Sept. 19, 2002

Head volleyball coach Brian Hosfeld sat down Thursday afternoon and chatted with fans online. The following is a transcript of the chat session.

For archived transcripts of earlier chats, click here.

Janet (Nashville): After the loss of some key players from last year's roster, how have your freshmen been able to step in to replace them?

Brian Hosfeld: Janet, our freshmen have been doing a great job and learning under the fire of competition, and should be anytime now where we start to be more comfortable with our roles where we can see the benefits of wins.

Michael (Boston): I noticed that your media guide features a freshman named Desiree Guillard-Young, but that she has not played yet this season. Is Desiree injured or will we see her in action this fall?

Brian Hosfeld: We made a decision to redshirt Desiree this year, which should be beneficial to her and to the program in the long run. We've been able to put her on a different strength program at this time that should help her overall improvement.

Holly (Los Angeles): Do you think it was a positive or a negative that your pre-Big 12 matches were against so many NCAA tournament teams from last season and against such formidable opponents as Long Beach State and Utah State?

Brian Hosfeld: I think it was beneficial. This was an experiment to see how this team would respond to quality competition, and other than the first weekend's performance, I think the team has responded to many challenges, so we'd like to think we're further ahead than we would be if we played an easier schedule.

Daniel (Portland): What will be the biggest key for Baylor volleyball heading into the Big 12 conference?

Brian Hosfeld: The biggest key for us is going to be our ability to show up, night in and night out, and compete without worrying about our weaknesses and staying strong and confident in our strengths.

Lauren (Califon): Now that you have had time to use the libero position, what do you think of it and what impact do you think it will have on the collegiate game?

Brian Hosfeld: Unfortunately for us, we don't have a ton of depth right now, so I haven't been designating any libero. But ultimately, as we develop the position, it will really anchor our serve receive.

Kitty (San Francisco): Was it exciting for you to return to your alma mater (and former program), Long Beach State in the first weekend of competition this season?

Brian Hosfeld: Well Kitty, unfortunately, due to our performance, there wasn't too much time to enjoy being back home. We'll be working hard to improve our program to the level where we can see Long Beach in the Final Four at their place.

David (Waco): At the games I've seen this year, we are not using the libero position. Is this part of your general philosophy, or is it based more on the makeup of this particular team at this time? Also, for those of us to whom this is a new rule, what are the general pros and cons of using this position?

Brian Hosfeld: It's based on the makeup of the team and the lack of depth. That's made it so that we don't need to commit somebody to that position. The pros of the position is that you can have somebody who is purely a passing specialist, so in practice, that's all they're worrying about. The cons for us right now is that once we commit somebody to that position, we're unable to use them anywhere else that game.

Jose (Waco): What are your team's expectations for this year? Do you feel like this team is building to something bigger in the next few years?

Brian Hosfeld: Our team's expectations this year are to finish in the top half of the conference, qualify for the NCAA Tournament, and go further than the second round. We have no seniors this year, so with the addition of some recruits next year, we'll have a strong nucleus for a few years to come.

Will (Waco, Texas): I saw you guyys play last night, and it looked like the team kind of stumbled after a good start? What happened? How do you avoid that happening again?

Brian Hosfeld: Lack of experience and inability to adjust. Colorado's experience allowed them to adjust to our offense and find holes in our defense that ultimately gave us a lot of trouble and was the difference in the match. Through this experience, and many hours of practice, we should build the ability to adjust better and make better defensive plays.

Jason: What is your dream job?

Brian Hosfeld: Being coach of the Baylor Bears as we celebrate our 10th national title in 10 years. Great question, Jason.

Linda (Houston): What will it take for this team to step up to the next level and become a sweet-16, elite eight, final four kind of team, year in and year out?

Brian Hosfeld: Constant improvement in becoming better players with the team we have. Seeking out and signing some of the top recruits in the country, and developing a championship mentality throughout this rigorous Big 12 schedule. Winning takes care of a lot.

Margaret (Waco, TX): Do you have any suggestions for the fans, how we can help the Bears the most?

Brian Hosfeld: Be loud unconditionally. Celebrate our good plays and encourage us through the bad. And tell as many friends as possible to come support us.

Bryan (Dallas, Texas): What were your thoughts on the 25th Anniversary Team announced by Baylor? Any surprises on the team that you didn't expect? Any one left off you thought should have been there? That was a neat deal to recognize the program's history.

Brian Hosfeld: It was a great opportunity that our media relations person, Larry Little, was the brainchild of. We had many past coaches and administrators vote on the team, and I thought for the most part, that the team was well selected. We're looking forward to honoring that team during Homecoming.

Ryan (Nashville): What did you think of Monique Gerlach from Colorado! She is a great player.

Brian Hosfeld: Monique is hitting a career .500 against us for the past 2 1/2 years, and we have yet to come up with the right way to defend her. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to go back to Colorado in a month and a half and see if we can do a much better job slowing her down and coming home with a victory.

Gregg (Nashville): Do you think Stevie Nicholas will continue her all-star play (6 double doubles) throughout her senior season? How valuable of a player is she to Baylor...where do you feel she ranks within the Big 12?

Brian Hosfeld: First of all, Stevie is a junior. As far as her all-star play, she's leading several categories in the Big 12, and will continue to carry a big load for our team and program throughout the next two seasons. As far as her value to our program, offensively, she carries the load that Elisha Polk used to carry back in the early days, and she'll be continuing to develop her defensive skills to help the team even more.

Eric(TC): IS volleyball in a decline after all football and basketball our are main sports

Brian Hosfeld: Volleyball as a sport is actually on an incline, gaining popularity, setting attendance records. Our USA National Team just played in the finals of the world championships, and should continue to develop into a potential gold medal team for 2004.

Ryan (Nashville): What will you try to do different in your rematch with Colorado on Nov. 27th?

Brian Hosfeld: We'll be working on controlling the ball better ourselves, playing better defense, and trying to put pressure on them to have to do more to earn their points.

Eric(TC): what type of advice can you give me to tell our volleyball coach,we are really terrible

Brian Hosfeld: Admitting it is half the battle. Possibly approaching your coach outside of the gym environment to discuss the team's development might be the best way to handle it.

Ryan (Nashville): Do you think your team can compete for the national championship this year or next?

Brian Hosfeld: I think our team is capable of competing with anyone in the country on any given night. We'll continue to push the speed at which our team develops to reach those type of goals. But for now, we're focused on the task at hand, and that's preparing for Kansas State this Saturday afternoon in Waco at 2 p.m.

Fred (Denver): I saw Kansas State struggled at home with Nebraska last night. Is that an indication of how good Nebraska is? Or is Kansas State down this year?

Brian Hosfeld: Could be a combination of both. As with most of the teams in the Big 12, Kansas State has 3 or 4 players returning who played extensively last year, and need to perform well to win. Nebraska returns the most talent and has a transfer in Saleamua; that keeps them as the team to beat right now.

Gregg (Nashville): You handled Colorado well in the first game...do you feel like they just got on a roll the next three games? What factors caused you to "lose momentum?

Brian Hosfeld: We failed to control the ball well throughout the match, which allowed Colorado to get comfortable at the service line. Our inabilities on defense to slow down their middles allowed them to side out at a pretty good clip.

Brian Hosfeld: Thanks for all the questions. If you're here locally, please come out and continue to support the Bears. We look forward to bringing you some exciting action throughout the remainder of the season. Sic 'em Bears!