University of Minnesota Athletics
Iowa State Post-game Press Conference, Notes and Quotes
12/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 10, 2011
NCAA Regional Finals
(12) Florida State 3, (4) Iowa State 2
Iowa State Coach and Player Quotes
Head Coach Christy Johnson-Lynch
Opening Statement:
“Great match. I’m really proud of our team, they never gave up. They fought until the very end. I really thought we were going to win it until that final point. I’m just so proud of the way they fought and continued to battle, even when it looked like things weren’t going to go our way. I’m incredibly proud of the season we had. When we went into this season, we had just graduated two All-Americans from last year, and I truly did not know if we could be anywhere from an NCAA bubble team to a top-twenty team. I really was not sure how we were going to be this season, and I thought it really depended on some younger players really emerging for us. I think that’s what happened; we’ve had some great play from [Victoria] Hurtt here at the end of the season, Tenisha Matlock, and Kristen Hahn. Some of our younger players are emerging while we also have our veteran players playing steadily throughout the year. I’m really proud of this team, it’s been a special year, not just because we advanced this far, but because it’s a pretty special group of people that have been pretty selfless all year, pretty supportive of each other, and just great people to coach. I think Florida State is a great team, they’re tough to defend, they’re unorthodox in a lot of the things they do, and we never could quite get a handle on some of their hitters, particularly their left side. They’re really nice players out there, they have a lot of shots, and you think you got them one way and then they go the other way. They’re a really good team, and congrats to them.”
On the grit of the players throughout the season:
“Absolutely a team that’s shown a lot of resiliency this year. I feel like we’ve had a lot of tight games that we’ve won, that maybe we didn’t win last year. We’ve had some nice comebacks. The match down in Baylor comes to mind, we had to come back from almost impossible odds to win. Even this match- it could have easily folded and given up, and I think lesser team would have done that. We just continued to fight and show a lot of resiliency, even in this match. I think that’s been a signature of this team. We’ve got a veteran group that just won’t quit.”
On the senior class and their contribution to the team:
“They came in with an Elite Eight and they finished with an Elite Eight. That’s a very special thing. It’s a pretty exceptional group of seniors. Kelsey Petersen- how she’s played as a junior versus how she’s played as a senior has been remarkable. She’s had a breakout year as a senior, and I think she showed what resiliency and perseverance can do for you. She kept with it through her fourth year when she finally got it and had a great season. Caitlin Mahoney and Carly [Jenson], they’ve been such great competitors and role models for the younger players. Deb Stadick, I couldn’t ask for a better person. She was a starter for us and a role player this year, her senior year, and not once did she complain or feel sorry for herself. All she did was ask what she could do to help the team. 99 out of 100 kids wouldn’t do that. She’s just a remarkable person, and that’s why this senior class is so special to me. It’s just a special group of players, and they’ve just been wonderful to coach.
Carly Jenson
On what she thought their team had going into the season:
“It’s been a great season, obviously, I’m really proud of my team. Obviously disappointed in the outcome, but I’m so happy I chose to come to Iowa State. With the program, the coaches, everyone. I wish we could have that Final Four game, but it’s alright.”
On being a part of the group of seniors from the 2008 Elite Eight run:
“My freshman year, we made it to the Elite Eight, and also this year, and I think that shows where this program is going. We have even better kids coming in the next year, so we’re just really excited.”
On if she thought the team could make it this far with so many young players:
“It’s what I hoped for, but like Christy said, at the beginning of the year we didn’t know how we would be. We’d have some shaky times and then have big wins. We pushed really hard this year, and we gave it our all.”
Victoria Hurtt
On her game tonight:
“I was able to get a couple swings tonight, but it doesn’t really matter because we lost. I would take one kill and take a win instead of 24 and a loss. I’m here for these guys and they played great. It was sad the way it ended, but I guess that was how it had to go.”
On coming in as a freshman and the season:
“It’s been a struggle going back and forth all season with different hitters, but continuing to fight and having good support from all my teammates, we’ve kept pushing through until the end.”
Kristen Hahn
On coming in this season and replacing Ashley Mass:
“It was definitely a dream come true, and I don’t think I could have done it without the seniors. Caitlin Mahoney- I’ve learned so much from her this year, and even Carly [Jenson]; we just kind-of lean on each other. I couldn’t be more proud of the outcome.”
Iowa State Notes
-The Cyclones are 12-7 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, and 11-6 under Christy Johnson-Lynch
- The Cyclones are 3-1 on neutral courts in 2011.
- Iowa State was playing in its second regional final in school history. The Cyclones last played in the regional finals in 2008.
- Iowa State has reached 25 wins for the second time under Christy Johnson-Lynch
- Iowa State fell behind 1-0 for the second match in a row. The Cyclones are 4-5 in matches where they drop the first set and 3-2 in five-set matches.
- Iowa State is 3-2 in the Sports Pavilion in NCAA Tournament play. The Cyclones defeated Northern Iowa and Minnesota in 2008, lost to Creighton in 2010, defeated Minnesota this year and lost to Florida State.
- The Cyclones lost for only the second time this year when they had more kills than an opponent. Iowa State finished the season 20-2 on the season when it had more kills than its opponent.
- Iowa State was outdug for only the fifth time this season. The Cyclones are 2-3 when they have had less digs than their opposition.
- Victoria Hurtt had her sixth double-figure kill match of the season with ??
- Hurtt’s 24 kills were a career-high.
- Carly Jenson had her 21st double-figure dig match of the season with??
- Jenson finished the season with 16 double-doubles. She also had 20 matches with double-figure digs.
-Jenson had a career-high 28 digs for the match.
- Jamie Straube had her 13th double-figure kill match with 12 on the night
- Tenisha Matlock had her fifth double-figure kill match of the season with 15.
- Matlock’s 15 kills were a career-high
- Caitlin Maloney had her ninth double-figure dig match of the season with 13 on the night
- Kristen Hahn had her 15th double-figure dig match of the season with 25