Nov. 28–

The second-ranked Concordia University volleyball team was introduced to the media on Wednesday evening, prior to the awards banquet. Head coach Brady Starkey and junior middle hitter Maria Steinhagen represented the team at the press conference. Click on the story for quotes from Starkey and Steinhagen.

Starkey Opening Statement:
I’m excited for our young kids, we have a young team. I’m fired up for them to be able to participate in this. It’s been an up and down season, we started peaking at a night note and we are excited.

Question 1: "Coach Starkey, this is your third trip to the Elite Eight in your five years as head coach, with each trip being two years apart. Being two years apart, you have reached this level with three different teams. This year, only one player, Maria Steinhagen, was with your team the last time in 2005. Can you comment on what this team brings to the table as they compete for a National championship?"
Answer: "Youth. We have one returner from our 2005 Elite Eight appearance (junior Maria Steinhagen). It’s one of those things that this team is loaded with talent. On any given day we can show that talent, and on any given day thy can make me pull my hair out. They are a fun group of kids because they don’t know their limitations and believe they can do anything. They are a crazy group of girls and a lot of fun to coach."

On defeating Minnesota Duluth for the regional championship:
"It was a fun match, at their place in front of 2,200 people. Our young team went out and scrapped for every point. Our team is not stacked with hitters, but we are stacked on the short end, digging up balls all over. Duluth has a very good team that can terminate from anywhere on the court. But we kept the ball off the court with our defense and kept putting it on them. Our girls fought hard in a hostile environment, it was a good way to get in (to the Elite Eight)."

On a “Hoosiers-like” atmosphere:
"We have experienced both the Hoosiers side and also being the favorite. Our first year we had no clue what to expect. No one expected us to beat CSU-San Bernardino in a five game match in front of 2,500 fans, our kids never experienced that and I as a coach never experienced that. That was our Hoosiers moment. We also have had the other side where in 2005 we thought we could win the tournament and lost in the first round. This year, it’s wide open and anyone here can take the tournament."

Junior Maria Steinhagen opening statement:
"Obviously we are excited to be here at the Elite Eight, but more imporantly, we are excited to be able to hang out together for a couple more weeks. We are lucky to have the opportunity to play in this environment with this high level of competition."