Q&A with volleyball head coach Keith Giboney
Although the Lady Bison volleyball team (14-4) lost a non-conference match (1-3) to Arkansas-Fort Smith, the team has had many successes since the start of the season. The ladies are playing hard and are improving with every match.
Senior defensive specialist Amber Parker had a strong showing with a career high of 22 digs.Sophomore defensive specialist Weslynn Williams had an impressive 20 digs.
Harding sophomore outside hitter Mollie Arnold had a great match with 23 kills and 16 digs.Junior right-side hitter Bailee Graham contributed with 12 kills. Junior setter Amber Schinzing rounded out the highlights with 43 assists.
Entering his 13th season, head coach Keith Giboney is no stranger to success.
He has led the Lady Bisons to seven conference division titles and the 2003 conference championship.Giboney has a 125-21 career record in conference matches and is a five-time Coach of the Year honoree.
Giboney had these things to say about this year’s team in an interview after the Arkansas-Fort Smith game.
Hughes:How would you summarize the season up to this point?
Giboney: Our season has gone really well.We are in the middle of a really tough stretch where we have lost three straight matches, but all were quality opponents.I told my team that we are not where we need to be but we are getting better.I think because our team is young, we’ll continue to get better and things will pick up from here on out.This was a hard test, but we will be better for it in the long run.
Hughes: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the team?
Giboney: We have the capability of being very strong offensively and running a good fast offense.Defensively, we are a good ball-control team.But that still has to get better.We need to do a better job blocking and be more balanced on offense.
Hughes: Who are your team leaders?
Giboney: I’d give that to all of our seniors.Jordan Smith, Alex Smith and Amber Parker have been playing for me for three years and they know how I want things done. They do a good job communicating that.They are a good example on and off the court. These seniors nurture the younger players and help them embrace the expectations of our program.
Hughes:What is your goal for this year’s team?
Giboney: Our game-to-game goal is just to be a little steadier. We have the ability. We have the potential.We need to get tougher mentally and have more consistency.As far as the season goes, we control our own destiny.Our one loss in conference play was to Arkansas Tech, and we get them at home later in October.There’s not a game on our schedule from this point that we can’t go out and get.Every day we take the court, we believe we can win.
