Men’s volleyball playing toward No. 1 seed
The Utah State University men’s volleyball club will have one last opportunity to play before the National Championships in Dallas, Texas, April 18, 19 and 20.
Northern Arizona University is hosting the Mountain West Volleyball Conference Championships Friday and Saturday in Flagstaff, Ariz., and the Aggies are sending both their A and B teams.
Currently the A team is No. 9 in the country in Division II and has qualified for nationals.
A team captain Adam Longmore said the Aggies’ performance at the conference championship will help determine seedings for nationals.
“I think we’ll be seeded fairly high,” Longmore said. “There are 16 pools of four and I think we can get a No. 1 seed in our pool.”
As a warm-up for Arizona, some members of the A team competed in a tournament Saturday at Utah Valley State College.
Setter Greg Jorgenson, middle blockers Mike Tye and Joe Anderson, and Longmore all competed.
Longmore said it was a good opportunity to work with the middle blockers, especially Tye who was unable to compete in the team’s last tournament.
“It was good for him to come,” Longmore said. “He’s probably our best hitter and blocker. It’s good to get some time in [with him].”
Play in Arizona will consist of pool play Friday and tournament play Saturday, Longmore said.
Among the teams competing are three of the top four Division I teams. No. 1 University of Arizona, No. 3 UVSC and No. 4 University of Utah will all be in attendance.
The Aggies have already played Utah and UVSC on several occasions this season, and Longmore said he expects to finish high.
“Out of 18 teams we should finish in the top four,” he said.
At NAU, Longmore said the team will be without middle blocker TJ Moss who has a prior commitment, but the remainder of the team will travel.
“We’re in good shape as far as who we have,” Longmore said. “At this point of the season we know where we stand and the role we have on the team.”
Prior to the last tournament at the University of Utah in March, Longmore said the team was having trouble scheduling practices and getting players to commit. Now with the season almost over, he said things have started to change.
“Our guys are realizing it’s close to the end and are starting to work hard,” he said. “Our commitment is higher.”
Through the remainder of the season, Longmore said the Aggies will be practicing twice a week, mainly working on passing drills and scrimmaging.
“We are working on playing as a group, knowing each other, talking to each other and trusting each other,” he said.