In the stillness of Anderson Arena Bowling Green State volleyball coach Denise Van De Walle issued a challenge to her team just before yesterday’s 3 p.m. practice that was both introspective and inspiring.
After she told the Falcons about a Findlay high school volleyball player who tore her ACL right before the team’s biggest match of the year against Toledo St. Ursula, senior tri-captain Melissa Mohr read a quote by Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden.
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do,” Mohr said reading from a piece of paper.
Moments later a championship-like euphoria erupted in the gymnasium as BG players started clapping and chanting “I am a good blocker,” followed by “We will beat Kent State … We will beat Akron,” 25 times.
Van De Walle said the strategy was used to reinforce the idea of positive self-talk.
“We do this everyday … They get a feel for what they need to work on and continuously tell themselves they’re great at it,” she said. “They’re goal is they’ve got to tell themselves ‘I’m great hitter, I’m a great blocker, I’m a great setter’ 100 times a day. They started on Monday and by the time they play Kent State they have to believe it.”
That time has come for the Falcons. who will see if the psychological approach pays dividends this weekend when they travel to the M.A.C. Center to face the Golden Flashes tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
BG also faces the Akron Zips in James A. Rhodes Arena Sunday at 2 p.m., which will end their Mid-American Conference regular-season road schedule.
Van De Walle said the team has been pretty upbeat despite losing two tough home games to Western and Eastern Michigan last weekend.
“I think that we know that we had a letdown, but we’re working extremely hard to get ready for Kent and Akron,” she said. “It’s interesting that we play Saturday and Sunday this week, which is new to us kind of, so we get an extra day of practice.
“We know that these matches can make or break us in the standings, especially since Kent is behind us with five wins and Akron is behind them with four,” Van De Walle said. “Two wins this weekend … could secure a home match on that Tuesday of MAC Tournament week and that’s our goal.”
The Falcons (13-11, 6-6)) enter into the weekend with a 5-7 road record on the season and have lost four of their last five contest, including two consecutive games to Kent State and Akron dating back to 2002.
“If you were to ask our players they would probably say they’re expecting to win both games,” she said. “They know Kent and Akron are probably saying the same thing, because there’s not that much difference in our MAC records.
“It’s always tough to win on the road in this conference, but we haven’t really been talking about what will be going on at their places,” Van De Walle said. “We’re just focusing on our side of the net.”
KSU (8-12, 5-8) has lost six of their last seven games, but Van De Walle still believes the Golden Flashes are a dangerous team, mainly because of Danielle Holt who is fourth in the MAC with 4.78 kills per game.
The Zips (12-11, 4-7), coming off a loss to Toledo last Saturday, are led by Rachel Rush’s 12.48 assists and Lori Snyder’s 5.65 digs per game.
“They’ve (Kent State) got two very dynamic outside hitters … Their setter does a really nice job for them to and Akron is always tough at home,” Van De Walle said. “So we know it’s going to be a battle with both games, but it’s a battle that we’ll be prepared for.”
