Young Hitters Look To Step Up In 2010

Aug. 25, 2010

This is the second of four articles looking at the Ole Miss volleyball team postition by position heading into the 2010 season.

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Rebels offense moves from what is arguably its deepest position at middle blocker to undoubtedly the youngest position when it comes to the outside hitters. The Rebels return one player with significant starting experience at the position in sophomore Whitney Craven.

A 2009 All-Freshman selection by SEC Coaches a year ago, Craven put down 218 kills in her first campaign with the Rebels and leads all returners in the category. The heavy-hitting athlete sat out a handful of matches with injury early in the year, but finished the season strong and claimed SEC Freshman of the Week honors in the final weekend of play.

That weekend, she helped lead the Rebels to a win over Arkansas in the season finale with 13 kills and a season-high 22 digs. She posted 12 double-digit kill performances with a season-high 20 coming in a win over Alabama. She also tallied double-digit digs in seven matches.

"Whitney has improved and had a good spring with a great match against Texas," Getzin said. "The thing we've gotten from her is a lot more steadiness. There isn't as much up and down. She knows what to expect having been down this road once before. We're looking forward to watching her play."

Also returning at outside hitter is sophomore Ashley Anderson. The Texas native saw limited playing time in her freshman campaign, but has shown strides over the summer as she has continued to put in work at the gym. Joining her is transfer Kiley Sherman, who comes to the Rebels after a red-shirt season at Baylor in 2009.

"All of our hitters have played their positions for a while now," Getzin said. "Ashley Anderson also had a good match against Texas this spring and knows what she is capable of doing. Kiley Sherman didn't get to play at Baylor last year because of injury, but comes from a good club program and has a lot of experience.

Sherman was a part of Baylor's 14^th-ranked recruiting class a year ago. The hitter was a three-time All-Area selection and a two-time All-Conference selection out of Oswego East High School in Oswego, Ill. She also served as captain of her high school squad for three seasons.

A pair of true freshmen also join the ranks of the outside hitters. Kellie Goss and Kara Morgan round out the position and bring additional size and athleticism to the spot.

Goss comes to Ole Miss from Forest Park High School in Manassas, Va., where she was an All-State selection two times in high school and helped lead her high school to the semifinals of the state championship. Morgan was a four-time All-State selection and was named the state Player of the Year in 2008.

"Kellie Goss is a big, strong athlete with a heavy arm. She's just learning the position after playing more middle in high school and club. Kara Morgan has that knack for picking things up and just getting things done. She has a cannon of an arm."

Both freshmen possess tremendous athleticism that is expected to help them make the transition to the college game quickly. Goss was a four sport athlete in high school, also competing in lacrosse, track and soccer. Morgan also played basketball and softball.

RIGHT SIDE

On the right side of the court, sophomore Allegra Wells will be expected to anchor the offense following the loss of four year starter Caitlin Weiss to graduation. It's a big role to fill, but one that the gifted athlete is capable of stepping into quickly.

Wells got valuable experience in her freshman campaign as she played behind the senior, putting down 51 kills and 34 blocks on the year (4 BS, 30 BA) with her best performances coming against Tennessee and Mississippi State as she put down seven kills in both matches.

With the year of experience and a full off-season of work, Wells will be looked to for big production this year.

"Allegra is arguably one of the best athletes in the SEC," Getzin said. "She has really matured as a player and finally realized what she possessed last year. I think a big moment for her was going home and playing for her club team. She came back and had a great summer workout and really improved skill wise. She's putting forth a great deal of effort to continue to improve. She's just fun to watch.

"At times, because of her athleticism, she's impossible to stop. She's also very frustrating to play against because she's such an intimidating block."

Wells isn't the only option on the right side, however, as the coaching staff has also played sophomore Courtney Cunningham and freshman Kellie Goss on the right side in practice to give the squad more options in the offense.

"We'll probably move one of our outsides," Getzin said. "Kellie Goss has been playing some on the right side and we've played Courtney Cunningham over there a little bit. Courtney is a player who is going to do whatever it takes to get on the floor and be successful."

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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