Ladyjack 2009 Preview: Outside Hitters
8/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 14, 2009
Returners: Kelsey Owens, Amber Williams-Roberts, Melissa Miksch
Newcomers: Sabrina Burns, Emily Franklin
The biggest question mark in 2009 for the Ladyjacks looks to be on the edges as SFA lost both of its starting outside hitters - Lauren Railey and Shelly Swendig - to graduation following last season. It will be a tough charge for SFA in replacing their production as those two accounted for nearly 40 percent of the Ladyjacks' offense a year ago, with Railey being named to the league's first team for the second consecutive season.
Kelsey Owens will be the one asked to take on the lion's share of that offensive load as the junior is the most experienced player that SFA has returning on the outside.
"We are really excited about Kelsey and watching her take her game to another level," Humphreys said. "We hope she has become a six-rotation player, and will look to her to be a primary hitter and passer as a six-rotation player."
Owens saw steady playing time for the second consecutive season in 2008, with all of her offensive categories seeing a jump. SFA will need that same type of increase in production this year from the junior with no other outside hitters on the roster with more than a year of experience.
The other outside hitter spot will be up for grabs with a pair of sophomores and a pair of freshmen squarely in the mix for the majority of the playing time. Sophomores Amber Williams-Roberts and Melissa Miksch should have the upper hand after each saw apt playing time as freshmen. However, both bring a different element to the court and Humphreys and her coaching staff plan on taking full advantage of that.
After bouncing around between positions as a freshman, Miksch has settled in as an outside hitter and is arguably the most improved player on the roster according to Humphreys. Miksch will likely be used in more of a ball-control role after getting plenty of reps as a setter in 2008, while Williams-Roberts brings an explosive aspect to the court despite recovering from foot surgery in the spring. She has the potential to be a six-rotation player, as well, and showcased her abilities last year when she was forced to fill in for Swendig after the senior went down with an injury midway through the conference season.
Emily Franklin and Sabrina Burns are two other names that should come up at some point this year as well, with both freshmen likely to see court time early in the year. According to Humphreys, Burns could be the one that makes the earliest impact. Her 6-2 frame instantly puts her ahead of the curve, and, with her cannon of an arm, the head coach is confident that she will quickly become a crowd favorite. As for Franklin, Humphreys feels as though she could be the best pure athlete of any of her five freshmen but will need to find consistency before she sees playing time on a steady basis; however, Humphreys also thinks that SFA's overall controlled style of play will streamline her development.
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