VB 03-04 MG.pmd - Montana State University - Billings

2003 Outlook
The 2003 edition of Yellowjacket Volleyball can once again expect to face one of the toughest schedules in
the country. Playing in the powerful Pacific West Conference, MSU-Billings will face the defending NCAA
National Champion as well as other top regional contenders during the conference schedule. To combat
opposing rosters loaded with athletic players boasting vast international experience, Coach Matavao has
added size at all positions.
“From what I’ve seen in fall camp, it looks like we can be a lot more competitive in the conference,” said
Matavao. “Although it looks like some of the other teams in the conference got better, too, I think our
ability to put a tall line-up on the court will help us. If we want to, we can every position filled by someone
who is at least six-feet tall. The added height will help us be able to put up better blocks against the All-
American hitters that we face in the conference.”
Coach P thinks one of the Yellowjackets’ other key strengths will be their experience. Although only four
players return from last year’s roster, the Jackets have what Matavao calls better “volleyball experience.”
The question that the Yellowjackets will have to answer early in the season will be, How well and how fast
can the new and returning players mesh together? With just over two weeks of practice before their first
tournament, the Yellowjackets will need to learn to play together quickly.
“We’ve got more volleyball experience even though we have a lot of new faces,” said Matavao. “We have
three transfers that have played a lot of volleyball and our freshmen will be good. The freshmen may not be
quite as athletic as we had last year, but their skills are more refined and they understand the game better.
Understanding how to play goes a long way in college.”
Matavao added, “Plus our four returners have been here long enough and understand our system. They
have been here two to three years and have grown a lot. It is so nice to have kids who understand volleyball.
That was a key in our recruiting this year--getting kids who understand how to play. Our veterans
definitely fit into that category and so far we’ve had some great surprises in camp. Our freshmen are better
than we expected.”
Two other areas that the Yellowjackets have tried to improve in the off-season are their setting and defense.
After graduating a senior setter in each of the last two seasons, Matavao went out this year and signed a
Division I transfer and a junior college transfer who was an all-conference player last year. Coach P also
thinks his outside players will will be stronger defensively than in year’s past.
Schedule
The Yellowjackets schedule is as tough as always in the conference portion, but they could build momentun
during the early-season tournaments. Five of the six teams they face over the first two weeks posted
records below .500 last season. MSUB will open at the Clash in the Foothills on August 29-30, facing
three Division II teams from the Midwest Region and a Division I team. They’ll follow that with a tournament
at Humboldt State the following week, playing four matches against Pacific Region foes.
The home portion of the schedule will open on September 17 when the Yellowjackets host Rocky Mountain
College. MSUB will be looking to avenge two losses to their cross-town rival last season. The Jackets will
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