Colorado State University Athletics
Volleyball NCAA Tournament Press Conference
12/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Tournament Central | Photo Gallery
COLORADO STATE VS. TEXAS 
PRE-TOURNAMENT QUOTES

NCAA Minneapolis Volleyball Regional 
Sports Pavilion 

Minneapolis, Minn.
No. 15-seeded Colorado State squares off against No. 2-seeded Texas on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. MT with a spot in the Regional Final on the line. Colorado State is looking to advance to its first ever Regional Final. Before CSU’s first practice at the Sports Pavilion, Head Coach Tom Hilbert, senior outside hitter Marlee Reynolds and junior right-side hitter Adrianna Culbert sat down with the media to discuss the match ahead.
COLORADO STATE
Tom Hilbert, head coach
Opening statement
“First of all we are very excited to be here, I go back to a year ago we had a very disappointing match in the NCAA, a match we thought was winnable. And we didn’t. This year our run has been better. We have played better, we were more prepared. A better non-conference season. We have tailored a lot of this season to winning the conference and getting to this point, and now that we are here I am excited for what we can do.”
On using some good non-conference competition to prepare for this weekend….
“They were a long time ago, but every one of those matches adds something to your state of mind, sort of memory bank. If our players can draw, what I want them to do is go back two matches when we were back in Colorado. Where we were 22 – 22 with those teams, and ended up winning sets. You could draw from that, and put yourself back in that situation. Then you play with composure and you play with aggressiveness because you know what it’s like. That’s how those matches help you become a better competitor. And our goal, and we told our team that this week, is we want to get into the 20’s with Texas, and when we get there we believe that we can win. So that means you got to hang in there and side-out with them up to that point and try to take it at the end of the set.”
On the potential of winning the first Sweet 16 match of Colorado State program history…
“I want to get past this, very badly, but you do it one point at a time, one set at a time. It’s a matter of going on a little run at the right point in time. You know, Texas is a difficult opponent. I think last time we were in this regional, even with the University of Minnesota, it is daunting athletically, than what it looks like now. But, we play the game well. So it’s a matter of we have to stay composed, and it’s like Marlee said, we cannot play tentative, we cannot play safe. This is a time to put all of your cards on the table and go for it and see where that takes you.”
Senior outside hitter Marlee Reynolds
On what this week as been like leading into Sweet 16…
“This week we have been working hard in the gym. I think everyone has been pretty composed and relaxed. We’re looking forward to playing the best we can.”
On facing a talented team in Texas…
“I think we have to play at a pretty high level. We have to swing pretty high because they put up a pretty big block. I think if we play aggressive and not timid, I think we can stay up there with them and play with them.”
Junior opposite hitter Adrianna Culbert
On playing further in the tournament this year from last…
“I think it’s great, to put in all this hard work. This is what we have really worked for all season. Now to see that hard work pay off and see how far we can really go has been nice.”
On coming into the match as a potential underdog…
“I think it is, no one really expects you to win, so you really have nothing to lose. Why not go out and give it your all. We need to show everyone and ourselves that we can compete. Do what you can and as much as you can to really get that edge. The underdog edge.”