Outside hitter Ellen Herman is a significant aspect of her team's offensive attack. But through six games this season, the supporting cast has given her more than enough help.
Five Bobcats turned in hitting percentages of .300 or better in the team's first match of the season against South Dakota. Herman tallied 12 kills on the night. Setter Michelle Jantsch went 5-of-6 on kill attempts and also added 32 assists in the three-set sweep.
Jantsch was a highly regarded, versatile setter out of high school in Kansas. Now in her third season with the Bobcats, she is becoming a key part of the team's offense.
It is terrific for us that Michelle is versatile and can do different things
coach Ryan Theis said.
She is doing a really nice job this year of being offensive and putting hitters in good positions to take swings.
In the Bobcats' five-set loss to Northern Iowa last Friday, Theis said the Panthers swarmed Jantsch and limited her effectiveness. The next two matches against Georgia Tech and Middle Tennessee, he said, were
a different story.
She didn't have many attacks against Northern Iowa because they were basically all over it Theis said.
When we found opponents with openings she scored over and over. We hit over .500 for the match against Middle Tennessee State and over .300 throughout a lot of the match against Georgia Tech.
She is doing a real nice job for our offense, and that helps us a lot.
The sets and passes have contributed to the Bobcats' efficient hits in the majority of their matches.
Throughout most of their match against Middle Tennessee State last weekend
the Bobcats controlled the offensive pace and gave the Blue Raiders few scoring chances.
Our sets and passes against (Middle Tennessee) were elite, Theis said. Almost every time we served, we won the point.
During his first spring season a year ago
Theis focused on the blocking and defensive aspects of the game
which got markedly better in his first season at the helm.
Middle blockers Jane Sytsma and Meghan Simons have fueled the blocking effort through the first six games
and the seniors
along with Jantsch
were named to the All-Tournament team at the Blue Raider Bash last weekend.
Our defense has played really well at times, Theis said. I think right now our offense is a little ahead of our defense.
Theis pointed out the play of sophomore Katie Post
who missed time last year due to injury. At 6 foot 3
her size has allowed her to limit the opposition's offensive chances.
As a right-side, 6-foot-3 blocker, she's slowing down a lot of outside hitters, Theis said. No outside hitter had a good offensive weekend against her.
,",2,Sports,Rob Mixer,28933a.jpg,Kyle Grantham | FILE PHOTO
