Texas Tech University Athletics
Spring Recap: Texas Tech Volleyball
July 27, 2011 | Women's Volleyball
May 10, 2011
Flora's Spring Recap | Kickball Highlights
LUBBOCK, Texas - For some programs, the end of the spring season is marked by an intersquad scrimmage. For others, it is practice as usual, no differences.
For Texas Tech and new head coach Don Flora, however, the end of spring was spent with an activity slightly different - kickball.
"This group made tremendous progress all spring," said Flora, who was hired away from New Mexico State in January. "I know there are different methods on how you should end your spring season, but we felt we would do something a little different and reward our players for the hard work they put in."
The final practice was only one of several differences Flora implemented in order to change the program's culture.
In his opening press conference with the Lubbock media, Flora said that the Red Raiders would walk a certain way, speak a certain way and generally do things differently. Through four months, the California native has stayed true to his word.
Practices are designed to work on specific elements of the game, not overworking the players. In fact, Flora noted that in most cases the team was surprised to be finished for the day, and some stayed longer for drills on their own.
"The staff took it to another level, a more elite level," said departing senior Alexxa Roberts, who, along with Jackie Vincent, trained with the squad all spring to add extra depth to the roster. "Everything had a why and an answer. It's all about the systems and trusting the systems and your teammates and the staff, and we did that. It brought a lot of energy to the court because we were actually having fun."
With 11 players returning off the 2010 squad to go along with transfer Nicole Hragyil, Flora and his staff used the spring primarily to implement his systems and philosophy.
In between the workouts and the conditioning, the Red Raiders also took part in three tournaments, traveling to the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State before ending the spring with its own home tournament.
Despite learning a completely new system, the Red Raiders battled against some of the toughest teams in the country.
Tech split a two-set match with Colorado State, an NCAA Championship participant a year ago, while playing two other tournament teams in Arizona and New Mexico. The Red Raiders also swept Flora's old team in New Mexico State three different times.
Flora said while he cares about the results on the court, he has been more impressed with the overall development of his still relatively young squad that will boast only two seniors next season in Amanda Dowdy and Karlyn Meyers.
"Our staff has been pleasantly surprised with how much progress we've made in our learning and how we go about our day-to-day routines in the gym," Flora said. "To have that sense that our athletes realize that they are learning and getting better, it has been a really exciting time for our staff."
Flora said he often uses the term "giddy" when describing his new team to opposing coaches or potential recruits.
With a completely new system and terminology to learn, Flora does not use the term to just illustrate the team's willingness to compete, but rather their excitement and joy that's come from playing a different way and learning new strategies.
"I really enjoyed this spring," said junior-to-be Miara Cave, who joined Tory Vaughan as Tech's most notable improvements, according to Flora. "We have so many different ways to play now. It's quicker and a faster tempo, and something I really enjoy."
Most importantly, Flora hopes the work this spring set the groundwork for the fall when the Red Raiders begin the 2011 season. Tech reports for preseason workouts Aug. 8 in anticipation for its Aug. 26 season opener at the TCU Tournament.
"I told our girls that we're less than four months from August 8th, which is like Christmas to me," Flora said. "It's going to be a good deal to see this team roll into 2011 with this group that's been here, and then we're going to add some significant talent in our recruiting class."
