The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
2012 Volleyball Season Outlook: Part III
8/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2012
*This is the third and final section of the UAB volleyball season preview
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Head coach Kerry Messersmith returns her primary outside hitters, both setters, but has the task of replacing Heather Thomas, a three-year starter at the libero position this upcoming season.
Below is a look inside the UAB volleyball team’s outside hitters, setters and defensive specialists.
OUTSIDE HITTERS
Kate Morrell, Sr. || Ally Peters, Fr. || Sam Skinner, R-Fr. || Ally Slaughter, Jr.
Kate Morrell and Ally Slaughter were two main cogs in the Blazer offense a season ago and have shown great improvements since 2011.
Last season, Morrell was an extremely balanced player, averaging a team-best 2.81 kills per set along with 2.84 digs per set. In tota,l she also produced 12 double-doubles, which tied for the most on the squad. Additionally, this past summer, the Ogallala, Neb., native played in the European Global Challenge as a member of the Bring It Promotions Southeastern team.
“Kate looks phenomenal,” Messersmith said. “She had a great spring in sand, she went on an international tour and she might be in the best shape out of any player I’ve ever coached in 25 years.”
Entering her third season with the Blazers, Slaughter has shown great improvement on the defensive side of the court in preseason workouts. Her offense showed flashes of excellence as she averaged 2.38 kills per set, but providing that attack from set-to-set is something that Messersmith feels the Pelham, Ala., native will improve upon in 2012.
“Ally has been very consistent so far in preseason camp,” Messersmith said. “Consistency was the one thing that we struggled at on the outside last year, so we are trying to be more consistent and get our hitting percentage up. She has done a great job so far defensively and I think our new assistant coach Bailey Coleman has done a great job helping all of our players on the defensive side of the court.”
Messersmith has also been extremely impressed with redshirt freshman Sam Skinner who is a native of Birmingham and played at nearby Oak Mountain High School.
“We have really thrown (Sam) around between positions, but once she gets going and becomes more consistent, she is every bit as capable of being one of the top outside hitters we have in this conference,” Messersmith said. “She is a very dynamic player and a little bit different than the other two (Morrell and Slaughter), and is a very strong athlete.”
Adding to the outside hitters is true freshman Ally Peters, who comes to the Magic City from Medina, Ohio. At Medina High School she was an All-Ohio selection her senior season, averaging 4.9 kills and 2.2 digs per set.
SETTERS
Becca Howard, Jr. || Emma Schroer, Fr. || Alison Woods, Sr.
Both floor generals are back for the Blazers to run the show offensively in setters Becca Howard and Alison Woods. The duo splits time distributing the ball to the fleet of hitters UAB’s lineup sports out of the 6-2 offense.
“We are excited to have both of our setters back,” Messersmith said. “I think those two players have improved on defense, which had a lot to do with playing sand (volleyball) and having to cover that whole court.”
Howard and Woods combined to dish out 10.33 assists per set in 2011 and combined for 20 double-doubles. Entering her senior season, Woods sits fifth all-time in program history in helpers, while Howard is closing in on 1,000 career assists.
Although both setters have at least two years of collegiate play under their belts, Messersmith hopes to see the offense be more stable this season.
“We are looking for some consistency at the position to deliver the ball and hopefully with another year of experience they will be smarter and better setters,” Messersmith said.
Adding depth to the position is freshman Emma Schroer from Ogallala, Neb., where she served as both an outside hitter and setter during her senior season. Last fall she collected more than 200 kills and 450 assists her senior year. Schroer is also the niece of Messersmith.
DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS/LIBERO
Rachel Fairbanks || Mariah McCallum || Bethany Stanford
Even with 14 student-athletes returning from the 2011 roster, Messersmith does have a big hole to fill in the back row, after losing three-year starting libero Heather Thomas to graduation.
Thomas, who set numerous records during her time as a Blazer, finished with the school record for career digs (2,131), which also ranked fourth in Conference USA history.
Messersmith has three players on the roster that will step in and try to fill the libero shoes in Rachel Fairbanks, Mariah McCallum and Bethany Stanford.
“Rachel has been with the program for two years and is a tremendous athlete,” Messersmith said. “She is a different kind of libero than Heather (Thomas) was and is a great communicator.”
Last season, Fairbanks saw time in the back row, along with serving as an outside hitter. In limited action she averaged 1.38 kills and 2.25 digs per set.
McCallum, who redshirted last season, came to UAB from Nease High School in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., where she corralled more than 2,100 digs in her career.
“Mariah is working hard on her communication skills, which is an area she needs to improve on,” Messersmith said. “But, she is a really nice passer and a great defender. She is another one that could see time at the position.”
Another defensive specialist that could suit up as the libero is junior Bethany Stanford. The Hoover, Ala., product competed in 2010 for West Florida (Division II) before transferring home to play for the Blazers. She did not see game action last season.
“Bethany will definitely push for time at the libero position as she has really had a strong camp and improved greatly on her passing,” Messersmith said.
