Script Draft: ASU Womens Volleyball Team

Coming from the best start to their season in late August, the Women’s ASU Collegiate volleyball team has come a long way. With the goal in mind to make the NCAA tournament from the beginning, this team has become closer and closer to that goal. Being a team in the toughest conference in the nation, the PAC 12, every game is a battle, or a “Dog Fight” as Coach Jason Watson would say.  With key wins against USC and University of Washington to create a successful season, the team continues its trek to hang a new banner in their home gym with 2012 under the NCAA tournament appearances. The last week of the conference games was vital to the outcome the team wanted for their season. Four games in 7 days was the real grind of the last 3 months for this team, in order to achieve the goal, they needed at least two wins out of four to even be considered for the championship rounds.

I asked Macey Gardner, starting outside hitter for the ASU women’s volleyball team, why the games this last week against U of Washington and U of Arizona were so important to her and the team and what does this mean for the continuation of the team. Macey Gardner is an essential contributor to the team’s successes. The native Arizonian, from Gilbert, graduate from Gilbert High School, is a big team player and is on the court 99% of the time and has the experience of the 2012 season. I chose to interview her because she knows what goes on, on the court during time-outs, practices and she hears what Head coach Jason Watson has to say to the team after wins and losses.

Macey Gardner: “The games against Washington and U of A were really important as they really locked in our tournament bid. For the team it meant a chance for us to do the best we could this season by making the tournament.”

The goal of making the NCAA tournament is extremely important to the ASU women’s volleyball team and their coaches because it has been the primary focus all-season for them and it has been what they have put all their hard work in for. Compared to the last few years, last year specifically, this team was a struggling team in the way that they didn’t have the drive and determination to compete in games for a win.

Me: What did it mean to the coaches that your team pushed all the way to the end of the season and competed with passion to get the important wins that you did get?

Macey Gardner: “Jason has been doing everything in his power along with the rest of the coaching staff to see this team succeed and achieve our goal. It proved to him that we are not done yet and are willing to go as far as we can physically go to give back everything they have put in to help us succeed.”

These games were a fight for the sixth place in the PAC 12 conference which pretty much guaranteed a place in the tournament. Up to 8 teams from this conference was possible to make the first round, which says a lot for the conference. Some smaller conferences only birth one team into the finals and they have to win their conference, so ASU is fortunate because of the high rankings of the PAC 12. They have been busy with practices written by Jason Watson every day to continually improve skills and teamwork.

Me: What was your favorite part of the last week and why?

Macey Gardner: “Favorite part was after the Washington game all the coaches lined up on the way to the locker room and gave us weird high fives and went into the locker room and celebrated like champions! Just to know our team was really united and that we’re all in it together.”

The passion Macey has for her team and the sport of volleyball is evident in the way she competes for her coaches and fellow teammates, especially for her seniors Erika Wilson and Sarah Clause. The amount of intensity and energy Erika Wilson, the other starting outside hitter, plays with sets a good example for any volleyball player out there. She leaves it all on the court every match and for Macey to play alongside her means a lot.

Me: What does it mean to you to play alongside senior and 4-year starter Erika Wilson?

Macey Gardner: Erika is a phenomenal athlete and a quiet leader on the court who demonstrates what it means to work hard every play for the sake of the team.

To conclude last week’s successes together with the passion of every single player on the ASU women’s volleyball team, the goal of the team into the NCAA tournament was achieved.