Volleyball Concludes Training in Japan
8/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 16, 2001
TENDO, Japan - Baylor's women's volleyball team held its final practice session of its two-week stay in Japan here Thursday. After 11 days of two practice sessions daily, the Bears will return to the United States tomorrow, flying from Tokyo's Narita International Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The team is scheduled to arrive in Waco, Texas, early Friday evening.
After spending five days training at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai, Japan, Baylor has spent the past six days training with and scrimmaging against the Pioneer Red Wings, Japan's top professional team. More than half the players on the Red Wings, coached by former Team USA head coach and international volleyball legend Arie Selinger, are members of the Japanese National Team.
"We are a lot further along than we would have been had we trained back home," sixth-year head coach Brian Hosfeld said. "The difficult thing now will be trying to sustain the speed at which we have been playing without an example on the other side of the net. We should be the example now."
Hosfeld said he could see improvement in virtually every area of the team's game, but that there is still much work to be done before the season-opener Aug. 31 against Nevada-Las Vegas at the NOKIA Sugar Bowl Tournament hosted by Tulane University in New Orleans, La.
However, Hosfeld pointed out the importance of the two weeks in Japan. During the trip, the players were introduced to a new culture and were without many of the luxuries of home. He said spending two weeks together in a foreign land should benefit the team.
"They have got to know each other better than if we had been at Baylor the past two weeks," Hosfeld said. "The key, though, is how well they work together on the court. A lot of that won't show until we're in more competitive situations where the points count for something. But we've definitely got a good start on developing relationships and trust on the court."
The Bears will continue to practice during the two weeks leading up to the beginning of the season. Fans will have an opportunity to get a look at the 2001 squad Saturday, Aug. 25 at the Green and Gold Scrimmage held at the Ferrell Center.
