#11 Volleyball Practices, Then Meets Media Prior to #2 Kentucky Match

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Creighton Volleyball team practiced for just more than an hour before meeting the media in Lexington, Ky., on Friday afternoon as it completed preparations for Saturday's Elite Eight match at No. 2 Kentucky.

After practice, Creighton head coach Brian Rosen, along with Eloise Brandewie, Jaya Johnson and Abbey Hayes met the media.

First serve between Creighton and Kentucky is set for 4 p.m. Central. The contest will be nationally-televised on ESPN2.

NCAA Volleyball Lexington Regional
Historic Memorial Coliseum – Lexington, Ky.
Kentucky-Creighton Pre-Match News Conference

Creighton Head Coach Brian Rosen
Opening Statement …
"Just really excited to be here in Lexington with this team and get another opportunity to compete together on such a big stage. To be in another Elite Eight and I know this team believes it and we have been talking about it since the spring – all of our freshmen were here and all our transfers were here except for Annalea this spring – that a Final Four has been on our board for a really, really long time. Maybe the outside world didn't think that we would be in this position right now, but I know our team did. It is awesome when you believe something what is possible. We love that we woke up this morning to some snow, which really made us feel like we were back at home in Omaha. Just really excited to be competing another day with this team and hoping to take some people to Kansas City next week."

On Kentucky …
"They are just one of the cleanest teams in the country, I think. They stay really poised and play with a lot of energy. We have played Eva Hudson the last two years at a former school so we are very familiar with how fiery she can get. She will stare you down through the net and she will turn and bring so much energy to her team. If she gets going, they get going. Obviously, Brooklyn is great, their middles can score, their right side can score. I know they have a freshman setter, but she is doing a great job running the offense. Coach Skinner is always got his team incredibly well prepared. They just play really clean and that is why they have been able to have the record they have right now. I think we are the two teams that have pushed Nebraska to five sets at least, so they play great volleyball and very consistent. They don't have a lot of highs and lows. They stay who they are all the way through."

On focusing the team on one point being just one point and avoiding runs …
"I think it starts with our athletes on the court. We have had a saying or thing we do all the time where if we give up two points in a row we lock it together as a team and just say, 'Hey, they got their two points, that is it.' And really having that mindset of siding out in those moments. That is what we were really special at yesterday was siding out in those moments. We sided out at a high percentage. We have to be really good offensively tomorrow. They are going to score their points. Arizona State had some sets where they hit a really high percentage too. If we are in a battle like that, those are going to be those 24-26 kind of sets. That is what we had yesterday. That second set, could have gone either way, and we gave up that little run at the end. Then the third and fourth set we really limited their hitting percentage and kept our highs. Obviously, that is a recipe for success. I would hope and expect that all the sets tomorrow will be incredible competitive and down to the wire. Who scores when it matters at the end? I would also love a few sets where we win it running away, those are fun too."

On what a Final Four would mean to the program …
"It would mean a lot. Again, I know I have talked about it when I was interviewed here a long time ago, those were the goals for this program. That is what I committed to when I was the assistant coach here of putting everything in place – recruiting the right people, ensuring the culture and making sure that everyone was not satisfied with where we have been and eyes forward to do more. That was the saying the first year I was at Creighton was 'do more.' We have been trying to get to this Final Four level for quite some time, you know, Booth's 22 years. I promised to keep that goal as we have moved forward. To be in this stage in year one is pretty special. To be able to get to a Final Four this year would mean a lot to me and all the people that came before us. The amount of alums that have reached out to me and are pushing for us and telling us to go make history and those kind of things. It'd mean a lot to us to our players, coaches, Creighton community. So yeah, making a Final Four and it being in Kansas City where our fans could easily travel to would be pretty awesome."

Creighton Student-Athletes
#10 Eloise Brandewie
On Creighton's makeup …
"I think looking at Creighton, everyone overlooks them. I love how this team plays with a chip on their shoulder every single game and we train from preseason to Big East play to now. We are so intentional in the gym and trust each other. It is a lot different than other programs and it great to be apart of."

On Lizzie Carr …
"They can find her where the pass it. That is really hard for us blocking wise, but she is a great player and is really tall and hits really high. I think just slowing her down is going to be really important."

On Kentucky …
"Watching them last night, I think their passion and their fire is something that I noticed. They are going to be playing at home and just focusing on our side of the net and maintain and focusing on what we can control will be very important."

#6 Jaya Johnson, RS/MB
On making teams earn their points …
"I think saying we have to make teams earn their points just means that we don't make errors. When you don't make errors, it isn't giving them free points, they have to actually do something incredible to win. We cant let it get us down either. Like Brian always says, if they do something good it will happen, just clap them on and throw a ball back."

On Kentucky …
"One thing that I noticed was that their outsides have really good floor-to-floor shots, kind of like how Ava Martin does. That is something they are really good at. I am just excited to play Brooklyn DeLeye again. Me and her are from the same area so I grew up playing her and I think it will be really fun to go head-to-head with her."

On the attention to Ava and the team's depth shining …
"I think that Ava is literally a superstar. I think she deserves all the recognition that she gets. I think it is more a time thing. Ava wasn't getting as much attention last year because we had Norah and Kendra that got a lot and now it is Ava's turn. That is kind of something that comes age wise if that makes sense. I think everyone has their time and it is coming and just be patient and just really lean into your teammates."

#2 Abbey Hayes, OH
On the tournament run as a freshman …
"Obviously, it is a lot to take in, but with all of these amazing girls and coaches they have made it so much easier for me. They remind me that I can play big and swing confidently and they will be there for me throughout the whole time. I could not have done it without everyone here so I give all my credit to them and I just hope for the seniors and for each other we can go all the way and make it to Kansas City."

On Kentucky …
"We all know they have really great pins so just finding a way to slow them down. We know they are going to get their kills and they have their dogs. So just finding a way to take them out of the offense and also just focusing on our side. We know that if we are Creighton good we can beat anyone in the country. Moreso just realizing that they area great team and everyone here is a great team. Really just focusing on us and limiting our errors and just playing Creighton good."

On Ava Martin …
"Ava is awesome and with just being in the same position as her it's been awesome to learn things from her. She is a great human too. She has been so fun and like another mentor and teacher for me. Really just being able to learn from her is awesome. I think she is one of the best outsides in the country and earns all the recognition that she gets. We have so many people that can also put the ball down and it is not just heavy on Ava the whole time. She is amazing and awesome to play with."

Kentucky Head Coach Craig Skinner
Opening Statement …
"Just thankful for Kentucky fans and the Big Blue Nation for being a huge impact on our match last night. Certainly, hoping for a sellout tomorrow at 5 p.m. I have heard that the tickets are flying out so make sure you get in line to get them. Looking forward to playing Creighton, obviously a team that has had success this year and present lots of challenges with their offense and how they play. Should be an exciting volleyball match tomorrow at 5 o'clock."

On if this is his best team since 2020 …
"Oh, man, you're gonna make me do that? I mean, it's hard to argue with the results. I mean, we've won a lot of championships in a row this year and this year and this team is hosting the regional. On paper and in wins and losses and things like that it would be hard to say it isn't. they are just a complete team in a lot of different ways both on and off the court. They are a very selfless team in terms of being excited when others do well. I think they bring whole package and are a team that gives us a great chance to be successful even if one part of their identity isn't working on a particular day."

On Creighton …
"They are very balanced. Everyone talks about Ava Martin and (Kiara) Reinhardt, but with (Jaya) Johnson behind the setter and (Eloise) Brandewie who played at Ohio State before she got to Marquette. Their libero is experienced from Cincinnati, which is a volleyball hot bed. Then (Abbey) Hayes from Iowa. They just have a group of people that are very experienced and like Molly said, they are very mature in how they compete. They are not going to give us a whole lot of points, we are going to have to earn them. You score points by earning them with your block and attack and serve or the opponent's errors. Most of our points against them are going to have to come from how you earn it because they are not going to give them to us."

On how important serving will be …
"Very. It was very important last night against Cal Poly with the speed that they run their offense. Then with the diversity that Creighton throws at you with their offense, it will be important again. Maybe not necessary the velocity, which will be important, but more about what spots on the court may hinder some offensive options. If they have all options in the front row and then Martin in the back row, then our block is going to be spread thin. We are going to have to find the right spots to hit it in the right rotations."

Kentucky Student-Athletes
#11 Molly Berezowitz, DS
On her experiences against Creighton before …
"Yeah, at my old school they were like our biggest rival, so last year I played them three times. I kind of wanted to play them because obviously it is different this year. They have a good offense and a lot of experience. They have a few fifth year and sixth year seniors. It is going to be challenge but a fun game."

On what it will take to get a win …
"I think, and we talk about this a lot, but just using all 14 players and we are going to need everyone tomorrow. I think it is important to treat it like every other game we have played the last 30 games."

On her approach to Creighton's serve receive …
"I watched their servers yesterday, but I was really more focused on the Cal Poly game first. I really wont know until we watch their servers. But I don't really change my mindset every game, depending on their servers. I just have the same mindset to serve receive every game."

#10 Kennedy Washington, MB
On her match last night and working the middle …
"Yeah, I think our game plan overall was to just spread the offense and we spread the offense well."

On what it will take to get a win …
"I think we talked about it just now in film, just playing to our standard and spreading the offense and really defending. Last night, we did a good job of blocking and holding their hitters and star players to a lower hitting percentage. I think our back row did a good job of defending them as well, so just doing that tomorrow will be good."

On improving this season and meeting the moment …
"Something that I really emphasized with Craig and all the coaches is just preparing every day like I am going to play. I know that me and Brooke have been switching out, but I don't think that effects me in any way because we are l working towards the same thing. Knowing at any moment that any of us can get out there on the court and do our job and I don't think anyone has every doubted that. I think it is just really easy to practice how you play, that isn't hard at all."

#11 Volleyball Practices, Then Meets Media Prior to #2 Kentucky Match

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