Work for no credit

As players for the Montana volleyball team trickled into practice during the first week of classes, a message shone like a beacon from a whiteboard next to the court.

"It is amazing how much can be accomplished when no one cares who gets credit," the board read triumphantly.

It's an idea head coach Jerry Wagner hopes his girls take to heart as they travel to California this weekend for the Cal State Fullerton Titan Classic.

In their second nonconference tournament in as many weeks, the coach wants to see the team work as a more cohesive unit.

"We were a different team from day one to day two [in Mississippi]," Wagner said of the year's first set of games in which they finished 2-2. "I said last week that we could count on passing the ball really well, but that didn't happen to the level I wanted it to on the first day."

Toward the end of the second day of competition last weekend, the Montana volleyballers started to look like a fluid element; passing seemed to be coming by instinct and percentage hits quickly jumped upward. Wagner said this transition could be attributed to more players doing what's best for the team, such as freshman Brooke Bray, who bounced around from middle blocker to outside hitter.

"Brooke played all the way around the court," Wagner said. "She allowed other players to be better.

"It didn't matter who got the credit, as long as we continue to do what we do," Wagner said, echoing his inspiration board.

In matches Friday and Saturday with Cal State Fullerton, Colorado and Georgia State, Wagner said he expects that unselfish playing style to continue. There are four Grizzlies vying for two outside hitting positions and Wagner believes he'll use them all in a rotation.

Senior Stephanie Turner, sophomore Paige Branstiter and freshman Kayla Reno are all sharing playing time, while junior Amy Roberts, who missed almost all of last season with a severe knee injury, is contributing from a limited playing time role.

"It's a healthy battle," Wagner said. "Right now those four are making up two players and doing an excellent job. We need all four of them doing what they're doing."

Roberts, who tore two ligaments in her knee at the start of conference play in September 2009, is near the end of her recovery but still can't play every game. When she can make it onto the court, she said she knows her purpose with the team.

"It's different than what we've done before," Roberts said of the four-person alternation at outside hitters. "But we all kind of know our roles when we're in. I'm here to pass."

In their first live game action of the season in Mississippi, Wagner said the team's six freshmen performed admirably. New setter Kortney James adapted to the game speed quickly, he said, and played above her experience level.

"Not only does she impress me, but she impressed the other coaches," Wagner said about his 5-foot-10 setter from Sandpoint, Idaho.

"If I was playing on a team with somebody like that, I would be drawn to her because of her confidence," he added, praising her maturity on the court.

James said she felt her game grew up fast during the tournament, adding that she is excited about the prospects of improving even more in the upcoming Cal State Fullerton tourney.

"I thought I learned a lot with every game and every play," James said. "I'm really looking forward to doing it again this weekend."

But to improve on their record, the Griz are going to have to minimize errors in California. Little things can start to unravel a game, Wagner said, and they can't give away free points by committing serving errors and blocking into the net if they want to be effective. The coach said the squad will be better prepared in its second tournament because of what it took away from its first. The early season is about learning and adjusting.

"If it's all about wins and losses to you, then chances are you're always losing," he said.

Montana's tournament action tips off against host Cal State Fullerton on Friday at 8 p.m.

anthony.mazzolini@umontana.edu