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By SCOTT PURKS, Times Staff WriterUniversity of Tampa coach Chris Catanach tweaked his rotation to take advantage of a rule change this season.
TAMPA - Things have changed in a couple of distinct ways - at least in the past year - for the University of Tampa volleyball team.
Foremost - though this is subject to change - the Spartans aren't the dominating force they have been in the past 10 years.
Good? Yes. Dominating? No.
Could they, however, dominate by season's end?
Possibly.
This hinges on whether a young nucleus comes together as a smoother running unit. More specifically, it involves mastering a "6-2" offense (rotating in two setters), or, should that fail, coming together in a 5-1 offense where one setter stays throughout the rotation.
In this young season, UT has used both and has come out with three victories and no losses.
"We went to a tournament in Colorado to open the season and got a victory over No.7 ranked (in Division II) Central Missouri, but we won in five, losing the first two games in a 6-2 offense and winning the final three in a 5-1," UT coach Chris Catanach said. "But after that we didn't use the 5-1 again.
"The plan is to still try and get the 6-2 down. If we can run it smoothly then it could be a great thing."
The reason Catanach wants to try the 6-2, something he hasn't used in more than 10 years, is a new NCAA rule that allows 15 substitutions during a game instead of 12.
This gives a coach a chance to substitute another setter at key points in a rotation so more hitters and middle blockers, which in UT's case means taller players, can play more consistently in the front row.
"The problem with the 6-2 is getting that flow through a game," Catanach said. "A setter and the hitters develop a feel for each other, kind of like a quarterback and his receivers. If you substitute the quarterbacks all the time you can have problems with the flow.
"But, we feel with practice, we can get the 6-2 to work for us."
Senior outside hitter and leader Ericka Womack, a graduate of Bayshore Christian High, says she, like the rest of the team, is willing to try whatever the coach suggests.
"We see the benefits of the 6-2, particularly with our team," Womack said. "Plus, we are all willing to do whatever it takes to make it work."
For the 6-2 to work, Puerta Rican freshman Gabriela Saade and Gainesville sophomore Sara Ellis will have to find their rhythm with Womack; Stephanie Rivera, who returns as a redshirt junior after missing a season to help family; Katelen Dixon from Mitchell High; Erin Clark from King High; Tarah Marinelli from Hudson High and Margeaux Sinibaldi from Venice High.
"Whatever we do shouldn't be an issue," Womack said. "This is team is, and I really mean this, really, really close. We're friends on and off the court."
Which is, Catanach says, by design.
"When I look at signing a player I take in personality as well as ability," Catanach said. "I think all these girls are great.
"We went on a trip together to Europe this summer (Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Slovenia and Budapest) and we really bonded," Catanach said. "We came back, I think as a stronger unit."
Next step is playing a tougher schedule, something he didn't do for the first time last season.
"We started out 9-0 last season but ended up finishing third in the conference, which was the first time in nine years we didn't win the (Sunshine State Conference title)," he said. "This year we're playing some tough teams early and if we're 5-5 at the beginning so be it. As long as we're better by season's end then it's mission accomplished.
"This is a great group of girls and in the end I think we'll get where we want to be."