Sophomore Libero Nicole Baker Blogs on Spring Ball
4/24/2012 1:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Nicole Baker, a record-breaking libero with the Montana State volleyball team, shares her thoughts on spring drills.
So we reached the finale of our spring season, an ending we all look forward to yet can't seem to fully comprehend once it arrives. The challenges of this season lie in the longevity and absence of the weekly competition that pervades our fall schedule. We train twice as hard during spring, yet without the outlet of competitive matches, it's tough to stay focused and remember why we want to play this sport at the collegiate level in the first place.
I'm happy to report that this was a problem absent from spring 2012. I believe I speak for everyone on the team when I say we leave this season with our love for the game fully intact, and with great anticipation for fall competition. We saw a lot of awesome things going on within our team this spring, and I for one can't wait to get all of the returners and newcomers together during the summer and begin working towards the start of conference.
Our last spring tournament we returned to Shroyer gym for the first time since November. I can't express how awesome it is to play at home, a luxury we are often deprived of due to a rigorous travel schedule.
As amusing as eight hour bus rides are, it was nice to wake up in the morning and drive a mere five minutes to our place of competition. The tournament featured local Montana teams Carroll, Rocky Mountain, MSU-Northern, and Great Falls, and we finished out the day undefeated in all of our sets.
The main goal of the day was to sustain a high level of play, a level that allowed us to be successful against WAC and Mountain West conference teams two weeks prior. For the most part, we succeeded in keeping our competitive edge, something that's tough to do when playing against teams that are talented but don't have the physicality of top tier Division 1 programs.
As summer approaches, some of us are leaving for home, some of us are sticking around, but it's clear to all that fall holds some great things for this program and we need to continue improving throughout the off season. The strides we took in spring, whilst impressive, are simply the beginning steps on a road leading to the success we deserve.
Wednesday, January 18
Monday, November 15
Saturday, September 04
Friday, September 03
