Curry taking reins at setter for Phoenix
(10/22/14 8:37pm)
The Elon University volleyball team desperately needed a spark.
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The Elon University volleyball team desperately needed a spark.
The tides had begun to turn and the Elon University volleyball team was building a wave filled with momentum.
The Elon University volleyball team competed against the University of Delaware Blue Hens in search of its first win in Colonial Athletic Association play. Despite a tough effort in the opening sets, costly mistakes against a difficult opponent led them to a straight set (25-23, 29-27, 25-22) loss.
The eyes were on No. 12.
Finishing strong was a strong point and positive taken out of the Elon University volleyball team’s 3-1 (25-17, 20-25, 25-19, 25-19) loss to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington on Saturday, Oct. 11 in Alumni Gym.
GREENSBORO — A momentum shift midway through the match once again proved to be Elon University’s undoing.
Her second trip back to James Madison University in 12 years reminded head volleyball coach Mary Tendler what Elon University’s venture into the Colonial Athletic Association means to her.
After dropping the first set at the College of William & Mary, the Elon University volleyball charged back to win the second 25-22.
An ideal start turned sour as the match went on for the Elon University volleyball team, which dropped a 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-16) decision on the road to James Madison University on Thursday, Oct. 2 in Sinclair Gym.
Despite its experienced core of middle blockers, the Elon University volleyball team has been in a transition period this year as it installs a new style of blocking.
A relatively unknown opponent and the preseason Player of the Year met the Elon University volleyball team in its first Colonial Athletic Association match ever.
When searching for a substitution, Elon University head volleyball coach Mary Tendler hasn’t been left with many options as of late. Elon has had six players miss time because of injuries in the last two weeks, depleting an already small roster into one with little leeway for variety. The Phoenix has 13 players listed on its roster, which is small for a Division I school. Most teams have at least 15 players. In its last two games at the Deacon Classic Sept. 20 in Winston-Salem, Elon used an eight-player lineup. Against North Carolina Central University Sept. 23, Elon used a seven-player lineup. “If we’re struggling at something, we look down the bench, and we don’t have that person that has experience to come out and help in certain things,” Tendler said. “I like the players we have in. We have nine players healthy, and I’m proud of them for their effort.” The injuries have left the Phoenix especially short at setter, as both junior Ana Nicksic and redshirt freshman Sydel Curry have missed the last five games. This meant junior Chelsea Rafetto, formerly a defensive specialist, had to step in and play setter. Rafetto sat out last year because of a knee injury. She started at Elon as a setter but was transitioned into a defense role. Before Elon’s Sept. 17 game against North Carolina A&T State University, the last time Rafetto played setter was in November 2012. Through four matches in which she’s played every point at setter, Rafetto has accumulated 103 assists and 47 digs. “[The injuries] put a lot more pressure on Chelsea,” said senior outside hitter Chanelle Smith. “We’re still getting used to her style of setting. She’s doing a great job. It takes confidence to have to come out there and run an offense.” MORE: Morgan Maner experimenting with different serve Junior outside hitter Megan Gravley has missed the last six games because of a foot injury that required her to wear a boot until this past weekend. Senior outside hitter Danielle Smith didn’t play in the three matches at the Deacon Classic, and she nor Curry traveled with the team for the tournament’s first game against Western Carolina University. Junior middle blocker Catherine Head also missed three matches after slightly aggravating a previous knee injury but was back in the lineup this past weekend before missing Tuesday's game at North Carolina Central. Sophomore outside hitter Kayla Agae did not play in that game either and had a brace on her left wrist. Tendler has been forced to shuffle the lineup in order to fill the void of those players who can’t play. The short lineup has emphasized the need for Elon to start sets off strong, something that’s been a point of focus in practice recently. “With this new lineup, we don’t have time to play catch-up,” Chanelle Smith said. “It’s a whole new lineup, whole new offense. We have to be coming out with the same energy and fire.” Sometimes, going down a few points early has helped the Phoenix. “We actually play really well when we’re in a hole,” Tendler said. “We really pick things up. Sometimes the intensity picks up when you’re behind. Right now, our team plays better when we’re behind than they do from being ahead.” Regardless of who’s playing and who’s not, the goal is the same. It’s something Elon’s worked through during the past couple weeks and will have to deal with for at least the next few matches. “It adds a little bit more pressure,” Agae said on Sept. 19. “We’re bummed we can’t have those girls on the court with us too, but we trust whoever’s on with us or without us that they’re going to make it happen.”
DURHAM — The few players Elon University had were able to gel together as a lineup when it mattered most.
The 5-foot-7 libero stands a few feet behind the service line and tosses the ball seemingly a mile up into space. Then, she jumps in the air, powers through the ball with her arm fully extended and sends the ball to the opposite side of the net, falling in for another ace.
Using a weakened nine-player lineup thanks to a slew of injuries, the Elon University volleyball team concluded its weekend on Sept. 20 at the Deacon Classic in Winston-Salem, falling to Winthrop University 3-0 (20-25, 14-25, 19-25) and Wake Forest University 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 14-25, 18-25).
WINSTON-SALEM — Facing a familiar opponent, albeit in a different setting, the Elon University volleyball team knew what to prepare for.
It was an unfamiliar setting for Chelsea Rafetto, despite playing at home in Alumni Gym.
When Kayla Agae played in just one set in Elon University volleyball’s season opener and none in the team’s second game, she wasn’t frazzled. She didn’t look down on herself. She wasn’t frustrated. She wasn’t angry. Instead, she accepted what was handed to her. She looked around and saw the strengths of the team and took on her role of supporter for the first weekend of the season. “As a team, we’re so dynamic,” Agae said. “We can put anyone on the court and win. Those six that were on the court that first week were going to do that. I was going to be a teammate.” Now, Agae is the furthest thing from someone who supports her teammates from the bench. Agae has played the entirety of Elon’s last few games, including some five-set matches. The sophomore outside hitter gives Elon a dependable presence in multiple spots on the court. In Elon’s last five games, Agae has hammered down 64 kills, dug 70 balls and posted eight blocks. “Kayla’s killing it,” said junior outside hitter Megan Gravley. “We can trust her so much on the court. The fact she can play back row then go front row and just kill it is really, really awesome. It’s hard to find that in a player.” Agae, from Las Vegas, played in all 33 matches for Elon a year ago, so it’s odd that she barely saw the court in the first two games of this season. Through five games this season, Agae had managed just 16 kills while playing nine sets. She quickly stepped to another level Sept. 6 against the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Agae recorded a career-high 15 kills while hitting .265. It didn’t take long for her to shatter that high kill total — she posted 19 while hitting .444 Sept. 12 against the University of North Florida. But it’s not just her hitting that makes her a valuable asset and keeps her on the court all matches. Agae reached a game-high 20 digs against High Point University on Sept. 10, while recording 11 against North Florida and 10 in a three-set loss to South Carolina University on Sept. 13. Against Campbell University Sept. 13, Agae not only had 15 kills but also tallied a career-high 23 digs and was named to the All-Tournament Team of the Hampton Inn & Suites of Holly Springs Invitational. “Kayla’s been playing awesome,” said junior setter Ana Nicksic. “She’s just very, very consistent all the way around, in her digging and swinging.” When Elon head coach Mary Tendler was asked what she likes about Agae’s play, she answered quickly, “Consistency.” Tendler has singled out that aspect as something Elon needs to work on to improve its current 3-7 record. And right now, Agae is providing more of it than anyone. “That’s what we’re looking for in players — to be consistent from match to match,” Tendler said. “That takes a lot of focus. We asked her to do a lot, and she came through.” Agae hasn’t gotten caught up in her recent hot stretch. “Having my chance to play was awesome,” Agae said. “Overall, for the team as a whole, what we really want to do is be successful. No matter who’s on the court, we want to be successful. No matter if I’m on or whoever’s on.”
Danielle Smith doesn’t let her size bother her while playing middle blocker. The Elon University senior stands at 5 feet, 9 inches tall, but she remains effective going up against players who are typically 6 feet tall or bigger. “I’m used to being the small one in the middle,” Smith said. “I’m quick, which helps me against blockers who are taller than me.” Smith’s attack in the middle helped power Elon’s five-set victory against High Point University Sept. 10, when she recorded eight kills at an .333 efficiency. She had a season-high 13 kills against the University of North Carolina at Asheville Sept. 6. Smith plays multiple positions for Elon, rotating from the middle to both outside positions. She has 77 kills and 20 blocks so far the year. “She’s one of the most versatile players I’ve ever seen in my life,” said junior outside hitter Megan Gravley. “Last week, she played outside in one set, middle in one set and right side in one set. People who can do that, I have so much respect for.” KLEIN CLIMBING: Elon freshman middle blocker Michelle Klein is seeing the floor more after not playing at all in the team’s first three games. In six games, Klein has amassed 28 kills while hitting .262 and 11 blocks. “I think I’ve definitely improved a lot,” she said of the transition from high school to college. “At first, I was really timid and I couldn’t hit down to save my life. Now, I’m getting a little more used to the intensity and the pace of the college game.” Elon head coach Mary Tendler said Klein has taken some lumps, as any freshman does, early on. But overall, she likes where Klein is headed with her improvements. “The middle blocker position is tough because you need to do a great job of reading the ball coming off the hands of a setter,” Tendler said. “If you guess wrong or move in the wrong direction, you’re going to leave an opening for the defense. She’s a very confident player.” LET'S PLAY FIVE: Elon has seen its fair share of five-set matches, even this early in the season. The Phoenix has played four matches — including a stretch of three straight — that went the distance. In those four, Elon went 2-2, beating Kennesaw State University and High Point University while falling to the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the University of North Florida. “We’re getting some good experience,” Tendler said. INJURY UPDATE: Gravley and junior middle blocker Catherine Head have each missed games recently because of injury. Head got hurt during Elon’s trip to Kennesaw State the weekend of Sept. 6-7. She did not play against High Point but saw action in three sets against North Florida before sitting out both Saturday games at Campbell University. Gravley wore a boot on her left foot during the second day of the Campbell tournament and didn’t see the floor. SEEKING CONSISTENCY: If there’s one thing that’s bothering Tendler through Elon’s first 10 matches, it’s consistency. Tendler singled that out as a definite need for improvement, particularly starting off sets on a good note. Elon is currently 3-7 overall. After two of Elon’s three victories, the Phoenix was swept in its next contest. “We’ll play a really great match, then the next match we struggle,” Tendler said. “The key to our team right now is starting out each set in a positive way, not making errors right off the bat. What we’re finding is we make a few errors right off the bat and we struggle coming back from that.”
BUIES CREEK — Mary Tendler tried to make adjustments.