By CAMIE HOWARD
camie@du2.byu.edu
With NCAA first and second round victories behind it, the BYU women's volleyball team left early Wednesday morning for the regional playoffs. The host for this year's NCAA Regional tournament is No. 1 seed Penn State.
BYU will play the University of Pacific today at 3:30 p.m. This afternoon's match is not the first time these two schools have played each other. The last meeting between BYU and Pacific was in 1996 at the NCAA Regionals. BYU won the five-game match, but lost the next match to Hawaii.
BYU head coach Elaine Michaelis said she remembers the 1996 match being a close one between BYU and Pacific.
'We're in the same situation this year,' Michaelis said. 'They are a top 10 team -- their hitting average is .320. It'll be very interesting to see if our defense will stop their attack.'
Blocking will be the key to winning the Pacific match, Michaelis said.
BYU rightside hitter Korie Rogers said the team is actually pretty confident about playing Pacific.
'We've played them before, so it's not like we're (facing) a new team,' Rogers said. 'I think if we just keep playing our level, we'll win.'
BYU middle blocker Nina Puikkonen -- currently the nation's no. 1 volleyball blocker -- said the team is excited to play Pacific.
'We like to play good teams,' Puikkonen said. 'You get to a point where it's exciting to see how much they push you.'
Puikkonen said the competition just keeps getting better and better. She said every match lately has been a learning experience.
'I always think of ways I can do better,' she said.
After taking the day off Monday, the Cougars were back at practice Tuesday. Michaelis said once a team enters the NCAA playoffs, the rules governing practice times become a bit more stringent.
'They want to make sure everyone has the same opportunity,' Michaelis said. 'It makes for a neutral playing floor.'
Another rule that has affected BYU during the NCAA playoffs is one that limits the number of substitutes and defensive specialists a team can use, she said.
'During the regular season, a team can use up to 15 subs or specialists,' Michaelis said. 'During the NCAA, that changes to 12.'
That is the reason why defensive specialist Wendy Midgley was not able to play in the Kansas State match Saturday, Michaelis said.
However, despite the NCAA rules and regulations, BYU is ready and willing to play in the tournament, she said.
BYU middle blocker Melissa Layton said she is excited about the opportunity to play in the NCAA -- especially against a challenging opponent like Pacific.
'This is our time to peak as a team,' she said. 'We've prepared for this all season.'