WT volleyball coach: "We're improving"

New WT volleyball coach Jason Skoch had his first Monday news conference at the Big Texan this afternoon, and he was very candid about how his team looked in their two preseason scrimmages against Eastern New Mexico -- an LSC rival -- and ranked JUCO Frank Phillips College (Borger)/Lubbock Christian.

Skoch didn't hesitate to say that, based on the film he watched because he wasn't there in person, the Lady Buffs were "sloppy" against ENMU and "they just didn't play good."

Part of that sloppiness, he said, were the freshmen he put out there that he expects to see the court this weekend against UT-Permian Basin on Thursday, followed by the Lady Buff Classic Tournament starting Friday with matches against No. 19 NOVA (Fla.) Southeastern and No. 4 Grand Valley State.

"We needed around four (freshmen) to step up, and the first week they didn't look good," Skoch said. "Often freshmen are afraid of stepping on toes, they're not sure of themselves ... they play hesitant."

The good news for WT, though, came the next week agaisnst FPC and Lubbock Christian.

"We pushed them, and we were tough on them, but they responded great," Sckoch said.

Skoch said he expects freshmen Lauren Bevil (libero) and Sophie McBride (defensive specialist) to start this weekend, when he said, "We could win them all."

"They're going to be close matches. But after last weekend (in the scrimmages), I feel more confident we can do it."