Colorado State University Athletics
Hilbert feeling defensive about camp
8/16/2019 10:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nicholson key to Rams' plan moving forward
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – With every last one of his hitters returning, one will just have to excuse Tom Hilbert for sounding defensive.
It's a necessity for the Colorado State volleyball coach in camp with the season opener approaching on Aug. 30. It's great all the offense returns, but just about the opposite can be said for the Rams' defensive structure. The one true known he has in that regard is Olivia Nicholson, and the senior just happens to be complicating the issue.
In a good way.
"The decision about libero is a huge decision and how it's going to affect other people," Hilbert said. "The whole question of Oliva is really important, because she has to play, because she's the best all-around player. We've got other people in the opposite position who are attacking harder, so it's going to be a question, is it just put her in the back row or … I don't know how it will come out. Olivia is going to play."
Nicholson has started on the left pin, on the right pin, in the middle and at libero in her career as a Ram. She's played some defensive specialist, and for good measure, she spent two seasons as the squad's backup setter.
As her past would suggest, she's a valuable piece for the Rams, but until they decide where she'll plug in, the libero situation will remain in limbo.
Nicholson filled in admirably as the Rams' libero last season when Amanda Young was hurt, leading the team in digs with 311, averaging 2.99 per set. She also paced the team on the service line with 37 aces.
While she loved her role as the libero, she'd like to return to the front line offensively her final campaign, and she's getting looks at left and opposite.
"Oh, man, I'm really torn between both pins right now. I think this summer I would have said right side, but I go back and forth," she said. "I think Jessica Jackson did a great job over there last year. Really, I'm open to anywhere. If I have to be a DS, a libero, someone who has to play right side, I don't care. I just want to play."
That will happen, because she stands as one of the team's best ball-handlers. If she is on one of the pins, she will remain a six-rotation player. And while her landing spot is playing out, the rest of the defensive candidates are being tested.
"We're still stating (Nicholson), but we're doing things like this. We're telling our servers to serve at the defensive specialists right now," Hilbert said. "Oliva and Breana Runnels are not taking that many balls, because they're known commodities. We need to know what the other players are going to do, so we make those decisions just to help us make those other important decisions."
Jenna Heinemeyer has been a defensive specialist for the team, and now there are a new host of challengers in the back row. Alexa Roumeliotis is a transfer from Creighton, with true freshmen Alyssa Bert and Brooke Hudson involved in the competition.
Hilbert said all of them have looked good, though Hudson has the added experience with the team as an early high school graduate who was on hand for spring workouts.
"Competition is always good. And it's actually fun to play with, with and around girls who challenge you every day," Roumeliotis said. "And I think it's like we were playing off of each other and checking each other up and working hard and just letting the best."
Serve receive will be high on the list of determining factors, and all could see action in the opening weekend of play so Hilbert and his staff can see them when the emotions are heightened.
Until then, the Rams will wait and see just exactly what they'll do with Nicholson. She might be causing a bit of a delay, but Hilbert is fine letting it all play out for another week.
Nicholson points to last year, noting her shoulder feels better than it has in a while without the buildup of swings. Naturally, there's some soreness which comes from camp, but she has improved her forearm velocity and is playing with a bit of confidence. Besides, the former prep middle misses blocking.
"I felt I realized a lot about being a libero, you have things you've got to be good at, you have to be able to pass and dig," she said. "And if you're having a bad day, you've got to figure a way to get out of it. Whereas a six-rotation player, if you're struggling passing, you can kind of make up for it offensively, and vice versa. And so I have a lot more appreciation for the libero and the DS's. I think any position, because I played them all."
The only guarantee for now – Nicholson is going to play somewhere.
It's a necessity for the Colorado State volleyball coach in camp with the season opener approaching on Aug. 30. It's great all the offense returns, but just about the opposite can be said for the Rams' defensive structure. The one true known he has in that regard is Olivia Nicholson, and the senior just happens to be complicating the issue.
In a good way.
"The decision about libero is a huge decision and how it's going to affect other people," Hilbert said. "The whole question of Oliva is really important, because she has to play, because she's the best all-around player. We've got other people in the opposite position who are attacking harder, so it's going to be a question, is it just put her in the back row or … I don't know how it will come out. Olivia is going to play."
Nicholson has started on the left pin, on the right pin, in the middle and at libero in her career as a Ram. She's played some defensive specialist, and for good measure, she spent two seasons as the squad's backup setter.
As her past would suggest, she's a valuable piece for the Rams, but until they decide where she'll plug in, the libero situation will remain in limbo.
Nicholson filled in admirably as the Rams' libero last season when Amanda Young was hurt, leading the team in digs with 311, averaging 2.99 per set. She also paced the team on the service line with 37 aces.
While she loved her role as the libero, she'd like to return to the front line offensively her final campaign, and she's getting looks at left and opposite.
"Oh, man, I'm really torn between both pins right now. I think this summer I would have said right side, but I go back and forth," she said. "I think Jessica Jackson did a great job over there last year. Really, I'm open to anywhere. If I have to be a DS, a libero, someone who has to play right side, I don't care. I just want to play."
That will happen, because she stands as one of the team's best ball-handlers. If she is on one of the pins, she will remain a six-rotation player. And while her landing spot is playing out, the rest of the defensive candidates are being tested.
"We're still stating (Nicholson), but we're doing things like this. We're telling our servers to serve at the defensive specialists right now," Hilbert said. "Oliva and Breana Runnels are not taking that many balls, because they're known commodities. We need to know what the other players are going to do, so we make those decisions just to help us make those other important decisions."
Jenna Heinemeyer has been a defensive specialist for the team, and now there are a new host of challengers in the back row. Alexa Roumeliotis is a transfer from Creighton, with true freshmen Alyssa Bert and Brooke Hudson involved in the competition.
Hilbert said all of them have looked good, though Hudson has the added experience with the team as an early high school graduate who was on hand for spring workouts.
"Competition is always good. And it's actually fun to play with, with and around girls who challenge you every day," Roumeliotis said. "And I think it's like we were playing off of each other and checking each other up and working hard and just letting the best."
Serve receive will be high on the list of determining factors, and all could see action in the opening weekend of play so Hilbert and his staff can see them when the emotions are heightened.
Until then, the Rams will wait and see just exactly what they'll do with Nicholson. She might be causing a bit of a delay, but Hilbert is fine letting it all play out for another week.
Nicholson points to last year, noting her shoulder feels better than it has in a while without the buildup of swings. Naturally, there's some soreness which comes from camp, but she has improved her forearm velocity and is playing with a bit of confidence. Besides, the former prep middle misses blocking.
"I felt I realized a lot about being a libero, you have things you've got to be good at, you have to be able to pass and dig," she said. "And if you're having a bad day, you've got to figure a way to get out of it. Whereas a six-rotation player, if you're struggling passing, you can kind of make up for it offensively, and vice versa. And so I have a lot more appreciation for the libero and the DS's. I think any position, because I played them all."
The only guarantee for now – Nicholson is going to play somewhere.
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballMonday, November 17
Monday, September 22
Thursday, August 07
Thursday, August 07