SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara volleyball team will return home this weekend after two weeks on the road to begin the season. The Broncos (3-3) will host UC Santa Barbara (3-4) at 7:30 p.m. on Fri., Sept. 9 in the Leavey Center to open the 2011 home schedule. They will then play North Dakota (5-2) at 1 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 10.

Games at the Leavey Center This Weekend:
Friday, Sept. 9
North Dakota vs. UCSB 10 a.m.
UCSB @ Santa Clara 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 10
North Dakota @ Santa Clara 1 p.m.

Prior to the weekend, www.SantaClaraBroncos.com visited with Bronco head coach Jon Wallace about the season opener, what they are working on and where they are headed.

SCU: The volleyball team returns home on Friday for two matches.  Is your team ready to play at home after two weeks on the road?

JW: Friday night vs UCSB will be our home opener.  Our team loves playing in the Leavey Center.  It is one of the best facilities in the country to play in.  We have had a tough week of practice, but more importantly a very productive week. The girls improved this week.

SCU: You won a match last weekend and dropped two.  What did you learn about your team last weekend?  What did they learn?

JW: We are just trying to get better everyday and I think we did this week.  We look at every win or loss as a way to improve our team.  Getting Kaleigh Durket back from injury also will give us a big boost. (Durket didn't play in the Utah Valley match due to injury)

SCU: What are you working on this week in practice?

JW: This week our focus was blocking and floor defense.  We made some tweaks to our system.  The girls have done a great job of understanding and adapting to the changes.

SCU: Talk about your competition this week.

JW: Our competition is tough every week.  Our goal is to control our side of the net and to play the best we can.  I always love playing against UCSB, I have know their coach for 27 years and is someone who I respect and admire.

SCU: Looking at your own team, who do you feel is playing really right now?

JW: I believe this weekend all of our girls are going to play well.  Practice has been tough and I feel the commitment level has increased.  With everyone healthy we feel we have a good rotation of players that are competing everyday to get better.  In particular both our setters, Alexandra Palmer and Alyssa Anderson, improved a lot this week.