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Thursday,
September 6, 2001
Volley
Frogs starting setter position not set in stone
“Sisters,” one senior and one sophomore,
have a friendly competition for starting setter position
By Colleen Casey
Skiff Staff
Off the volleyball court, senior setter Lindsay Hayes was
randomly assigned as a “big sister” and veteran
mentor to sophomore setter Tori Barlow. Ironically, the two
“sisters” are intensely coupled in competition for
the starting setter position, head coach Sandy Troudt said.
“Yes,
there is a friendly rivalry. In practice they go after each
other,” Troudt said. “It can be frustrating for
both them but they have both done the absolute best they can.”
Four
matches deep into the Volley Frog’s season, Barlow owns
the starting position. For her, it’s been something she
was shocked to earn.
“I
didn’t expect it, especially because it means there are
four other starting seniors, with a new setter,” Barlow
said.
Hayes
said she knows that everyone has to earn their spot on the
team.
“I’m
planning on trying my hardest, but I don’t really feel
pressure, just competition.”
Due to her playing time in these matches, Barlow led in team
assists against New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts
and Texas Tech with 42, 37, 34, and 15 respectively.
“I
had the goal to be the starting setter and if I didn’t
get it, it would be because I didn’t
do my best,” Barlow said.
Barlow
accredits Hayes as a better blocker and is also good at attacking
the net. Hayes is 5 feet 11 inches tall; Barlow is 5 feet
8 inches tall.
Troudt
said both setters can still improve as the season unfolds
and she doesn’t expect one setter to individually own
the position.
For
one of the players to own the spot, Barlow would need the
rest of the team to play better defense and Hayes would need
to be a more consistent player, Troudt said.
“It’s
really too soon to know if anyone will own the spot, but that’s
something us coaches knew would probably (go back and forth)
all year,” Troudt said.
Barlow
agrees that the starter for the setter position is not set
in stone, and will not be.
“It’s
still a fight, because (Troudt) wants the competitiveness.
There is not one day either one of us can slack off,”
Barlow said.
So
far the two have not had equal play, as Hayes’ only playing
time has come in two games and with seven assists in the Connecticut
match last Friday, a match in which Barlow started as setter.
Troudt
said Hayes is currently playing the best volleyball of her
whole career and she plans to frequently use Hayes in future
matches during her final season at TCU.
But
for now, the younger sister is the starter.
Colleen
Casey
c.m.casey@student.tcu.edu
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