It really isn’t surprising when a team’s starting outside hitters are two of its top-three kill producers. In fact, it’s expected.
But when those same two players also rank in the top three in aces, digs and service receptions, it can be a shocking indicator of just how great a role they play in the squad’s success.
For No. 4 Florida, those players are Kristy Jaeckel and Callie Rivers, who have played major parts in each of UF’s five opening wins.
“(Rivers and Jaeckel) do so much more for us besides just attacking,” coach Mary Wise said. “They anchor the serve receive, they are a big part of our blocking scheme, they play back-row defense ... we ask so much of those two.”
Outside hitters are invariably called upon to carry the brunt of a team’s offensive load, and Rivers and Jaeckel are no different.
To this point in the young season, the duo ranks first and second on the team in total attacks, with Jaeckel leading at 129 and Rivers checking in right behind at 111.
But even when attacks and kills aren’t coming with their normal consistency, Jaeckel and Rivers have proven they are still valuable assets.
In Saturday’s match against Colorado State, the outside hitters combined for a .001 hitting percentage but teamed up for 27 digs and 2.5 blocks.
“When the hitting is not there, we’re still going to do everything that we can to contribute to the team’s success,” Jaeckel said. “We’re going to have off matches and we know that, and even though it’s not ideal, it’s going to happen. The encouraging thing is how well our team still played even with us not playing our “A” game.”
Despite enduring a poor offensive performance, the pair of upperclassmen have yet to disappoint defensively.
Rivers and Jaeckel currently rank in the team’s top three in both service receptions and digs, trailing only libero Erin Fleming in each category.
The outside hitters are typically targeted by the other team’s servers, as the tall attackers are expected to struggle defensively.
“You have to know every single match that every [ball] is going to come after you,” Jaeckel said. “You just have to embrace it.”
And embrace it they have, as Rivers (.961) and Jaeckel (.951) check in just behind Fleming (.966) in reception percentage.
Rivers and Jaeckel have also performed admirably on the opposite side of the service equation. Rivers leads the team with nine aces, and Jaeckel currently ranks third with five.
Those figures are just one product of the Gators’ aggressive serving scheme, which is designed to pick up uncontested points and keep the opposition’s offense in check.
“Serving aggressively is a huge asset of ours,” Rivers said. “Especially against really big and powerful teams. You have to serve hard or else they’re going to have four attack options and be really hard to defend.”
Because a strong service game can keep an offense from establishing a flow and getting into rhythm, Florida knows sharp serves will be more important than ever this Friday, when it takes on No. 1 Penn State.
“Serving hard against anyone is going to help,” Rivers said, “but of course serving hard against a team that has three All-American hitters in the front row is going to be a huge key for us.”
