She is everywhere: at the net, in the air, on the floor, with her twin braids floating behind her wherever she goes. She is Sarah Obras. She is a freshman, and she is good.
Really good.
Don't tell her that though. Obras is just enjoying playing.
"I don't really know what I can do right now because of my age, so I just go out there and try to show that I'm having fun," Obras said.
The numbers do not lie, though.
The 5-foot-10-inch outside attacker leads the Ball State women's volleyball team in kills and kills per game, is second in solo blocks and digs and has already been named to two all-tourney teams.
All the big stats and recognition have made a strong impression on head coach Randy Litchfield, who admits he was not sold on Obras, 18, when the Cardinals began recruiting her while she was in high school.
"She made gigantic leap in her game the summer before her senior year," he said. "That's when we noticed that we had a player on our hands."
According to Litchfield, Obras is far from reaching her peak.
"Sometimes that light bulb clicks on and they plateau for a while," Litchfield said. "Sarah's still climbing. She just continues to get better. It is obvious to me that her goal was not to get a college volleyball scholarship. It is to be a great college volleyball player."
Obras is not satisfied to rest on her early success.
"I'm hoping to go up," she said. "I started off real well and that kind of makes me nervous in a sense. But I know that if I go out there and don't worry about it, hopefully I'll learn more and get better."
Litchfield is already convinced that Obras' focus will allow her to take her game to any level she chooses.
"Her mind will never get in her way," said Litchfield.
That focus and determination has rubbed off on other Cardinals in practice, according to Litchfield.
"I think she's impacted this team the most just by her behavior and the way she conducts herself in practice," Litchfield said. "Sarah just has a real strong focus. When a team sees a freshman can operate like that, they know that they can too."
Obras, who is studying physical science and business, is more than willing to help out the team. Being a team player has been one of the most important aspects of volleyball to Obras since she started playing in seventh grade.
"I feel like I have to have a good relationship with my teammates," she said. "We get along so well, and we're able to be best friends on and off the court. With my high school team, I had it. And with club teams, I've had it, but in college it is more. It is huge here."
On the court, Obras tries to nurture that relationship with her teammates through her visible display of fire on the floor.
"I just try to get everyone else into the game," she said. "My energy level has to be what I try to make my best attribute."
Litchfield is willing to show the same type of commitment to Obras that she has been showing to her team so far early in her career.
"If we keep the right system, which will be speed related, the sky's the limit," Litchfield said. "She's an All-American type player. "
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