Bird Kuhn, Aggie volleyball team eager to get back into win column

On Hollann Hans’ off the court leadership abilities this young team:

I think just who she is and how she handles herself in-game situations and off the court; that in itself is what they learn from the most. Hollann is like impossible not to love. They are drawn to her. Her and Trey; to see them interact and Trey go nuts for her when she gets a kill or an ace or whatever it is. It’s like a big sister thing with them. I think it’s more of a human connection also. She also really cares. She genuinely cares, and she wants the whole team and the program to do well. People can feel that with the way she plays and the way she handles herself off the court.

On defeating Alabama to open SEC play on Tuesday:

It’s always good. You always want to set the tone for the season and we talked about that. Being home against Alabama. You want to send that message every night, but to start the season off right is really good for us, and to be home, in front of the 12th Man, then we hit the road. We’re on the road again this week. I tell them every match you have to be setting the tone, and acting like these people, it’s the first time they’ve ever watched you play. What are they going to leave with? Who are we? What do we show every time we’re competing out there?

On Treyaunna Rush doing the splits and the team’s dance battles during games:

I actually didn’t know that happened. I try not to watch all of it because we’re either in a challenge. I know they have personality; I know they’re creating some type of energy. I honestly did not know about that until Marissa showed me after the match. I love it and there’s a time and place, you know what I mean? I know they’re not acting like that during the matches. They have their job of creating energy. I don’t mind the personality as long as we can always find that baseline and get back to business when we need to, then, to me, that’s part of who we are.

On moving forward following five-set loss to Tennessee on Sunday:

You’re always learning. The one thing I love about this team is that they fight and they’re always driven to get better. Right now, we need to figure out the difference between finishing and setting the tone. Learning when you in control of the match no matter how you’re feeling or how you’re performing. When we’re executing at a high level, it’s a lot of team execution, not necessarily a lot of individuals. That’s what they need to realize. They’re part of a system and trusting that system. It’s not about individual performance because we’re playing at a high level, it just needs to be more consistent.

On mood following the loss to Tennessee on Sunday:

Disappointed for sure. Frustrated because of being in the situation previous. Different circumstance though. I mean, at Texas, we controlled and executed at a very high level consistently, then let it slip away. That was more on us, whereas last night it was just endgame finish when we have our opportunities. We had executed and grinded on the road. You just got to finish in the moment.

On turning frustration from loss into positive energy going forward:

That’s the challenge of every team and team sport. It’s t create those situations this week in practice so when we’re on the road this weekend, we execute and finish when given that opportunity.

On Camille Conner’s performance at Tennessee:

She has developed and evolved as our leader more so this preseason and season now just in the fact that she can come in and talk to us. She was already in there this morning. She’s so mature in her game and wanting to know now how to fix it. What do we need to do to fix it and having conversations about the system and trusting. Trusting us and us trusting her. Continuing to build that dynamic. To me, that shows how much of a mature leader she is becoming and has become.

On how difficult it is to win on the road in the SEC:

Road matches are always going to be the challenge. You always talk about that. We have milestones in our video room; one of them is the “3-0 on the road.” Either a 3-0 sweep or just three wins in a row on the road. It’s a whole different dynamic. You’re in an environment that is against you. Sometimes, I think teams play better on the road because it bonds them together. You have to create that though. In this league: yeah, the SEC is strong. We’re all division one athletes and we’re all there for a reason. Like I always say, it’s a matchup. Every game is different, every matchup is different; volleyball team to volleyball team. That’s something you have to show up every night and execute the gameplan.