2008 Woodie Awards
Women's volleyball team surprised, happy Sunday during celebration of their third-straight playoff berth
By: Julian Williamson
Issue date: 11/19/08 Section: Sports
After a hard-fought season full of dominant 3-0 victories and heartbreaking, 3-2 last-second defeats, Sunday night in Shurmer Gym Room 101, the women's volleyball players were told they were going to the playoffs.
The entire team and coaching staff gathered in the classroom, nervously awaiting a live announcement show, hosted through NCAA.com, which named off all 64 Division II teams across the country that are moving on to the postseason.
It was the first time playoff selection had been announced in this fashion, and head coach Cody Hein thinks it's a good system.
"I'm really impressed, and it makes the girls feel kind of big-time," Hein said.
The show started at 7 p.m. and the once talkative team was deathly silent, with all eyes fixed on the projector screen. Coaches and players alike were anxious for the announcement despite sweeping both opponents over the weekend.
"I had butterflies," Hein said.
"When you're sitting at five and you win twice, you shouldn't be nervous. But you never know with the selection process."
First named for the Western Conference was Cal State San Bernardino, then Cal State L.A., then at 7:12 p.m., the room exploded in cheers and applause when the brackets showed Chico State would be matched up against Sonoma State on Thursday.
The first audible words were through an excited yell from junior outside hitter Gillian Heydorff.
"Oh, my god, I am so stoked right now," Heydorff shouted.
The Wildcats lost in the second round in 2006 and the first round in 2007, but Hein thinks his team is more mentally prepared than in years past because of the heavily veteran roster with six seniors.
"We're expecting better results because we're a better team than we were last year," he said.
And with the importance of the tournament looming overhead, Hein has already made the optimistic prediction that the 'Cats are "going to play three games, damn it."
Julian Williamson can be reached at
jwilliamson@theorion.com
The entire team and coaching staff gathered in the classroom, nervously awaiting a live announcement show, hosted through NCAA.com, which named off all 64 Division II teams across the country that are moving on to the postseason.
It was the first time playoff selection had been announced in this fashion, and head coach Cody Hein thinks it's a good system.
"I'm really impressed, and it makes the girls feel kind of big-time," Hein said.
The show started at 7 p.m. and the once talkative team was deathly silent, with all eyes fixed on the projector screen. Coaches and players alike were anxious for the announcement despite sweeping both opponents over the weekend.
"I had butterflies," Hein said.
"When you're sitting at five and you win twice, you shouldn't be nervous. But you never know with the selection process."
First named for the Western Conference was Cal State San Bernardino, then Cal State L.A., then at 7:12 p.m., the room exploded in cheers and applause when the brackets showed Chico State would be matched up against Sonoma State on Thursday.
The first audible words were through an excited yell from junior outside hitter Gillian Heydorff.
"Oh, my god, I am so stoked right now," Heydorff shouted.
The Wildcats lost in the second round in 2006 and the first round in 2007, but Hein thinks his team is more mentally prepared than in years past because of the heavily veteran roster with six seniors.
"We're expecting better results because we're a better team than we were last year," he said.
And with the importance of the tournament looming overhead, Hein has already made the optimistic prediction that the 'Cats are "going to play three games, damn it."
Julian Williamson can be reached at
jwilliamson@theorion.com
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