Under The Radar: A Redshirt Diary

Spring Has Sprung

March 29, 2022

In yesterday's practice session, the final one prior to JMU's first Spring season match, the coaching staff began running some of the potential front-row combinations meant to get Alex and Sarah more comfortable with attack play alongside Sophia. Additionally, Hannah was tried out as a three-rotation back row player in case there would come a time when Lauren wanted to run a 6-2 with her and Caroline interchanging as setters. Feeling as though the skill work had been satisfactory, Michael and Charlie chose up sides for a best-of-three scrimmage, which was won by Charlie's team, 25-22, 18-25, 26-24. Among the highlights were: a 6-0 run on Hannah's serve in the second set; Jaydyn's all-over-the-floor defensive work; and the Chloe-Sarah-Sophia trio amassing 12 kills and seven blocks in the eight rotations where all three were in the front row.

***

At 3pm, the volleyball team and staff departed from Godwin Hall for the two-hour trip down I-81 to Daleville. Once the bus had gotten onto the interstate, Lauren stood and made a couple of announcements.

Lauren: Before we get TOO far down the road, I want to get all of you in the proper head space. I am planning to use everyone in at least two of the four sets and possibly three of them, not always with the same combination of players from one set to the next. We will open with our regular means of play, using Jaydyn in place of Alden and Rebecca as Annie's opposite. Next, hitting assignments for warmups. I tried to put you together in pairs that made sense. If there are any concerns, please talk to me about it once we're at Lord Botetourt. With no further ado, here we go: Savannah and Jaydyn; Madilyn and Rebecca; Caroline and Hannah; Alex and Sarah; Sophia and Annie; Savanah and Emma; Cameryn and Chloe; and Miette and Danielle.

Lauren: We will have dinner awaiting us when we arrive at the high school, courtesy of Jersey Mike's. If there are no questions, sit back and relax. Game time will be creeping up on you sooner than you'll know it.

***

Alex: This isn't my first rodeo, but I can't seem to shake the butterflies about tonight's match.

Danielle: What has you most nervous?

Alex: I think it's the whole situation where the result doesn't really matter in the long run and that Lauren and Michael are going to be evaluating my ability to work within our system of play.

Danielle scooted closer to Alex and wrapped an arm over her shoulders.

Danielle: Have you done everything you can to put yourself in the best position possible for success tonight?

Alex: I believe so, but there's this feeling as though I'm going to have to "do more" to show I can be relied upon as a viable option on the front line.

Danielle: Looking at our team, who do you think you need to beat out by the end of Spring to gain a spot in the standard substitution pattern?

Alex: Sarah, for sure, but I get the feeling that her role on the team isn't necessarily tied to being a regular part of the on-court action. So what is it, if you know?

Danielle: At the start, it was as depth because we would be young in the middle position, with Annie as an incoming freshman and Savanah a sophomore. As Annie showed her skill and Lauren adjusted the system to take advantage of getting her and Sophia in the front line together on a regular basis, it evolved into being a supportive teammate, especially when the locker room came close to combusting at the beginning of November. Her experience with the media was VERY helpful when we got to Selection Sunday and the tournament, because none of us really had been on THAT kind of stage in the past.