SFA Volleyball 2012 Preview: Middle Blockers
8/9/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 9, 2012
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
Returning: Sabrina Burns, Jacque Allen
Newcomers: Cara Leslie
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks have had their fair share of outstanding middle blockers in their time, but 2012 has the possibility of giving head coach Debbie Humphreys one of the best combinations of efficiency and athleticism as she's ever had in her previous 24 years on the job.
It is never easy replacing a three-time all-conference choice, but SFA will have that task at hand this year with the graduation of MC Bottles; however, the combo of Sabrina Burns and Jacque Allen seems to be more than up to the challenge. Burns enters her senior season having increased her production in each of her first three seasons and closed out the 2011 campaign second only to Bottles on the team with a .245 attack percentage.
But even more impressive may have been her defense, leading the team and ranking fifth in the Southland Conference with 1.07 blocks per game a year ago. She totaled at least five blocks in 13 matches, and had multiple blocks in all but two contests on the season. Still, she did not lack for offense either, averaging a career high 1.85 kills per set in 2011.
Humphreys notes her work ethic as one of the primary keys to Burns' success and also anticipates it being the main reason she continues to see a spike in her production in her final campaign as a Ladyjack. The senior has seen steady increases in her season averages in attack percentage, kills and blocks in her three seasons and another similar increase will likely earn her all-league honors in November.
"Sabrina was an honorable mention all-SLC selection last year who has the best work ethic of anyone to ever come through the program," Humphreys said. "She has really stepped up her game and is ready to go for her senior season. "
She will likely be flanked in the starting lineup on opening day by redshirt freshman Jacque Allen, a raw talent who has the coaching staff buzzing about her possibilities. She was a Class 4A all-state selection in high school at Mansfield Summit HS outside of Arlington, Texas; however, the staff felt it best to redshirt her in 2011 and now is prepared to reap the benefits just as they did in similar situations in years past such as Brittany Burton and Ashley Bailey, both middle blockers who redshirted before eventually becoming all-conference themselves.
"Jacque is just a beast athletically and the scary thing about her is that she just gets better and better every day," Humphreys said. "The more game time she gets, the better she's going to get. There are some things she needs to figure out, but the difference between where she was a year ago and where she is now is huge and we are excited to see her out there on the floor."
The final piece to the puzzle at the net will be in the form of another freshman, Cara Leslie. At 6-1 from Livingston, Texas (Livingston HS), Leslie was an all-district selection at the Class 43A level and led LHS to the playoffs in 2011. She is the first signee from Livingston for Humphreys since Burton in 2000 and with just three middle blockers on the roster, will likely see time early and often while bringing some much-needed size to the floor.
"Cara is a big, physical presence too. She's adjusting to Division I after coming from a smaller school in Livingston, and that adjustment is going to be her biggest challenge," Humphreys said. "But she's much further along than I expected her to be at this time and within a month or so she could really be in there battling for some serious playing time."
Aug. 10 - Middle Blockers
Aug. 13 - Outside Hitters
Aug. 16 - Setters
Aug. 20 - Liberos/Defensive Specialists
-SFA-
