https://ucasports.com/news/2019/6/30/sugar-bear-volleyball-position-preview-setters.aspxSUGAR BEAR VOLLEYBALL POSITION PREVIEW: SETTERS
COMING BACK
The Sugar Bears welcome back an
experienced setters duo in senior Elizabeth Armstrong and junior Bailey Waddington that combined for 1,361 assists while splitting time in 2018.
Armstrong, the 2017 Southland Conference Tournament MVP and an All-Southland selection, battled injuries last season – missing 8 matches in all and was limited to appearing in just 70 percent of the team's sets – but still managed 644 assists in 25 matches with a team-best 7.58 assists per set. Entering her final season, Armstrong – who owns two of the top 15 seasons in program history in assists – will look to climb the UCA record book as she currently sits 3rd in program history in assists per set, averaging 9.32 over her career, and is 4th in total assists with 2,937.
In Armstrong's absence last season, the Sugar Bears found a highly reliable and effective complement in Waddington, who led the team with 717 assists while playing in 97 sets – good for an average of 7.39 per set, including 9.62 per set in Southland Conference matches which ranked 4th in the league. Waddington, who would go on to be named Southland All-Academic after the season, tied for 2nd on the team with 24 service aces and is the team's returning leader in that area.
NEW TO THE CREW
Anna Williams will look to grow under Waddington and Armstrong as a freshman in 2019. Williams played her high school ball at West Side Christian School and graduated with an impressive list of accolades. She was named WSCS Offensive MVP in every season, was a three-time AASC All-State and All-State Tournament selection and ended her high school career by being named the AASC Player of the Year.
Williams will be joined by 5-foot-8 setter
Jada Oldham from Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City, Missouri. Oldham excelled as a setter in high school as she started for the 2017 Class 3 State Championship team and led her squad to a state quarterfinal appearance in 2018.
SPEAKING OUT LOUD (QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JENI JONES CHATMAN)
Elizabeth Armstrong
"EB had a solid spring training and will be a consistent part of our program this fall," said Chatman. "She is healthy and ready to have the best senior season possible. She is a player that fights to make things happen and is one of the most competitive players in our program. With both Bay and EB, our team is literally in great hands."
Bailey Waddington
"Bay is coming off a strong fall and spring," Chatman said. "She has done a great job from her freshman year to grow and evolve as a player in numerous areas. She has always been a very skilled setter but she has done a great job developing a bond with her teammates to create a solid team chemistry."
Anna Williams
"Anna will have two great mentors to learn from and train with in EB and Bailey," Chatman said. "She has a very bright future as a setter and attacker. We know she will take full advantage of this time to better her skills, gain strength, foot speed and agility."
Jada Oldham
"Jada comes to us with a lot of volleyball experience," Chatman said. "She is definitely a kid who has spent a lot of time in the gym. We are looking forward to the opportunity to train her."
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