Playing setter for a top-notch NCAA volleyball team is no small
task. The role of setter, played by freshman Nellie Spicer this
season, is the bridge between the defense and the offense and is
largely responsible for the fate of the team in any given match.
“The setter is absolutely essential to a smooth running of
our offense,” coach Andy Banachowski said. “She’s
supposed to touch the ball every time it’s on our side of the
net. She’s responsible for making good decisions and trying
to get hitters into one-on-one situations.” “The setter
runs the game,” junior middle blocker Nana Meriwether said.
“When she’s doing well, the whole game’s going
well.” This season, the Bruins have counted on Spicer to fill
the burden at setter that was left when senior Krystal McFarland
graduated last year. By statistical indications, Spicer has played
the position more than capably. As the only regular freshman setter
in the Pac-10, Spicer currently ranks fourth in the conference in
assists per game and is the only freshman to crack the top 10 in
that statistic. Spicer, who assisted 46 of the 90 points UCLA put
up in its win against Washington State last weekend, recognizes the
importance of her role and has been working hard to correct the
same flaws all season. “I’ve always been told that, win
or lose, it’s always the setter’s fault,” Spicer
said. “(Banachowski) has been on me since the beginning of
the year about keeping my hands high and not drifting when I set,
and I’ve improved since I’ve been here.” Having
already faced tough attacking teams, most recently the No. 2
Washington Huskies last week, Spicer realizes how much more
difficult her job becomes when going up against high-powered
offensive teams. “I have to look at the block a lot more
carefully and read it every time I touch the ball,” Spicer
said. If No. 8 Arizona’s Friday night upset over No. 5
Stanford is any indication, Spicer may have her hands full this
Friday.
ARIZONA WOES: UCLA has been victorious only
once in its last seven matches with Arizona, the last victory
dating back to 2001. Banachowski offered his thoughts as to why the
Bruins have struggled so much against the Wildcats recently.
“They’re a big team,” he said.
“They’ve served us tough, and they’ve been able
to get their block working against us. Our success against them has
come when we’ve been able to get them out of rhythm, so that
will be our goal when we face them this time.”
STATISTICS LESSON: There are an abundance of
statistics in volleyball, but according to Banachowski, there are
two main things he looks at to analyze how his team performed after
a game. “It really boils down to serving and passing. If you
have a positive ace to error ratio and you don’t have a lot
of reception errors, chances are you’re having a good
game,” Banachowski said.