Leonid Yelin emphasizes Syracuse’s need to ‘do its homework’

After the Syracuse players left the postgame press conference on the heels of their win against Clemson on Sunday, Syracuse head coach Leonid Yelin was stuck to his seat. He wasn’t done talking.

He went into great detail on the importance of education, preparation, and players “doing their homework.” There he sat for five minutes after his players left, continuing the discussion.

“We teach them how you teach yourself and how you get information,” Yelin said.

With a number of international players on the team, he says some aren’t used to this system of self-teaching, and it’s something they have to get used to in order to succeed.

“In (Russia), it was different. (At SU), they teach how to teach yourself,” Yelin said, “Instead of just giving (it) to you and you have to memorize.”

Currently sitting fifth in the ACC standings, and already with eight more wins than last season, the 2015 Orange is predicated on preparation.

Assistant coaches prepare game footage of both SU’s games and its opponents’ games. They add breakdowns of each rotation, as well as where all of the opposing hitters hit. This helps the players understand where the hits, blocks and digs are going to be coming from.

After the coaches have prepared the footage, the players are expected to watch the film and study their assignments. That way, Syracuse knows who they’re lining up against and what their opponent’s tendencies are.

Sophomore libero Belle Sand had to adjust to the culture of preparing herself. She now understands how well it carries into practice, as well as the games.

“In practice we’ll have (a scout team) on the other side of the net,” Sand said, “They’ll have numbers taped on them so I’ll be able to say, ‘Hey Nico, this girl runs a slide a lot’, and stuff like that.”

On Friday night, senior hitter Silvi Uattara struggled. With only three kills and a .091 hitting percentage, it was a career-worst night for the hitter.

After the game, Uattara admitted that she wasn’t mentally prepared for the game, and she couldn’t get her mind right.

However, to come back ready for the game Sunday, she went back and watched previous film, studying her habits.

“I just watched my best games,” Uattara said, “I tried to do my same routine that I’ve done before, and I just tried to bring myself into that mood.”

The preparation paid off. Uattara led the Orange with 17 kills in the 3-1 drubbing of Clemson.

According to Yelin, in order for the team to succeed, the players have to work to prepare on their own time. He said it’s time for them to realize that in order to be successful, the staff can’t treat them “like puppies”.

“Everything is here,” Yelin said, “We have film, we have cameras, guys with equipment, so they can see what they’re doing. If you want to be good, go do what you have to do to be good.”