SFA Volleyball 2013 Preview: Setters
8/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug 28, 2013
OUTSIDE HITTERS
Returning: Paige Holland
Newcomers: Shannon Connell
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – One thing has been steady in the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack rotation over the past two years, the setter. Head volleyball coach Debbie Humphreys will look for continued consistency from junior Paige Holland in 2013.
“It’s so nice to have an upperclassman setter,” Humphreys said. “Paige kind of had her bumps in the road her first couple of years, because we just had to throw her in the fire. We needed her to come in and play immediately, so she had on the job training. For her to walk in the door now, after having such a great spring and knows things, it’s very refreshing. We have a setter, who understands the system and understands what we’re trying to do. She is playing by far the best ball of her career. I couldn’t be more pleased with how she’s doing right now.”
Holland appeared in all but two sets in 2012. The Magnolia, Texas, native, led the team and finished eighth in conference with 8.53 assists per set as a sophomore. Holland finished with eight double-doubles and recorded 30 or more assists in 24 of SFA’s 36-match season. She was one of two Ladyjacks and the only true freshman to start in all 124 matches in 2011. Over two years, Holland has averaged 9.34 assists per set.
Backing up Holland is freshman Shannon Connell, out of Lovejoy High School.
“Shannon is a great setter,” she said. “She’s one of the most neutral setters I’ve ever coached. She can hold that position and blockers have no idea where she is going. She just needs some time to get accustomed to our offense, our way of doing things, our tempo on plays, sets and things like that, but she is getting better every day.”
Connell was a three-year letterwinner under coach Ryan Mitchell at LHS. Connell was named district 13-4A setter of the year and named to the Class 4A All-State tournament as a senior.
Aug. 27 - Middle Blockers/Outside Hitters
Aug. 28 - Setters
Aug. 29 - Liberos/Defensive Specialists
-SFA-
