Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Dusty Freimark spent the bus ride back from Saskatoon last weekend focusing on getting her team back to practice for a reset, following a tough straight-sets defeat to the Saskatchewan Huskies last Saturday.
Consider her plan mission accomplished. Practice has gone well this week.
"I think it's been a really big week of learning for us, so I'm really excited about the weekend – a chance to put into play what we've been working so hard on this week," said the Griffins women's volleyball interim head coach. "This is the hard part of the season. The coaches and I have been pushing the athletes for more.
"Yesterday at practice, I think we climbed over a hill. It's just a foothill. We've still got the mountain to go, but I'm really proud of how the athletes have been responding."
So, the Griffins (0-4) will put that growth into action when they travel to Vancouver this weekend for matches against UBC (4-0) on Friday (7 p.m. MT) and Saturday (6 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).
"Success is always winning," said Freimark. "At the end of the day, UBC is a powerhouse and we know this. But at the same time, this is what we're working towards. We, too, want to become a powerhouse in Canada West. So, we have to change some of the things we've been doing. Playing them this weekend is another test. Where are we at in our quest to become a powerhouse?"
Moral victories and progress won't fly as much as results, which starts with their mental preparation.
"I'm asking the athletes to feel what it's like to be working hard, to feel what it's like to find success," said Freimark. "I think we've been talking about it, but they don't necessarily know. I think their brain is saying one thing, but they haven't truly experienced how hard it is.
"The conversations we've been having in the team rooms and after practices have been about that mindset and understanding," she added. "My job is to push them to know what it feels like, so when we get an opportunity like this weekend against UBC – and it's going to be hard, and we're going to be pushed – how can our mindset change the outcome instead of just accepting that the other team is better than us?"
In short, she's now looking for a response from her team.
"It's a work in progress, but what I do know about this team is we are committed," said Freimark. "It's been a ton of growing and a ton of learning, and a ton of being really honest with each other. Now, I'm just excited to see how the athletes respond."
