Transitioning to a new position on the volleyball court is never easy, especially for a three-year starter.
But Addison Saunders is making the move from right side hitter to setter this fall for the Joplin High School volleyball team.
With that, the 5-foot-9 Saunders is going from attacking and blocking at the net to setting up her teammates.
“I think it’s pretty hard to do,” Joplin coach Staci Saunders said of the position change. “You don’t see a change like that happen much. Addison did set with her club team this offseason to get ready. She’s worked really hard all summer and she’s a student of the game.”
The setter position is a demanding one.
The setter must be able to see the game develop like a quarterback. Constantly hustling all over the court, the setter must communicate well with teammates and must be able to put the team’s attackers in position to have success at the net.
“Addison is still learning the position, but there’s something that beats in her chest…she’s just a winner,” Coach Saunders said. “She plays hard and she plays to win. She’s a leader and she’s fun to coach.”
Addison Saunders is taking over the setter position after her older sister and multi-year starter, Mari Katheryn Saunders, graduated.
“I think Addison has kind of been in her sister’s shadow, so it’s been fun to see her blossom,” Coach Saunders said, adding that Addison will at times see some playing time at right side hitter when Baileigh Riley plays setter. “She’s taking over a leadership role and she just gets the job done.”
Addison Saunders got her first taste of playing setter against an opponent when the Eagles attended Carthage’s jamboree on Tuesday night.
By her play on the court, it was hard to tell she’s relatively new to the setter position.
“It’s been a pretty smooth transition,” Addison Saunders said. “There have been some bumps in the road. There are some things I can work on, but I think it’s gone pretty well. The setter is definitely the leader of the team and I definitely want to lead this team.”
Joplin opens the season on Sept. 1 at Rogers-Heritage.
And when the Eagles take the court, a member of the Saunders family will once again be starting at the crucial setter position.
“We’re going to practice hard, play hard and give everything we’ve got this year,” Addison said.
JAMBOREE SUCCESS
The Eagles swept three scrimmages at Tuesday’s jamboree, going 2-0 against Nevada, Aurora and Carthage.
Host Carthage also earned wins over Nevada (25-23, 25-14) and Aurora (25-17, 25-16) before taking on Joplin.
In the finale, the Eagles won the opening set 25-16 before rallying for a 30-28 come-from-behind victory in the second set.
“I’m very proud of our girls,” Coach Saunders said. “We rose to the occasion at the end. They just kept fighting. We served tough. In all three games, whoever had the better serve-receive won.”
Coach Saunders noted the three wins should be a confidence boost for her squad.
“I feel like we’re going to sneak up on some people,” she said. “Everybody knows their job on this team. They know it takes every one of them for us to be successful. Tonight was a perfect example of that.”
