Volleyball team prepares for postseason

The OU women's volleyball team is heading to the KCAC conference tournament with a No. 2 rank in the conference after being picked fourth in the preseason polls.

With a 17-8 record overall and a 13-5 record in conference play, the Lady Braves earned a home game in the tournament against the Sterling College Warriors.

Sophomore defensive specialist Katie Jensen said the team is enjoying its success, and the work they put in is beginning to show on the court.

"It feels great," she said. "We have been working really hard every day and it's definitely showing."

Sophomore setter Chrissie Jeannin said the team hadn't found out who their opponent was at first, but the team was focusing more on how they play, regardless of whom they play.

"We're focusing more on ourselves instead of what the other team is going to be doing," she said.

Head Coach Tom Symons said the women have a better understanding of what it takes to be successful this year, compared to last year, when the team finished with a record of 14-21 (8-10).

"(There is) a greater understanding of what it takes to succeed and be willing to work towards that even though the process is challenging," Symons said.

The Lady Braves have played the Warriors three times this year and won the first two meetings 3-0. In the last game, the Lady Braves lost 1-3.

Jensen said the team did not take the last meeting as serious as they should have, but they will come back more focused this time around.

"We took them too lightly and thought it would be an easy sweep without effort," she said. "This time we'll take it more seriously."

Jeannin said the teams have one goal for the postseason: play to the best of the team's ability.

"We want to play as well as we can," she said. "We have nothing to lose, and we want to get as far as we can."

Symons has confidence that the women will play well, and it's just a matter of beginning play.

"We have the ability to beat any opponent," he said. "I am just anxious to play and see what happens."

Throughout the team's success this season, Jensen knows that the team still has some issues to work on.

"We've come really far and accomplished many goals," she said. "The thing we need to work on is executing against teams that are below our level."