Day One Quotes - Long Beach State
April 30, 2008
Head Coach - Alan Knipe:
"We're excited to be here, and we want to thank the NCAA committee for selecting us as an at-large. Going forward, we have a pretty green group of guys as far as age, not green as far as the effort they've put in to get where they are today. I think that the guys have done a lot of good things individually, but even more importantly collectively. The guys sitting here have carried a big load offensively all season."
On playing Pepperdine
"I think that there's so many different things that happen over the course of the year. They had a big guy missing the first time we played, we had a lot of guys banged up at their place, and the tournament match was a different match as well. There's a lot of things that go on beginning, middle, and the end of the year, but ultimately, Thursday night is the match that matters."
On championship hopes
"It didn't matter who we played - order doesn't matter, you have to win two. I don't think there's any team that's going to lack motivation at this time of the year. There's a lot of teams that missed the tournament, and lots of players are at home that would want to still be playing."
On freshman setter Mike Klipsh
"Setting is a very important part of a team's success, and the other teams have All-American Seniors. We have a lot of confidence in Mike though; he was the MPSF Freshman of the Year and deserved it. More than having just individual strengths, Mike is collection of parts. What he has to fall back on is that he has a lot of guys that he can set, and there's a calming effect that goes over Mike because he doesn't have to rely on one guy, or one set. He has a knack for setting the right guy, and in the right situations."
On making the Final Four
"As a coach, this is the kind of life experience that we want to pass along. These are great opportunities for our guys, and I'm sure that they're ready to play"
Paul Lotman:
On the Bren Events Center
"I think this is one of the best atmospheres. Two years ago, [at the MPSF Championships] it felt like were playing in the [Walter] Pyramid, and it's in Southern California, the hotbed of men's volleyball. I'm excited to see how many people and fans will come out this weekend."
Dean Bittner:
On making the Final Four
"I saw the final four at Long Beach State when I was in high school, and I never thought that I would be somewhere playing with teams of this caliber. I'm just really excited to be here."
Dan Alexander:
On Klipsh
"He has evolved throughout the season, and I'm very comfortable with how he sets, and I think that shows in the success we've had late in the season and making the Final Four."
On the senior leadership for a young team
"I came in and I'm still new to volleyball, and those guys really helped me out a lot. Anything that we're having trouble with, we can go to those guys. When we have tough times in games, those are the guys that come in and say 'We can do this.'"
|
