This is part four in our 2012 preview of the Creighton Volleyball Team. Today we look at CU’s middle blockers.
Part 1: Non-Conference Schedule breakdown
Part 2: Conference Opponents
Part 3: Defensive Specialists
Heather Thorson looks to make her mark on her senior season. (Mike Spomer/WBR)
Last season, Laurel Sanford finished her career at Creighton as a top middle blocker in the Missouri Valley Conference. Sanford was a first team All-MVC selection in 2011, leading the Bluejays in kills and kills per set not to mention dominating the team in blocks. She led CU in hitting percentage and total blocks over the past two seasons. Not only does she hold D.J. Sokol Arena records in kills and blocks, but also sits in second place in school history in block assists and fourth in total blocks in a career. Those numbers will not be easy to replace, but several Bluejays will do their best to try.
Senior Heather Thorson
First in line to get that opportunity is senior Heather Thorson. The Mead, Nebraska, native was Sanford’s partner in crime last season and was deceptively productive on the court. She actually has the best attack percentage in the short history of Sokol Arena (.315) in a career. She started all 31 matches last year, ranking second in hitting percentage and third in kills and blocks. This season it is her goal to step up in a larger role and not necessarily fly under the radar.
“I think we have a really balanced team this year,” Thorson said. “I see my leadership role emotionally with the other seniors out there. I’m a really emotional player. As far as tactically and physically, I am a middle blocker so I am there to throw up a block. But we have awesome hitters and blockers all the way around so I think we are all going to work together on that front.”
Thorson has been working hard on her blocking in the offseason. “I get a lot of touches, but I am working for touching over and getting that block on the other side of the net this year,” she said. As a senior, she is also looking at getting back to the NCAA Tournament after a taste in 2010. “We are ready. The NCAA Tournament is awesome. I can’t explain the feeling of that. We are taking it one step at a time, but our overall goal is to dance again.”
Joining Thorson in the front line is sophomore Kelli Browning. She suffered ups and downs as a freshman, but the experience last season has her better prepared for the 2012 campaign.
Sophomore Kelli Browning
“I think the first thing is confidence and knowing what everyone else is doing around you,” Browning said. “One of the things I personally worked on was keeping my arm up higher, as I always drop my elbows.”
Creighton has an early season tilt with Wisconsin as part of the USF Invite. Browning originally committed to the Badgers before becoming a Bluejay. The biggest draw to change her mind and come to Creighton was the school’s nursing program.
“I think the nursing program here is unbelievable, along with the team. I really like this team a lot and the coaching staff.” Browning expects some family and friends to make the trip to Florida for this match and it could give her some early confidence heading into the tough non-conference season.
Sophomore Savannah Smith hopes to break into the rotation a little more this season after spending the last couple battling shoulder problems. Smith entered her freshman season rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery and appeared in 12 matches, sort of being thrown into the fire with the season-ending injury to Lauren Bloemke and an early season injury to Sanford. Smith was looking to change positions heading into 2011 before another shoulder surgery sidelined her once again and forced her to redshirt. Now with a healthy shoulder and a spot back in the middle, Smith will be an important player heading into 2012.
A wildcard for the Bluejays could be freshman Lauren Smith. However, Smith starts the season a little behind the rest of the team. She dealt with an elbow injury over the summer that basically sidelined her. Smith helped lead her Lincoln Pius X team to a state championship; she was a first team All-Nebraska player as a junior and senior. Smith is one of four players in the school’s history to play Division I volleyball. The other three players went to MVC schools as well. If she can get healthy, she may be in the mix for playing time as the season progresses.
The middle blocker position has a few question marks coming into the season, but if everything comes together, it will enhance a Creighton volleyball squad that will make some noise this season.
“I’m ready to start playing,” said Browning. “Don’t get me wrong, we have preseason, but I’m ready to get into conference play and traveling and playing everyone in a game day atmosphere.”
Join us on Wednesday as we take a look at the hitters, otherwise known as the pin specialists.