BEAUMONT, Texas – With the official start of the 2019 campaign less than two weeks away, LamarCardinals.com is taking time to inspect this season's squad on a position-by-position basis. Today we'll focus on the hitters.

Hitters
Including the outside and right or opposite side hitters, most of the offense's scoring will usually come from these positions. Outside hitters hit and block on the front left side of the court and can be called the left-side hitter. The OH is usually the go-to hitter, and sees a lot of action, both because of her skill at hitting the ball and because the high outside set is the often the safest and easiest choice when the pass is off the net and no other options are available. Opposites or right-side hitters get their name from being opposite the setter in your team's rotation, in the right side on the front and back rows. The opposite can be a backup setter due to their location on the court, and is responsible for blocking the opponent's outside hitter.

"An outside hitter is often our go-to hitter," said assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Haley Eckerman. "Outside hitters are mostly six rotation players, meaning that we have them play both front row and back row. They are asked to not only be productive in the front row but dominant passers in serve receive."
 
Down from last season's eight hitters, this year's team features six hitters including returnees Abigale Nash, Mercedes Danrich, and Nina Pevic, and freshmen Amber Johnson, Kaitlyn Gil, and Trinity Sanders. Nash, Danrich, Johnson, and Gil will mostly see play at outside hitter, and Pevic and Sanders specialize as right side hitters.

Abigale Nash
Nash started 21 of 23 matches she played, missing a few matches due to an injury. She was third on the team in kills per set (1.90), total kills (156), and points (180), and she averaged an ace about every four sets with a .894 serving percentage. She also averaged 2.35 digs a set, second on the team, and had 193 total digs. She had 957 career kills at Sahuaro High School in Tuscon, Ariz., before coming to Lamar.

"Abi is an explosive, energetic, hardworking and fun athlete to watch," said Eckerman. "Although Abi is only a sophomore, she has quickly adjusted to taking on a bigger role on the team. She is our most consistent six rotations player, and is becoming a key vocal leader on and off the court."

Nina Pevic
Pevic started three matches in 2018 but was a very important role player, appearing in 23 matches and playing in 81 sets. She had 114 kills with a .228 attack percentage and averaged 1.41 kills a set. She also recorded 35 total blocks and average .43 blocks a set, and she recorded a perfect serve percentage. The Umag, Croatia, native came to LU from Hutchinson Community College where she led her team to the NJCAA National Championship tournament.

"Nina's international background style of play adds diversity to the gym. She is a versatile player that can play on both pins, and brings energy to the gym every day. Nina has the ability to excite the team in a way that no other player in our gym does," said Eckerman.

Mercedes Danrich
Danrich, a Golden Triangle native, averaged 1.63 kills and about half a block a set last year, contributing 1.89 points a set. She was the team MVP for Beaumont Ozen before joining the Cardinals and was also a two-time All-Gold Division member in women's basketball. She qualified for regionals three times in track and field for Ozen.

"Mercedes is a springy athletic gem from the Beaumont area that has improved from her freshman year and continues to improve the more reps she gets," said Eckerman. "We expect her to play a bigger role for us this season in matches whether it be in kills or in blocks. Mercedes' energy and personality creates a fun and energetic environment."

Kaitlyn Gil
Gil is another local talent, joining Big Red from Port Neches-Groves High School. She led PN-G to an undefeated District 22-5A season in 2017 and consecutive District Championships in 2016 and 2017. She was the Super Gold Girls' Volleyball Player of the Year in 2017 and a member of the 2017 All-State team. She played club ball for Hardin County Juniors.

"Kaitlyn is a local hidden talent from the South East Texas Area," said Eckerman. "She is a versatile six rotation player for us that has good control and puts up a solid block. She will be a go-to player that we can look to in games to put the ball away."

Trinity Sanders
Sanders played her high school ball at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, Texas. She had 468 kills in 196 career sets, averaging 2.39 kills a set with a .221 attack percentage. The 6'1" outside hitter also had 247 career digs, 71 total blocks, and 24 aces in her time at Hendrickson. She played club ball with Max Performance.

"Trinity is one of our quiet players but her athletic ability makes up for it," said Eckerman. "She has set the standard high for herself coming in already joining our 10 foot club (approach jump is above 10 foot) and continues to get better every day. She is coachable and works hard to get better every day."

Amber Johnson
Johnson comes from Cedar Hill High School and was a four-year letterwinner. She played club volleyball for 360 Volleyball Club and was a 2016 All-District Second Team member, a 2017 All-District First Team member and Hitter of the Year, and a 2018 Academic All-District member.

"Amber brings knowledge of volleyball to the gym," said Eckerman. "Even though she is a freshman, she sees the court well and has been a great vocal leader for us. She will be an asset to the team in both serve receive and at the net."

The Cardinal volleyball season begins on Aug. 30 at the GSU Invitational, hosted by Georgia State in Atlanta, Ga. The tournament will feature Fordham, Georgia State, and Western Carolina. The Cards then return home for the Katrinka Crawford Invitational Sept. 6 & 7 featuring Prairie View A&M, South Dakota State, and Louisiana-Monroe.

In Monday's Southland Conference preseason poll the Cardinals were picked to finish 11th, collecting 82 points and trailing New Orleans for 10th place by just six points. Stephen F. Austin, last year's regular season and tournament champion, was picked to win the SLC again with 19 of the possible 26 first-place votes. Central Arkansas, Sam Houston State, Houston Baptist, and A&M-Corpus Christi each received first place votes as well.