Tough schedule not a concern for volleyball squad

The Minnesota volleyball team announced its schedule last week, and head coach Mike Hebert is not making it easy on the girls in 2009.
In the first week of the season the Gophers will play two tournament teams from 2008, including an Aug. 29 matchup with a Nebraska squad that advanced to the Final Four.
Minnesota finished 2008 with a 27-7 record, earning the team the sixth seed in the NCAA tournament. The team lost to Iowa State in the second round of the tournament but will have a chance to avenge the loss when they play the Cyclones at the Sports Pavilion Sept. 5.
Other key non-conference matchups on the schedule include matches against Washington, who many expect to win the Pac 10 this season, and an Oregon team that Hebert said is always tough.
When deciding a schedule, Hebert said he tries to find teams that “won’t lay down” against the Gophers.
“I tend to schedule tougher than a lot of coaches,” he said. “I like to play teams that are either even with us or better than us.”
Hebert said having a tough schedule helps keep the women competitive at all times and reminds them that they have to be on top of their game at all times.
“If you think you can take a night off I think it damages the evolution of that competitive mind frame,” he said.
Minnesota is expected to compete with the best this season, especially after bringing in the top ranked recruiting class according to prepvolleyball.com.
Hebert said he doesn’t think having the top ranked class is such a good thing because it leaves room for scrutiny. He said some people see that a school may have the best recruits and criticize the coach for not bringing out the best in the young players.
In addition to having a strong recruiting class, the volleyball team has the benefit of home court should it advance in the NCAA tournament. The Sports Pavilion will play host to the regional games of the tournament.
If Minnesota advances past the first two rounds, Hebert said the team would play the possible two regional games at home. When Minnesota hosted the regional in 2004, the squad advanced to the Final Four.
With home court advantage, Hebert said it would be a waste of an opportunity if the team fails to make it to the regional come season’s end.
“You don’t get to host a regional championship very often, so you gotta get there,” he said. “We have the talent I just don’t know what kind of chemistry we’re going to have.”