Djurdjevic Shines In Volleyball's 5-Set Scrimmage On Saturday
Nov 30, 2008 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 29, 2008
Coach Kritza's Comments Following Saturday's Scrimmage
NEW ORLEANS - Freshman outside hitter Visnja Djurdjevic had 23 kills and 12 digs as the Tulane University volleyball team continued its preparation for the 2008 NCAA Tournament with a five-set intrasquad scrimmage Saturday evening in Fogelman Arena.
Green Wave head coach Liz Kritza had her team's starters go up against a squad composed of key reserves and her assistant coaches - Sinisa Momic, Meg Henican and Blazen Draguljic. While the team with the coaching staff stretched the Tulane regulars to the limit, the 2008 starting lineup won the matchup, 25-18, 17-25, 17-25, 25-23, 25-18.
"Today's scrimmage was purposeful conclusion to this week's training and preparation for the NCAA tournament," Kritza said. "It was a good way for the team to get back in the groove of competing because we did not want to go for a full 10 day period without competing.
"We wanted to test this bunch of players against lineups that highlighted different strengths. We moved Sinisa around as the opposing team's main offensive threat and the team was required to make adjustments to a very strong offensive option. You cannot replace the value of the experience these players get playing against a seasoned professional player who can simulate a variety of game situations."
Kritza had all-around players Djurdjevic and fellow outside hitter Sara Radosevic, along with libero Jenn Miller, play exclusively on the starters' side of the court while the rest of the squad flip-flopped frequently to create different matchups. Senior right-side hitter Bridget Wells posted 17 kills, fellow right-side Ksenija Vlaskovic had 10, and Sara Radosevic added nine kills in just three sets of action. Miller led the Tulane regulars with 19 digs while Ashley Bernards posted 13 for the reserves.
Momic led all players with 34 kills, Draguljic added 18 kills to go with a solo block and 10 block assists, and Henican posted 15 digs from her back-row defensive position.
"We changed the block around so our setter could get practice making choices to put their hitters in the best possible position to score," Kritza said. "Having both Sinisa and Blazen in the front at the same time requires our offensive to be firing pretty efficiently and it forces our hitters to find a way to get the ball around the block, which is something we need to be ready to do as we advance into postseason play. Visnja did the best job of it today and saw the greatest improvement as a result."
Senior Luna Rebrovic led all players with a combined 56 assists - 33 with the starters - while junior Rachel Lindelow and freshman Jordaliz Mercado tallied 51 and 12, respectively. Wells had eight block assists - four on each side of the net - while sophomore Amaris Genemaras posted eight kills, five blocks and three digs on the day.
Tulane will learn of its postseason destination on Sunday, Nov. 30, when the NCAA Selection Committee announces the NCAA Volleyball Tournament field at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. The team will gather in the James W. Wilson, Jr., Center for a dinner in the Hall of Fame Room at 7:30 p.m., and fans are invited to join the squad in the atrium beginning at 8:30 p.m. prior to the airing of the selection show.
