2017 VB Preview: Setters
8/16/2017 6:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
The 2017 Sam Houston State Bearkat volleyball season is nearly upon us, with Coach Brenda Gray's group set to open up the year August 25 at the Texas A&M Invitational.
This is the second of a four-part preview, position-by-position of this year's squad. The Kats boast three preseason first team all-league choices and were picked to finish third in the Southland in the league's annual preseason poll.
SETTER NOTABLES
Returning: Jaclyn Ward
Newcomers: Madilyn Miles
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston State Bearkats are less than two weeks away from opening up their season, and this year it will be with a new setter running the offense.
The Kats said farewell to three-year graduating setter Michelle Griffith after the 2016 season, ending a career that saw her finish sixth all-time in career assists. This year they will turn to junior Jaclyn Ward, who has been groomed for the past two seasons to take over. According to head coach Brenda Gray, Ward is ready to step into that role.
“I think Jaclyn is ready,” Gray said. “I know she is going to be anxious and excited right before her first match that matters. But she ran the floor all spring and we brought in another setter to bring healthy competition to Jaclyn. She knows her hitters and the tempos of the sets. She has an enthusiastic playing style that is fun to watch and I am hoping good things for her.”
Unlike many heir apparents, floor time was not something that Ward has lacked in her initial two seasons as a Bearkat. As a freshman, she got into 13 matches, and last season and saw that total increase to 20 as a sophomore. She saw a lot of action early in the year, averaging nearly five assists per set before an injury slowed her down for much of the year.
Still, she rebounded to have several productive matches later in the season, dishing out 18 assists at Abilene Christian and a 19-assist, 10-dig double-double at Houston Baptist in late October. She will have plenty of offensive weapons at her disposal this season with the Bearkats' top four hitters back, including three who are preseason first team all-SLC selections.
Additionally, Gray points out that Ward brings an added dimension to the role with her presence at the net. With longer arms and a knack for blocking, she will bring a higher element of front-line defense to the Kats in 2017.
Behind Ward this year will be freshman Madilyn Miles, a 5-10 setter from Barbers Hill High School where she turned in a decorated career. While there she led the Eagles to the regional semifinals of the Texas state playoffs twice and was named the District 21-5A Setter of the Year.
“Madilyn's drive is so deep,” Gray said. “She approaches things differently and she is very mature for her age. I think she brings a really good low game to the table and will be a pleasure to coach. I truly believe she will be running the team to a high level when it's all said and done.”
In addition to her district exploits at Barbers Hill, she was also named to the GHVCA Fab 50 Preseason team in 2016 and was named a TSWA all-state honoree, while also earning an all-district nod each of her final two seasons as an Eagle.
