For a two-week period, pre-season practices for the NIU volleyball team were equated to overnight cramming for final exams.

Since Aug. 15th, new head coach Pete Waite and new assistant coach Lori Sowatsky worked from 8 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., six days a week, trying to relay a unison coaching philosophy to the squad.

“It was a little out of the ordinary,” Waite said. “We spent a lot of hours in the gym trying to make a transition since we had to jump right into the season.”

The coaches made efforts to teach the team three techniques as well as to emphasize one word, “patience.”

First on the agenda, Waite worked at increasing the pace of play for the spikers. This included more specific executions in ball control.

Secondly, Waite made it an important item that the Huskies have a positive attitude.

“Positive attitude (is needed) so they know they can win any game they’re in,” Waite said.

The squad also worked on being aggressive, primarily “forcing the opponents to make errors,” according to Sowatsky.

Finally, the team learned the true meaning of the word patience.

“We kept stressing patience to (the team) and kept telling them that we are going to be better by the end of the season,” Waite said.

In preparation for their season opener at Chic Evans Fieldhouse on Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. against College of St. Francis, the crew began each practice day with a 6:45 a.m. breakfast.

Following breakfast, the team had taping and treatment prior to the three-hour practice session which started at 8 a.m.

Finishing the first session of practice, the squad headed out for treatment and soaking and prepared for a 12:00 p.m. lunch. Lunch was followed by another taping and treatment period to prepare for second-session practice at 1:30 p.m.

Another trip to the training room after second session, and then it was time for dinner.

After dinner, the girls lifted from 7-8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (practice session number three on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and then back to the floor for a one-half hour session of serving and passing.

Last on the things-to-do list from 8:30-9:00 p.m. was “passout and collapse,” Waite said.

In the limited amount of time that Waite had, he said he covered a lot of ground, but there were still “millions of things” he needed more time to work on.

“We got as much done as could possibly get done in the allowed amount of time that we had,” Waite said. “We’re finding everyday that there is new stuff we need to work on to progress and be the successful team we want to be.”

Rating the girls in their intense two-week session, Waite said he thought they did well.

“They all have great attitudes and work ethics,” Waite said, “and that helps in the progression. They will pick up our (the coaches) techniques and our positive and aggressive attitudes.

“We’ve had lots of minor injuries, but nothing major. We’ve been lucky, since everything is healing. They’re sore and mentally drained, but they’re hanging on well.”

Sowatsky also said she felt good about the results of pre-season practices.

“(The team) adjusted to Pete and I very well,” the assistant boss said. “That’s the first step to a successful team. If a team can’t trust their coach, they can’t play for them.”