Blowout victory gives young volleyball players opportunity to lead
Volleyball blew out Jackson State last weekend to get the team up to .500 (6-6) on the season, but the match helped out more than boosting its record.
Senior setter Kelly Maxwell and junior outside hitter Kaitlyn McIntyre, the team leaders in assists and kills, both had a set off Friday, leaving younger players to take over leadership roles.
“I definitely had to step up since (McIntyre) wasn’t there,” said freshman outside hitter Melissa Fuchs. “I had to step up and take over some of her leadership that she usually brings.”
Junior setter Danielle Thompson played the third set for Maxwell and reigned in 15 assists, equaling the total number of assists from the whole Jackson State team in all three sets.
The Farmer City, Ill. native also recorded a kill, an error and a dig in the set.
Multiple players stepped up when McIntyre took a breather during the second set. Six different players recorded a kill in the second set, including Fuchs, who had four of her 13 kills during the second set.
Senior outside hitter Katie Schuette and senior middle blocker Danielle Gotham had three kills a piece, while freshman middle blocker Hallie Enderle and sophomore Angie White each had two kills in the second set.
“It was a little different, because (McIntyre) is such a great presence on the court,” Fuchs said. “I think our team and Schuette adapted well to it, and we did well.”
Out of the 15 players on the volleyball team, 12 played in Friday’s match.
