University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Coach Headrick Looking Like Volleyball Fortune Teller
9/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
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| By Stephen Howard, Sept. 23, 2009 - 2:46 p.m. |
GREEN GANG: "Something just clicked," for the North Texas volleyball team back on Sept. 12. That day a winless Mean Green squad posted a five-set victory over Arkansas followed by a sweep of Jacksonville State, and only one person in the gym wasn't surprised - NT head coach Cassie Headrick.
What did she know that the rest of us didn't? She knew her team was on the verge of a break out, and with wins in four of their last six matches the 10th year coach is looking like a fortune teller.
The most recent of those wins came Tuesday night in another five-set thriller over rival Stephen F. Austin. The win marked the first over the Ladyjacks since 1995, and wasn't over just any run-of-the-mill squad.
The Ladyjacks were 11-5 and riding a six-match win streak that included the following victims; Texas Tech, Gonzaga, Houston and Miami (OH). SFA had already made short work of Mississippi State and Memphis earlier this year.
Since coach Headrick has been so good at seeing the future, I'm going to try my hand at a little mind reading. I'd bet you're wondering what the team has changed to pull off wins like this. I'm right, aren't I?
The answer, I think, is three-fold.
- First and foremost, this team has realized its killer instinct. They want to win and understand what it takes. The best sign I have seen from this team in years came Tuesday in the fourth set. The Ladyjacks trailed NT 2-1 and were punching back just like good squads do. North Texas could have rolled over like in years past, but these ladies weren't going anywhere. With determined looks on their faces and constructive communication spewing, the Mean Green surged out to a 4-1 lead in the fifth set and didn't look back.
- Secondly, this team has a legit blocking wall that its opponents fear. Losing Rachelle Wilson was supposed to signal the end of NT's blocking threat, but Kati Dillard, Amy Huddleston and freshman Brittany Brown have more than gelled in her absence. A big block forces opponents out of their rhythm and funnels them into your strengths, which is evidenced by NT's foes hitting just .168 over the last six matches. The Mean Green has out-blocked its opponents 64 to 44.5 since Sept. 12.
- Finally, North Texas' reluctant hero is starting to realize her potential. Amy Huddleston is a unique all-around player that, until recently, didn't seem to understand what she was capable of accomplishing. They say winning is contagious, and in Amy's case, confidence is much the same. Now her shots boom off the hardwood floor with authority as she leads the team with 3.29 kills per set over the last six matches. The Mean Green do-it-all is among the team leaders in almost every statistical category, and she even had better stats than the Sun Belt Player of the Week last week (hmmm?).
This newest incarnation of the Mean Green isn't perfect yet. A .152 team attack percentage isn't anything to write home about, but they are certainly working on that. Same thing with the .934 reception percentage.
But count me in as a believer in Cassie Headrick's fortune telling. She said this team could prove the doubters wrong and will get even better in the coming years, and I don't see any reason to hesitate about that.
