Stephanie Keller, a senior member of women's volleyball team, was stuck in a hole her freshman season at Ball State University.
As a 5-8 defensive specialist, Keller was limited to playing in the back row, so she was in for three rotations and then out for three rotations .
"If you can picture what a caged tiger looks like, that's Steph when she was not on the court," head coach Rany Litchfield said. "Those three rotations just killed her."
The next season, however, the NCAA created the libero position and Keller was free to dig away. The libero may enter the game for any back row player, but cannot block, attempt to block or attack the ball if it is completely above the net.
In previous years, a libero was not allowed to serve, but the NCAA implemented a new rule this season that will allow libero's to serve during one designated rotation, thus giving Keller even more time out on the court.
"That's were Steph thrives," Litchfield said. "She's out there having a huge impact on us all the time now, and that helps her find her constant rhythm throughout a match."
The constant rhythm allowed Keller to set nine Ball State records last season. The biggest of those was her 758 digs in a season, a mark that was top in the Mid-American Conference and No. 2 in the nation.
With the player who was above her last season gone to graduation, Keller's trench to the top should be open this year.
Her job might be a little easier too. Last season the Cardinals struggled in the front court with blocking, but this season 6-3 transfer Rachel Refenes along with other Cardinals who were injured last season are expected to improve the front court.
"It gets a lot easier to play back court defense when your front line of defense is good; ours was not, we were to small," Litchfield said. "Yet, Steph kept us in matches and won some matches for us with her effort in the backcourt."
Keller became the first Cardinal to record over 40 digs in a match when she had 46 against Eastern Michigan last season. She also has 12 of the top 20 totals for digs in a match among Ball State players.
Keller also helped contribute to the team's 2,455 digs last season, which was third in the MAC, sixth in the NCAA and most in BSU history.
"In volleyball, we don't win matches from the backcourt; it's become a real net-oriented game, and we just found ourselves in 2003 with a poor blocking team because of our lack of size," Litchfield said. "We were just hoping that Steph Keller would win for us, and she did a lot of times, but you can't rely on that."
This season, with better depth, the Cardinals improved front court play will help Keller with her defense.
"Steph will be a much better player as we get better in the front court," Litchfield said. "Then I think we can do a lot better things with Steph."
While she does want to be the top libero in the country and wouldn't mind breaking some of her own records, Keller said, she's more focused on the team.
"Being a senior, there are way more important things on my mind then how many digs can I get in this match," Keller said. "Really that's never been important to me, I just want to go out and play well, and if I can't pass or I can't dig, most likely we're not going to do very well."
Keller and fellow senior Stacie Baldwin will look to lead the team that wants to win the MAC and go far in the NCAA Tournament.
"I think I have a lot of responsibilities in terms of leadership and kind of lighting the fire under peoples pants," Keller said. "One thing for me is I'm huge on work ethic and just being tough and so for me I'm kind of the player that I get on people but I try to be really an encourager."
Litchfield described Keller as the locker room personality on the team.
"There's times that I'm not needed at a team meeting our in the locker room or in a huddle," Litchfield said. "Steph is the one that can take over, and she's so well respected that it's a great system."
That system along with Keller's defense should help the Cardinals reach their 2004 goals after a disappointing 2004 season. For Keller, it's her last chance to leave a divot in Ball State history.
"I'm just ready to play; I love competing," Keller said. "This is my last year of real competition; recreational volleyball just isn't the same." 2=N-»"-¦KellerSports1 2SORT+â-ä2AUDT
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