Defensive Leader
September 13, 2010 02:35 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Just days after the West Virginia University football team traveled to Huntington, W.Va., for a thrilling overtime victory over Marshall in the Friends of Coal Bowl, the in-state rivals are set to meet again – this time on the volleyball court.
In a series that spans 35 years and 42 matches, the Mountaineers are currently 25-17 in the all-time series record. However, over the last few years it has been the Herd that has dominated, winning every match since 2001.
This season, the match comes to Morgantown for the first time in several years, as the two teams meet up on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum. With a new atmosphere, a new coach and a hunger for a win, the Mountaineers are prepared for the Herd.
Despite the outcome of the matches in seasons before, one thing is for sure this year – senior captain and libero Bonnie West and her team are ready to battle.
A staple of the Mountaineer defense for four seasons, West has started every set (364) and has amassed well over 1,000 career digs.
Most recently, West reached a milestone in her career as she passed Aurora Ebert-Santos for the No. 2 spot on WVU’s all-time digs list with 1, 558 digs, after posting 12 against Wake Forest on Sept. 10. She is now only 42 digs behind Michelle Domas (1,630) for the No. 1 spot. For the Wildomar, Calif., native, the accomplishment is something that will last forever.
“I didn’t know that I had reached it at first,” West said. “I am really excited, and for me that just means that I will always have a little bit of WVU history with me, until the next person comes and passes me. Hopefully, it will stick for me for a while. I am honored, too, because the girls before me were great and that is a huge accomplishment.”
For those who are not familiar with the sport of volleyball, the libero is a fairly new position. Meaning 'free' in Italian, the NCAA introduced the position in 2002.
The libero is a player specialized in defensive skills who must wear a contrasting jersey color from her teammates. She cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player, without prior notice to the officials. Her replacements also do not count against the substitution limit the team is allowed per set, although NCAA rules only allow the libero to be replaced by the player whom she replaced.
The libero may function as a setter only under certain restrictions. If she makes an overhand set, she must be standing behind (and not stepping on) the 3-meter line; otherwise, the ball cannot be attacked above the net in front of the 3-meter line. She is allowed to underhand pass from any part of the court. You will also notice that the libero will be able to serve for one person during each game.
Luckily, WVU has one of the most talented and technically sound liberos in the country in West. However, even though now she could not be happier in her position, four years ago West cringed at the thought of traveling across the country to play volleyball in a state and school she had no idea about – it was her mom who had other plans.
“I was looking at a bunch of schools and WVU was the one school that was the farthest away,” West admitted. “I didn’t want to come at all. I didn’t even want to come on the recruiting trip, but my mom bought a ticket for me without me knowing.
“I think I cried on the plane and told my parents that if they offered me a spot, I wouldn’t come because I didn’t know anything about the state or WVU.”
Thankfully, things changed for West in the first few days she spent in Morgantown. As most do, she fell in love with the city and the University with in just one trip.
“After I got here I noticed how everyone was so welcoming and I liked how the state didn’t have a sports team so everything revolved around WVU. That is great,” West added. “I changed my mind that weekend and committed the next week.”
Then the only player from California, West has done her part in convincing a few of her friends to join the squad, as now eight players on the WVU roster hail from the “Golden State.”
West first talked to junior outside hitter Kylie Armbruster, who she played at the same club with throughout her high school career, only lives 15 minutes away from her home. West also knew senior Lauren Evans, one of her best friends from California, who also did not know anything about the university or state, but made the decision to transfer from Concordia-Irvine last season.
This season, the roster boasts another close friend of West’s in transfer Serinna Russo, who she has played volleyball with since the age of 12 and who also came from Concordia-Irvine.
With a collection of close friends and a newly formed WVU family, West contributes the team’s success this season to the bond that they have created over the years.
“Our chemistry on the court is undeniable,” West said. “You can tell that we trust each other. Even with the girls I have just played with in college like Kari Post and Michelle Kopecky, we all trust very well and know what roles each of us play.
“We have grown a lot. As a team in general and as individuals we have grown. I know I have grown up a lot since my freshman year. Being so far away from home you kind of have to. With all of the girls on the team, we grew up together. It has only been four years, but it feels like we have known and been playing with each other forever.”
Already 7-3 this season, the Mountaineers are looking to use the energy and close bond to work their way to a BIG EAST tournament appearance. However, to get there, they must work through matches one-by-one, with Marshall up next.
The match has been designated “Dollar Night” with all hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for purchase for just one dollar. Admission is free.
In a series that spans 35 years and 42 matches, the Mountaineers are currently 25-17 in the all-time series record. However, over the last few years it has been the Herd that has dominated, winning every match since 2001.
This season, the match comes to Morgantown for the first time in several years, as the two teams meet up on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum. With a new atmosphere, a new coach and a hunger for a win, the Mountaineers are prepared for the Herd.
Despite the outcome of the matches in seasons before, one thing is for sure this year – senior captain and libero Bonnie West and her team are ready to battle.
A staple of the Mountaineer defense for four seasons, West has started every set (364) and has amassed well over 1,000 career digs.
Most recently, West reached a milestone in her career as she passed Aurora Ebert-Santos for the No. 2 spot on WVU’s all-time digs list with 1, 558 digs, after posting 12 against Wake Forest on Sept. 10. She is now only 42 digs behind Michelle Domas (1,630) for the No. 1 spot. For the Wildomar, Calif., native, the accomplishment is something that will last forever.
“I didn’t know that I had reached it at first,” West said. “I am really excited, and for me that just means that I will always have a little bit of WVU history with me, until the next person comes and passes me. Hopefully, it will stick for me for a while. I am honored, too, because the girls before me were great and that is a huge accomplishment.”
For those who are not familiar with the sport of volleyball, the libero is a fairly new position. Meaning 'free' in Italian, the NCAA introduced the position in 2002.
The libero is a player specialized in defensive skills who must wear a contrasting jersey color from her teammates. She cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player, without prior notice to the officials. Her replacements also do not count against the substitution limit the team is allowed per set, although NCAA rules only allow the libero to be replaced by the player whom she replaced.
The libero may function as a setter only under certain restrictions. If she makes an overhand set, she must be standing behind (and not stepping on) the 3-meter line; otherwise, the ball cannot be attacked above the net in front of the 3-meter line. She is allowed to underhand pass from any part of the court. You will also notice that the libero will be able to serve for one person during each game.
Luckily, WVU has one of the most talented and technically sound liberos in the country in West. However, even though now she could not be happier in her position, four years ago West cringed at the thought of traveling across the country to play volleyball in a state and school she had no idea about – it was her mom who had other plans.
“I was looking at a bunch of schools and WVU was the one school that was the farthest away,” West admitted. “I didn’t want to come at all. I didn’t even want to come on the recruiting trip, but my mom bought a ticket for me without me knowing.
“I think I cried on the plane and told my parents that if they offered me a spot, I wouldn’t come because I didn’t know anything about the state or WVU.”
Thankfully, things changed for West in the first few days she spent in Morgantown. As most do, she fell in love with the city and the University with in just one trip.
“After I got here I noticed how everyone was so welcoming and I liked how the state didn’t have a sports team so everything revolved around WVU. That is great,” West added. “I changed my mind that weekend and committed the next week.”
Then the only player from California, West has done her part in convincing a few of her friends to join the squad, as now eight players on the WVU roster hail from the “Golden State.”
West first talked to junior outside hitter Kylie Armbruster, who she played at the same club with throughout her high school career, only lives 15 minutes away from her home. West also knew senior Lauren Evans, one of her best friends from California, who also did not know anything about the university or state, but made the decision to transfer from Concordia-Irvine last season.
This season, the roster boasts another close friend of West’s in transfer Serinna Russo, who she has played volleyball with since the age of 12 and who also came from Concordia-Irvine.
With a collection of close friends and a newly formed WVU family, West contributes the team’s success this season to the bond that they have created over the years.
“Our chemistry on the court is undeniable,” West said. “You can tell that we trust each other. Even with the girls I have just played with in college like Kari Post and Michelle Kopecky, we all trust very well and know what roles each of us play.
“We have grown a lot. As a team in general and as individuals we have grown. I know I have grown up a lot since my freshman year. Being so far away from home you kind of have to. With all of the girls on the team, we grew up together. It has only been four years, but it feels like we have known and been playing with each other forever.”
Already 7-3 this season, the Mountaineers are looking to use the energy and close bond to work their way to a BIG EAST tournament appearance. However, to get there, they must work through matches one-by-one, with Marshall up next.
The match has been designated “Dollar Night” with all hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for purchase for just one dollar. Admission is free.
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