We're going to have to play smart. Hit around the block and there are some players we just can't challenge. We have to pick our spots. They are big everywhere.

Because of injuries and Alicia's virus, we've been forced to play Houston more than we expected. I thought we'd be going with our older, experienced players, but she has accelerated her growth over the weekend. She's a terminator and, for the moment, the (starting) job is hers.

We ride him, it seems like, on every play. But he responds to a challenge and came up big on every play.

It just wasn't pretty for a long time and that's disturbing. It felt like our team just wasn't prepared, and that's the fault of the coach.

I recruited a bunch of his players, and we were always on the same wavelength as far as technique and tactics. When I had a chance to hire him, I jumped at it.

We didn't have a scholarship for Tamari. She's a good volleyball player. I don't know what our plans for her would have been. We would have evaluated her if she had been here.