Women's Volleyball Prepares For Conference Tournament

Laredo, Texas – After Tuesday night's loss to Incarnate Word, which was the Dustdevils second in a row since clinching a berth in the Heartland Conference Tournament, Head Coach Al Givens asked his team if they were done… if getting to the tournament was all they wanted to accomplish?  The team responded with a resounding "Absolutely not!"  

"I don't want to diminish what our kids have done this season," said Head coach Al Givens.  "This year has been very special in light of what the program has done over the past three seasons, but I'm also not satisfied and I hope our players are not satisfied."

On Friday the Texas A&M International University Women's Volleyball Team will travel to Austin, Texas to battle the Heartland Conference Regular Season Champions and Conference Tournament host St. Edwards University at 1 p.m.  The Dustdevils are 0-2 on the season versus the Hilltoppers, having lost both of their previous matches in straight sets.

TAMIU does have history on their side.  The last time the Dustdevils qualified for the conference tournament was in 2007 as the fourth seed… and they upset the number one seed U.T. Permian Basin in five games.  In addition, St. Edwards has not done well in the last three conference tournaments.  The Hilltoppers hosted in 2010 and 2009, both times failing to advance to the NCAA tournament.  In one instance (2010) they lost to the number four seed Dallas Baptist in their opening match in five sets.  In 2008 the Hilltoppers came in as the number two seed, only to lose their opening round match to Incarnate Word.

"It doesn't matter what your record is coming into the tournament," said Coach Givens, "You have to play well for two matches.  If you can string together two good performances, you have an opportunity to go to the NCAA Tournament.  We have every advantage going in… if St. Edwards beats us, they were supposed to beat us because they are the number one seed… if we win, we have a shot to win the whole thing. 

TAMIU finished the season with an 8-6 conference record, The Hilltoppers finished at 13-1 with their only loss coming on the road versus Dallas Baptist.  Coach Givens says St. Edwards' ability to avoid unnecessary mistakes is what makes them so dangerous, "They are a very good ball control team and they are not going to shoot themselves in the foot.  You have to take the fight to them and put the pressure on them to make mistakes... if you don't they'll steamroll you.  It's a David versus Goliath situation, but we've got all the stones we need."