Press Conference #1 • Stanford • Dec. 13 • Qwest Center Omaha
Head Coach: John Dunning
Student Athletes: Kristin Richards, Foluke Akinradewo
Head Coach John Dunning
Opening Statement
"I would to say that we are honored to be here, this is an amazing event. Our team has been here before, but from our understanding this is the biggest final four in scope in the history of our sport. Not only is it great for us to be here as a team, it is just amazing for volleyball and I think we need to give credit to volleyball in the State of Nebraska back to the years that Terry Pettit developed the program who for so long brought the crowds along, finished the (NU) Coliseum, and passed on to John (Cook) to continue the program and watch it grow. I think we all have to thank them for being a mentor in our sport and the University of Hawai'i for all that they have done to help develop the game.
"I want to give credit to the athletes here with me. What a pleasure it is to see athletes of this caliber, playing this game at a higher level than anyone else has ever played."
On playing Washington in the national semifinal:
"Jim (McLaughlin) is going to bring things to the table that are a little bit different. He's a very good coach, a very good tactical coach and I'm sure his team will be full of surprises. I think we played much better against them the second time (this year). I think it was partly due to the adjustments we made to play against them. We are both different teams than we were three weeks ago when we played last.
On the balance of his team:
"It makes you harder to play against, there is no doubt about it. I think a lot of the credit goes to the people ball-handling on our team, Kristin, great primary passer, Jess Fishburn, they get the ball to our setter and control it. I think Bryn (Kehoe) is a really special player, very competitive, she likes to spread it around. She really likes deceving the other side of the net and that makes openings for us, and I think she's done better as the year has progressed. I think our hitters have found more of their niche in running the offense as the season has went along as well. We've added some things in, and I think it really helps. A lot of credit has to go to Bryn, but it also has to go to these hitters.
Senior OH Kristin Richards
On playing Washington in the national semifinal:
"Washington is a very talented team. Jim McLaughlin has done a fabulous job coaching that team and arriving at the final four two years in a row. It's ironic that we are seeing them in the (national) semis again. It should be a great match. It's going to be some good volleyball."
On playing in front of a sell-out crowd at the Qwest Center:
"The atmosphere is a little intimidating, but very, very exciting. Nebraska has done a lot for the sport of volleyball, and we're very excited to be playing here. Playing in Nebraska last season was a crazy experience, the last time I've felt that was when we played at Hawai'i, in front of 10,000 people and Nebraska far surpassed that. Being one of those of those teams that could be part of something so great is very, very exciting. I wanted so badly for the rest of my team to experience something this great. I wanted to give credit to all of the younger players that have worked so hard to get us here."
Sophomore MB Foluke Akinradewo
On playing Washington in the national semifinal:
"Washington is a great team. Every time that we've played them the past year for me, it's been great. They are very physical and disciplined. It's always been tough playing them. Our team has worked hard, and I think we are going to have to be ready to battle."
On Stanford currently:
"I think earlier in the season it felt the (team) was new to us. Sure, we were a team, but we really didn't have that team togetherness. I think as the year goes on, we learn more about one another, and I think we all improved individually. I think when we played (Washington) in the past, we were a little timid. When we played them the second time, we had more confidence.