Volleyball swept in Puliza's debut
Nic Schluterman
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Sports
Arkansas volleyball head coach Robert Pulliza described his debut weekend as an opportunity to "evaluate, measure, and address weaknesses" of his team.
The three-match Hilton Classic in Fort Collins, Co., offered him little else.
The Razorbacks lost to No. 17 Colorado State, Eastern Washington and Denver in nine straight sets on Friday and Saturday.
"I'm very pleased with the character the team showed this weekend," Pulliza said after the tournament. "Obviously, it was not the result we were looking for, but it is the effort we're looking for."
Arkansas is 0-3 to start a season for the first time in the program's 15-year history.
The team misses its leading scorer and its top defender from a year ago, and Pulliza has been forced to fill both holes with inexperienced players.
Freshman Kelli Stipanovich led the Razorbacks in kills with 19 for the tournament, and sophomore Heather Royal added 15.
A different Arkansas defender led the team in digs in each of the three contests, including starting freshman libero Phoebe Bautista, who had nine digs in the Denver match.
In the Friday opener, the Razorbacks fell to Colorado State 16-25, 16-25, 18-25.
Arkansas' attack struggled throughout the first night, tallying 24 errors against 22 kills for an undesirable negative hitting percentage. No Razorback had more than five kills.
In the first set, the Western Athletic Conference favorites pulled away from the Hogs after the two teams played evenly for ten points.
Arkansas led Colorado State 9-2 in the second set before the hosts took over the frame.
The third set saw an improved Razorback attack, but they were outpaced by Jaime Strauss and the rest of the Ram offense.
"We have to learn to maintain the level of intensity and keep up the defensive pressure," said Pulliza after the Colorado State match. "Overall I was pleased with the night and I'm glad to have a match under our belts."
The three-match Hilton Classic in Fort Collins, Co., offered him little else.
The Razorbacks lost to No. 17 Colorado State, Eastern Washington and Denver in nine straight sets on Friday and Saturday.
"I'm very pleased with the character the team showed this weekend," Pulliza said after the tournament. "Obviously, it was not the result we were looking for, but it is the effort we're looking for."
Arkansas is 0-3 to start a season for the first time in the program's 15-year history.
The team misses its leading scorer and its top defender from a year ago, and Pulliza has been forced to fill both holes with inexperienced players.
Freshman Kelli Stipanovich led the Razorbacks in kills with 19 for the tournament, and sophomore Heather Royal added 15.
A different Arkansas defender led the team in digs in each of the three contests, including starting freshman libero Phoebe Bautista, who had nine digs in the Denver match.
In the Friday opener, the Razorbacks fell to Colorado State 16-25, 16-25, 18-25.
Arkansas' attack struggled throughout the first night, tallying 24 errors against 22 kills for an undesirable negative hitting percentage. No Razorback had more than five kills.
In the first set, the Western Athletic Conference favorites pulled away from the Hogs after the two teams played evenly for ten points.
Arkansas led Colorado State 9-2 in the second set before the hosts took over the frame.
The third set saw an improved Razorback attack, but they were outpaced by Jaime Strauss and the rest of the Ram offense.
"We have to learn to maintain the level of intensity and keep up the defensive pressure," said Pulliza after the Colorado State match. "Overall I was pleased with the night and I'm glad to have a match under our belts."
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