WBR will preview the 2013 Creighton volleyball squad in the days leading up to the Bluejays’ season-opening tournament in Ohio on August 30. Click here to read any posts you missed.
Lauren Smith comes off a redshirt season ready to play (Spomer/WBR)
Ask Lauren Smith if she is excited for the 2013 Creighton volleyball season to start. There was one quote that was continually mentioned in our media day discussion
“I’m excited for the season to start.”
The redshirt freshman is excited to pounce on the opportunity for playing time on a team with no seniors and five starters, including the libero, returning for the 2013 season. One of the holes open in the starting lineup is a spot for a middle blocker, a position held by Heather Thorson last season. After watching on the sidelines last season due to an early injury that set her back, Smith has worked hard to get ready for this fall
“It is a blast. I had a lot of fun last year on the scout side, but I’m really excited this year to feel the play and prove myself with my teammates it will be even better,” she said. “Tom (Mendoza) has us working with the setters and the quick sets. We are kind of all over the board on what we are working on now and seeing what we can do.”
Smith spent her time in Omaha this offseason working in a lot of open gym time. But the biggest part of her learning is what she has learned from watching her teammates last season.
“Kelli (Browning) and I are always watching each other on and off the court, critiquing each other. She has told me a ton. Heather Thorson as well, who was our senior last year.”
Smith looked good in her first action of the season in the Blue-White scrimmage, mostly playing with the first team.
Savannah Smith hopes to make a splash into the lineup (Spomer/WBR)
Another player battling for that open spot belongs to another Smith — Savannah Smith. The elder Smith (no relation) has had some challenges in her career at Creighton. Three seasons ago as freshman, she was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery looking for some backup playing time. With an early season injury to Laurel Sanford, she was asked to step in right away and gained some valuable experience.
However, heading into her sophomore season, she had to have surgery on her shoulder again and was forced to redshirt. Last season she returned but was also somewhat limited physically.
“I’m extremely excited for the season to start. One I feel like we have great players. Personally, I am cleared to fully play. I am ready to come back,” said Savannah. “It was a little frustrating (to sit on the sidelines) because I want to be out on the court, but definitely learned different things that I could see off the court.”
During that time she has also jumped around between the middle blocker and hitter positions. Having that versatility could make her a valuable asset heading in to this season and even providing leadership.
“I think in ways on the court I have some abilities to be a leader, not as many as someone who has played constantly, but I think being able to view the court and know the background there, I can be a leader…and being the ‘old’ one.”
Browning anchors the Bluejay middle blockers (Spomer/WBR)
Anchoring the middle blocker core is junior Kelli Browning, the preseason Player of the Year in the Big East Conference. Browning emerged as one of the bigger surprises last season due to her offseason work. That hard work led to the MVC Defensive Player of the Year and a splash on the national scene with her blocking ability. She finished the season ranked 5th in the nation in blocks per set (1.65 bps.), 32nd in hitting percentage (.370) and 177th in points per set (3.84). That also translated into setting Creighton single season records last season for block assists, total blocks, and hitting percentage. She heads to a new conference with plenty of recognition. But for the junior there is still a lot of work to do.
“We worked on a lot of strength and conditioning aspects, the speed of our game,” said Browning. “We were building our endurance, building our core strength and arm speed.”
With that in mind, Browning also applied that to even making herself even better.
“I think keep building off of last season and working hard — getting that extra block, get faster in transition — it really comes down now make sure that I am doing the small things as well.”
Creighton heads into the season a favorite in the new Big East conference. Right behind them is Marquette, who the Bluejays faced last season in the NCAA Tournament. For Browning, the new conference excites her.
“I’m really excited to go to Milwaukee, because I am from there. I will have a lot of friends and family there at that game. We want to play Marquette because they are a really fun team to play, but also have those people in the crowd for me as well.”
To build off of last season’s success, the Bluejays will have a lot to do. Browning sums it up best to overcome the challenge at hand in the new conference:
“Our theme this year is ‘Earn, never given.’ Nothing is going to be handed to us and that we really need to earn it. I think we are proving that this preseason.”