Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Encouraged by Defensive Gains
9/14/2021 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Improvements in blocking and serving aid the cause
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The goal is to draw the numbers closer together without giving up ground in the process.
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Colorado State's volleyball team ranks third in the Mountain West in digs per set (averaging 14.11), but ninth in both blocking (1.67 per) and opponent hitting percentage (.239). The dig totals are especially impressive considering the other two.
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What is encouraging is the improvement associate head coach Emily Kohan has seen from the first match of the season through the current four-match winning streak the Rams will carry into the Golden Spike weekend, a home-and-home matchup with unbeaten Colorado (7-0); Thursday's match will be in Boulder (7 p.m.), Saturday's at Moby Arena (1 p.m.).
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"I think our back row players are doing a great job. They're experienced," Kohan said. "We have a lot of playing time on our team in the back row, so I think they've shouldered a lot of our defensive efficiency, because our front-row blockers are pretty young. As Karina Leber, Kennedy Stanford and Alyssa Groves and those guys gain experience, I think our blocks per set will help our defense even more."
Â
Up front, it's body mechanics with footwork and quick hands, but also being able to read the game better. That comes with experience, which comes from match play. Specific blocking drills in practice help aid the development, but match play remains the best teacher.
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As the front row grows in prowess – and they were better as the Rams won three matches over the weekend – the back row continues to deliver. Having Alexa Roumeliotis as the anchor – and the All-Mountain West libero was the defensive player of the week after 58 digs in the three victories – is a comforting place to start.
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Even better is having experience around her in Alyssa Bert and Brooke Hudson, and the continued contributions for Helena Perez and Ruby Kayser. Getting better up front helps them be more effective.
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"The biggest defensive change has been our blocking. We're just getting better touches, being in our right positions at the right time, and it's easier to play defense around a set block," Roumeliotis said. "I think that's been the most crucial change that we've made.
Â
"If you have a fractured block, it's harder to be set and play defense, but I still think our back row is doing a pretty good job of getting some touches on balls. As the blocking improves, we've really improved being able to read around a block and set our defense a little more solid."
Â
That's what she worked on all summer. She's always has the reputation as a good passing libero, and while her defense was solid, she aimed to make it better. She spent the summer trying to get to more balls via two paths – being quicker on her feet and faster with her reads.
Â
What Kohan feels people overlook is the serving component to playing defense. A strong, aggressive approach at the service line gets teams out of system offensively, also making it easier to set up a defense and get easier balls to dig.
Â
Who doesn't is Ciera Pritchard, who realizes any improvement which helps the overall defensive goals is a worthy skill to receive attention. On the season, she has 15 aces compared to just eight errors, and in her past three matches, she has nine aces and no errors.
Â
Kohan said the team goal is a .75 ace-to-error ration, with 1-to-1 elite; right now, the Rams are 1.1-to-1 and are averaging a pair of aces per set.
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"I always grew up in programs where serving and passing were the biggest part of the game, and that was their hugest emphasis," she said. "In college, you get bigger girls, but it's still a pivotal part of the game. You can't play if you can't serve. It's definitely a pivotal point in keeping our opponent's attack percentage lower, because we're able to get them out of system more with our tough serving.
Â
"Any little things we can do … If we can all play just a little bit better in every area, then we'll be set."
Â
The Rams' setter is encouraged by the gains she's seen, especially from the blockers. There's some pressure there to live up the past, with the past 15 years filled with middles who averaged better than a block per set -- often two per season. It's a very high bar.
Â
In the recent run of wins, the Rams have had at least eight blocks per match, matching a season best with 12 in the win over UAB.
Â
"It was something we took for granted a little bit," Pritchard said. "Having to work on it over time, it's been a huge focus in every practice. We're seeing the benefits of working on it every day.
Â
"I think we've all made really great strides, especially in blocking. We've gotten a lot more stuff blocks instead of blocks we're just able to cover. Our middles have done a really good job of pressing into certain seams and getting those cross-court shots with their inside hand a lot better. I feel like I've really improved on my blocking. That was a big focus for me to work on over the summer. I think overall everyone has come full circle a little bit in working toward that."
Â
Believe it, Pritchard is watching intently. No one appreciates a strong overall defense more than a setter. A strong block makes it easier to read hitting lanes and dig up attacks, which leads to better passes. It leads to a setter hanging out at the net and waiting for that pass, allowing her distribute passes with mystery to the other side of the net.
Â
Cleaning up each aspect will get them closer, but never all the way there. That, Roumeliotis said, is the beauty of the sport. Get as close as you can.
Â
"I think that's the great thing about volleyball is it's based on mistakes. No one can get a point if no one makes a mistake," she said. "You're never perfect, and you're never going to be perfect. There's always the next level you can get to. Maybe it's digging everything in your range, or reaching out and getting things out of your range. It's a game of mistakes, and you're never going to be perfect."
Â
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Colorado State's volleyball team ranks third in the Mountain West in digs per set (averaging 14.11), but ninth in both blocking (1.67 per) and opponent hitting percentage (.239). The dig totals are especially impressive considering the other two.
Â
What is encouraging is the improvement associate head coach Emily Kohan has seen from the first match of the season through the current four-match winning streak the Rams will carry into the Golden Spike weekend, a home-and-home matchup with unbeaten Colorado (7-0); Thursday's match will be in Boulder (7 p.m.), Saturday's at Moby Arena (1 p.m.).
Â
"I think our back row players are doing a great job. They're experienced," Kohan said. "We have a lot of playing time on our team in the back row, so I think they've shouldered a lot of our defensive efficiency, because our front-row blockers are pretty young. As Karina Leber, Kennedy Stanford and Alyssa Groves and those guys gain experience, I think our blocks per set will help our defense even more."
Â
Up front, it's body mechanics with footwork and quick hands, but also being able to read the game better. That comes with experience, which comes from match play. Specific blocking drills in practice help aid the development, but match play remains the best teacher.
Â
As the front row grows in prowess – and they were better as the Rams won three matches over the weekend – the back row continues to deliver. Having Alexa Roumeliotis as the anchor – and the All-Mountain West libero was the defensive player of the week after 58 digs in the three victories – is a comforting place to start.
Â
Even better is having experience around her in Alyssa Bert and Brooke Hudson, and the continued contributions for Helena Perez and Ruby Kayser. Getting better up front helps them be more effective.
Â
"The biggest defensive change has been our blocking. We're just getting better touches, being in our right positions at the right time, and it's easier to play defense around a set block," Roumeliotis said. "I think that's been the most crucial change that we've made.
Â
"If you have a fractured block, it's harder to be set and play defense, but I still think our back row is doing a pretty good job of getting some touches on balls. As the blocking improves, we've really improved being able to read around a block and set our defense a little more solid."
Â
That's what she worked on all summer. She's always has the reputation as a good passing libero, and while her defense was solid, she aimed to make it better. She spent the summer trying to get to more balls via two paths – being quicker on her feet and faster with her reads.
Â
What Kohan feels people overlook is the serving component to playing defense. A strong, aggressive approach at the service line gets teams out of system offensively, also making it easier to set up a defense and get easier balls to dig.
Â
Who doesn't is Ciera Pritchard, who realizes any improvement which helps the overall defensive goals is a worthy skill to receive attention. On the season, she has 15 aces compared to just eight errors, and in her past three matches, she has nine aces and no errors.
Â
Kohan said the team goal is a .75 ace-to-error ration, with 1-to-1 elite; right now, the Rams are 1.1-to-1 and are averaging a pair of aces per set.
Â
"I always grew up in programs where serving and passing were the biggest part of the game, and that was their hugest emphasis," she said. "In college, you get bigger girls, but it's still a pivotal part of the game. You can't play if you can't serve. It's definitely a pivotal point in keeping our opponent's attack percentage lower, because we're able to get them out of system more with our tough serving.
Â
"Any little things we can do … If we can all play just a little bit better in every area, then we'll be set."
Â
The Rams' setter is encouraged by the gains she's seen, especially from the blockers. There's some pressure there to live up the past, with the past 15 years filled with middles who averaged better than a block per set -- often two per season. It's a very high bar.
Â
In the recent run of wins, the Rams have had at least eight blocks per match, matching a season best with 12 in the win over UAB.
Â
"It was something we took for granted a little bit," Pritchard said. "Having to work on it over time, it's been a huge focus in every practice. We're seeing the benefits of working on it every day.
Â
"I think we've all made really great strides, especially in blocking. We've gotten a lot more stuff blocks instead of blocks we're just able to cover. Our middles have done a really good job of pressing into certain seams and getting those cross-court shots with their inside hand a lot better. I feel like I've really improved on my blocking. That was a big focus for me to work on over the summer. I think overall everyone has come full circle a little bit in working toward that."
Â
Believe it, Pritchard is watching intently. No one appreciates a strong overall defense more than a setter. A strong block makes it easier to read hitting lanes and dig up attacks, which leads to better passes. It leads to a setter hanging out at the net and waiting for that pass, allowing her distribute passes with mystery to the other side of the net.
Â
Cleaning up each aspect will get them closer, but never all the way there. That, Roumeliotis said, is the beauty of the sport. Get as close as you can.
Â
"I think that's the great thing about volleyball is it's based on mistakes. No one can get a point if no one makes a mistake," she said. "You're never perfect, and you're never going to be perfect. There's always the next level you can get to. Maybe it's digging everything in your range, or reaching out and getting things out of your range. It's a game of mistakes, and you're never going to be perfect."
Â
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
DS
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH
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