another great year of relationship building, high-level volleyball and great coverage of our team.
As always, www.sfavolleyblog.net is SFA Volleyball's STRONGEST PRESENCE ON THE NET!
Three of the four 2019 Senior Interviews are already done and posted at the YouTube site for your viewing pleasure and we'll finish up with a Danae Daron interview this week. Regular posts in this space will begin next week and audio interviews will begin at the SMU Tournament.
Speaking of the SMU Tournament, we all hope you'll be able to travel to Dallas to cheer on our Ladyjacks in person. However, if you can't, then no worries, I'll have broadcasts of all three matches this weekend available for you right here at SFAVolleyBlog. Just show up here about five to ten minutes before the match starts (see sidebar for upcoming times and matches) and then you'll be able to join the aforementioned radio stream by simply clicking the "circle icon". The radio broadcasts are always free and you don't need any special passwords, software, etc. Nothing to download, just click the icon and you are in.
Later next month, as we get closer to the home opener, we'll remind you of the 2019 ESPN3/ESPN+ streaming schedule this year. For the 5th year, I'll handle play-by-play duties and beginning her sophomore campaign is my trusty sidekick, Brittany Castledine, on color & analysis. I had an absolute BLAST getting to partner with Brittany last year as we began pulling double duty on the air. Having known Brit since her playing days and chatting volleyball with her for years made it easy for us to officially work together on broadcasts.
We have a TON of new athletes with us this year on the 2019 squad, so many of you reading this may be a relative, friend or fan of one of our newcomers. Please feel free to introduce yourself while in the gym. I'd love to meet you and welcome you into the SFA Volleyball family. This is the 11th year for this blog and we've got a lot of cool things coming your way in 2019! 2018 was TRULY special, but I look forward to another great year of relationship building, high-level volleyball and great coverage of our team.
As always, www.sfavolleyblog.net is SFA Volleyball's STRONGEST PRESENCE ON THE NET!
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