The University of Mississippi Athletics
Newsom Adds A Spark To Lady Rebel Hoops Squad
12/16/2002 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - It's a sport that requires agility and intellect. It requires you to see the floor from several different angles and make snap decisions to best intercept the opponent as they try to get the ball past you and score. It requires leaping ability and quick lateral movement for solid defense.
The sport is volleyball, but the athletic requirements are similar to those of basketball on many levels. Perhaps that's why getting into the flow has been a little easier for junior Erin Newsom after taking four years off from the hard-court.
Newsom recently joined the Lady Rebels as a walk-on, after completing a four year career with the Lady Rebel volleyball team.
Newsom made an impact on the volleyball court in her four years, starting more than 300 games in her career as she helped lead the program. Her senior season she turned in some of the best performances ever by a Lady Rebel, finishing third in the program's history in one category when she hit .636 from the floor in a 3-0 win over Memphis as the junior tallied 14 kills with no errors on 22 attacks. As a junior in volleyball, Newsom claimed the fifth spot on the all time list for block assists in a season with 91 block assists.
After serving as a leader on one team, helping the squad through the loss of key seniors and a coaching change, she is hoping that she can use the two years she has left to make her mark in another Lady Rebel uniform on campus, whether it comes on the court, or on the sideline.
In high school, Newsom lettered in basketball twice and track once to go along with her volleyball accomplishments. She was selected to the All-District team in basketball during her career at Northwest High School and also claimed a sixth place finish in the district in high jump.
"I think athletically I am in good shape because of my playing time in volleyball," Newsom said of her transition to playing basketball. "My conditioning is good, but my basketball instinct has been slow coming back. I've improved a lot, and I am gaining more confidence in what I am doing so it's been fun.
"Coming back was like being a freshman again and I had forgotten what that's like being a senior on another squad then a freshman the next day," Newsom continued. "Athletically I can jump, but I am still not totally applying my skills in a basketball mode, but it's coming back to me and hopefully I can make an impact."
Head coach Ron Aldy said the package Newsom brings to the court is paying off despite her time away. She is able to provide solid minutes in relief of several key players, which is what she needs to do for Ole Miss to be successful.
"She's very sharp and pretty knowledgeable about the game and her role," Aldy said. "She's actually a little ahead of where we thought she would be at this point. She'd been away from the game so long it's almost unheard of for a player to come in and be able to even practice efficiently, much less contribute in a game like she has to this point. She's been a welcome addition with our need for a post player."
The impact is coming already in games, though it's coming slowly as Newsom works to find her role on the court. The junior recorded 11 points, 6 rebounds and three assists as the Lady Rebels claimed 91-47 in the first round of the UIC Thanksgiving Classic. Ole Miss would move on to claim the tournament title with a win over host school UIC.
Despite limited playing time as she adjusts to her new role on the basketball court, the Argyle, Texas native has settled comfortably into a familiar role on the sidelines, that of an energetic teammate and a vocal leader.
Aldy said that Newsom's experience in volleyball has been a great benefit to his young team, adding that she knows what a player needs mentally to succeed and will do whatever it takes to make a contribution to her team.
"It means a lot that she has competed at this level, even though it was a different sport," Aldy said. "She knows the level of competition in this league and it doesn't scare her like it would most first year players. She has maintained a composure and confidence. Erin understands what it takes to be successful on this level.
"She is a very unselfish player who wants to add something to our squad," Aldy continued. "She doesn't always look to have to be on the floor, she knows she is important to us and tries to find any way she can to give something to us. She helps lead us in a lot of ways, including academically and from the bench."
Newsom agrees that her volleyball experience has helped her make the transition to basketball more smoothly.
"Having been on the court so much in volleyball, I know how important it is to know you have the support of your teammates, and that experience has helped me now that I am a player coming off the bench," Newsom said. "It's an easy, but effective way to contribute to the team quickly. It's a way for me to help my team and be a leader without being on the court."
Newsom's presence on the bench has already been felt by her teammates, as she brings an energy and enthusiasm to practice and game day that helps motivate the team.
"She brings a positive attitude to the table which helps us a lot, because we can feed off that," said senior Leah Henley. "Erin is so enthusiastic and talks us up on the bench. She's the first one up trying to encourage us when we make a mistake. On the court she has improved so much since the first day, probably the quickest I have seen anyone improve after that long away from the game."
And that's all Newsom wants...continued improvement as she works to find a way to make the transition and provide a boost to her team in whatever way possible.
By Bill Bunting
Ole Miss Athletic Media Relations Intern
