Saint Francis Quotes

Head Coach Mike Rumbaugh

Opening Statement
¡°Even though it is a loss, I am kind of sad, but I am more sad because this is an end of a good run with a great group of guys. Just to reflect where these seniors took us. Two years in a row we have fought for the EIVA Championship. Even this year we were picked to finish fifth I think. We fought hard. Carrying the three freshmen on the starting lineup all year and having these seniors lead those guys was really special. They are going to leave a good legacy. I thought Penn State played really well. They did what we expected. They serve really well. We were out of system more than we were in system in the second game. That left us a little flat. Penn State deserved the big win.¡±

Do you think your team came out flat in the second game after losing the first game?
¡°I think it was more of the fact that the first server put us on our heels. I think that loosened them up a little more. I don¡¯t think it was just playing back too much. I think it was them playing more comfortable.¡±

Sophomore setter Shane Conley

Was there a feeling that you guys were kind of trying stay in your game?
¡°Anytime you let Penn State rip away at their jump serves, and once they are feeling good, it is hard to get back in system.¡±

As the match wore on, did you get more frustrated?
¡°I think frustration came into play. They just started serving really well. Game one our blocking was good. In game two, Luke (Murray) got creative and it just broke us down a little more.¡±

Senior middle hitter Marc Honore

Were you frustrated that you couldn¡¯t be doing more?
¡°Yeah, I mean we tried as hard as we could. We didn¡¯t get to do everything that we wanted to. It is a little bit frustrating, but at the same time it was a team effort. I know I can rely on these guys to perform well, but tonight it just didn¡¯t turn out well for us.¡±

Can you reflect on your career?
¡°It has been a long journey. We came from humble beginnings. The records are just a reflection of how we came from a tough beginning to play in a championship. As any athlete would be, I am disappointed that we lost tonight, but it is satisfying that we got back to the championship game.¡±

Penn State Quotes

Head Coach Mark Pavlik

Opening Statement:
¡°I thought we did as good a job as anyone has done on (Marc) Honore. We really limited his impact. We made game one a little closer than we wanted to, but I am ok with us missing serves when Honore is up there. I thought what really hurt us was when we didn¡¯t score in their rotations when Marc (Honore) was not on the court. I felt we did a terrific job on Jordan (Varee). In game two, we did a terrific job of slamming the door. In game three, I thought they would come out and scratch and claw because that is the kind of team Saint Francis is. They come at you. I thought once our offense got going, I really didn¡¯t think they could stop us.¡±

How did you slow down Honore?
¡°I think we convinced JR (Max Lipsitz) and Matty (Anderson) that it didn¡¯t matter how high Honore got, it was how high the ball came across the net. I think we did a good job of taking areas away from him. He was going to get his kills. We were doing some really good things with him.¡±

Describe the runs of points in the second game?
¡°To beat these guys you have got to make them beat you without Honore on the court. We had them on the ropes. I thought we served really well in game two. We kept the ball on them. You could just see that we wore them down with physical serving.¡±

Junior setter Luke Murray

How easy were you guys breathing after getting the first game?
¡°I think we were then playing a little relaxed. Everyone is expecting us to come out and win. That maybe gets your emotions a little high. I thought we played pretty relaxed for the entire match.¡±

Why were things so tight in the first game?
¡°As I said, emotions were running pretty high. We were all getting jacked up and the adrenaline starts flowing and there was a big crowd. I thought we settled in pretty quickly.¡±

Could you tell that Saint Francis was getting frustrated?
¡°I think so, but we knew they weren¡¯t going to roll over. When we have six guys bringing heat (in their serving), it is going to take its toll on guys. We knew they were starting to get frustrated.¡±

Comment on winning the most outstanding player award ¡­
¡°I wasn¡¯t really thinking about that. Volleyball is the epitome of a team sport. The passers make me look really good. Sometimes I make them look good. Everybody is relying on everybody else to do their job. I am honored that I was chosen.¡±

Senior outside hitter Alex Gutor

What was the feeling when you got that final kill?
¡°Everyone is expecting us to win. I came in realizing that it was an important match, it was a home match. It was my last match in Rec Hall and that was my last swing here, and thank you to Luke for the set. I am happy.¡±

Comment on the team¡¯s confidence tonight¡­
¡°The score was close. Like Pav said, we knew they were going to come out tough. Once we got a game under our belt, we just stuck to our game plan and we played well after that.¡±

Can you talk about Luke¡¯s performance¡­
¡°In the third game, he came out and said, ¡®balls are coming to you, this is your game.¡¯ I said, ¡®without you there is no me.¡¯ He was great tonight. Two blocks on Honore. I was amazed. I thought his shoulders were going to be on the floor because (Honore) swung so hard. Everyone is looking at him because of his size, but he is a great player. I am happy for him. I am happy he is my setter.¡±