Volleyball's VerVelde expected to make a difference this season
It seems that every good team has a breakout player that really makes a difference.
A dark-horse player is defined as someone whom little know about. It’s someone who just remains under the radar. Some call it a “sleeper.”
Central Michigan volleyball head coach Erik Olson believes he has one of those “sleepers” on his team.
“(Jocelyn) VerVelde is going to make an impact, we just have to give her time to get going,” Olson said.
VerVelde, who is coming off a spring season in which she recorded 102 kills with two double-digit kill matches—including a season best 13 against Eastern Michigan.
“She is really good off one foot and she is a really big and aggressive blocker,” Olson said. “Coaches are going to game plan around her; she single-handedly changed the match against Northern Illinois and shut down the player of the year (Maddie Hughes).”
This spring, VerVelde was a breakout player and made huge strides in her game that garnered Olson’s attention.
“It was really good for me,” VerVelde said. “I learned a lot and became more confident as a player and in myself. I know that mistakes are OK to make and also not get frustrated with myself; just let it roll off my shoulders and go to the next play.”
It was that lack of confidence last season that affected her consistency, she said. It kept her from starting, but this season she is expected to start at right side hitter and become an All-MAC player.
“I need to get healthy and get more reps in,” VerVelde said. “Getting healthy and staying focused is the main thing.”
Olson implemented swing blocking to VerVelde’s game which makes her even bigger than her 6-foot-4 stature. He said her blocking was a weak point in her game, but now that she uses the swing block technique, it’s one of her strengths.
“We run a different offense and I use a one-legged approach which is my best hit, so that is a lot different than other right-side hitters,” VerVelde said.
Olson fully expects her to be 100 percent soon and that she will be a force to be reckoned with on the floor.
