photo by Justin Limoges
The Bradley volleyball team failed to qualify for the Missouri Valley Conference tournament for the third consecutive season after finishing 2-12 in conference play. The Braves finished their season Nov. 18 against Loyola in a three-set sweep, effectively ending their 2016 campaign.
The end of the season also marks the end of head coach Carol Price-Torok’s first season on the Hilltop, one she said was “fun” despite finishing with a 7-22 record.
“It was my first year with my own program making those decisions and kind of seeing the pros and cons of doing it this way or [another],” Price-Torok said. “For me, it’s been a good reflection time [after the season] … to look at how we get where we want to go, which is the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, and being a staple in there.”
Price-Torok had only positive things to say about the team and how they played, especially the seniors who will be leaving the team.
“I didn’t recruit any of those seniors, so the biggest thing for me is that they bought in right away,” Price-Torok said. “It’s hard for them – they’re going into their senior year with new coaches and different agendas and training styles. I really appreciate the fact they bought in from the get go. It will forever kind of jade me that we didn’t get it done for them.”
The 7-22 Braves have areas to improve upon if they want to send next year’s seniors out on a bit of a higher note. Price-Torok said the talent to score more and win matches is there, but they need to work on developing the team’s offensive system more in the offseason. The progress in these areas, she said, was evident this year.
“I think having them continue to understand the process they’re committing to is working,” Price-Torok said. “It may not be working as fast as we want it to, but we’re seeing changes … The defensive system and some of those things we’re doing are working. Now we just have to keep adding to the other parts of our game.”
If the Braves can substantially improve their scoring ability, they could be a force to be reckoned with next year in the conference. Price-Torok said the team’s defense was strong this season, ranking with some high-quality teams.
“If you look at the teams that are going to the NCAA [tournament] now and some of their numbers as teams, from a defensive standpoint, specifically digs, we’re up there with some of the top teams,” Price-Torok said. “Now it’s about turning those digs into points, and I think that’s something that we talked about throughout the year. I think that’s something that our attackers who have a year under their belts will be able to get in those situations of, ‘how do I produce points,’ and working through those situations this spring.”
Looking toward the offseason, Price-Torok emphasized that she wants to focus on consistency in executing their offensive system, as well as filling the leadership roles the graduating seniors are leaving behind.
“Continuing our communication as a group from what we want to do and just directional pieces on the court,” Price-Torok said. “I think that’s a big thing for us. Who’s going to step in and be the leaders for us as the seniors leave? Who’s going to take over that ownership and how are we going to move forward from the personality standpoint of keeping everyone on the same page of the direction we’re going?”
