The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi volleyball team is sitting in a
good position when it comes to the opposite hitter spot on the
court. A weakness a year ago, it has become a strength with the
addition of both returning players and newcomers poised to see
action.
The returning player that saw the most action from last year is
sophomore Shannon
Hullum. She should have a much stronger season with a year
under her belt.
"Shannon played the position most of the time last year and she
was a little up-and-down," said head coach Tony
Graystone. "That's kind of to be expected with a girl who was
really going through her freshman year. She was just coming into
her first season of really being active.
"She had a good spring and was a lot more consistent. She had a
lot more on the ball and her block is better. She is a very
hungry. She wants to be out there all the time and is very
driven."
In addition to Hullum, junior outside hitter Jessica
Korda has seen some time there as well with her natural
mechanics lending to the position.
"We have also been working Korda out there quite a bit. That
gives us another look and Jessica has a big right arm," said
Graystone. "It's a nice option to have a right-handed and a
left-handed weak-side hitter just to give teams a different look.
Depending on how we want to attack the defense, it'll really help
us out.
"We've got two nice options with experienced returning players,
last year that was not a very strong position for us. We think
this year it will be pretty nice."
If Korda can play the position it will help make room at the
outside hitter spot where talented newcomer Isabella
Arcidiacono waits in the wings to see time on the court.
"When Emma and Korda are in the front row together that's a
pretty nice rotation, but with the way Korda naturally swings at
the ball it kind of lends itself to being an opposite hitter," said
Graystone. "So we started doing that a little bit in the
spring.
"Also, when you get a player like Isabella come in on the
outside, eventually she is going to need to be on the court. If we
can get all three of them on the court together then we think our
offense is going to look pretty good."
Newcomer Sarah
Sanchez has also been playing the position as she tries to find
the best fit on the court for her skills.
"Sarah has been training in the front row, she is a really
versatile player," said Graystone. "I don't know where she is going
to end up eventually or where her best position is at the college
level.
"For right now she has been getting a lot of reps in the middle
because we are a little banged up there, but she also is playing a
lot on the right side."
The Islanders continue practice this week before starting the
season next Friday in Starkville, Miss. against Montana at the
Mississippi State Maroon Classic.
