 "Photo: Kris Wilson")
When April Quigley started playing volleyball, she was primarily a hitter, pounding down spikes and receiving all the glamour. In high school, the Syracuse redshirt junior was forced to take on greater responsibility, which included spending part of her time as a setter. But when the 5-foot-11 Quigley played club volleyball, she was advised to make a permanent move away from her starting position.
"Once I started playing club, they realized that I had better potential to play as a setter for college because of my height and my hands," Quigley said.
The move paid off. As the Orange looks poised to improve on a disappointing 2006, it's the unheralded Quigley who may very well be the key to SU's early season success. Quigley led the women's volleyball team in assists last year and leads them in assists again so far this season with 374.
The Orange travels to Binghamton tonight for a 7 p.m. matchup. Syracuse (7-4) has won its last four matches, including the Big Orange Tournament this past weekend.
After redshirting in 2004, Quigley saw minimum time in 2005, only playing in 13 matches and adding 153 assists. But 2006 was a breakout year for the Warwick, N.Y., native. Quigley tallied 1,262 assists in 35 matches, good enough for sixth-best in school history.
This season, Quigley has been off to a torrid start, averaging 10.69 assists per game and accounting for 66.9 percent of SU's assists.
Quigley's performance as a setter has been key to the Orange's success. Quigley compared her role on the team to that of a quarterback in football, referring to the leadership involved in the position and the pressure the position brings.
"You're out there for the whole game," Quigley said. "You call the plays. But there is also a lot of pressure because if you're not setting the ball where the hitter needs to be set or you're not calling the right plays or setting the right position, it's on your back. It's kind of like quarterback. You have to have the same mentality as a quarterback."
Despite the pressure, Quigley has gotten the job done for SU so far this season, leading the team in assists in nine of the 11 games the Orange has played. Her teammates have taken notice.
"Setter's the only person on the court that touches the ball every time," senior defensive specialist Joscie Kaup said. "She's the most important person on the team. Obviously we have to have the passes and have the hits. Her consistency means so much to our hitters and the amount of kills they can get. The more consistent our setters are, the better our hitters can be, too. It works all together."
Fellow setter Samantha Ainsworth complimented Quigley's communication with the team, saying the junior lets the team know what she wants. Ainsworth added the communication includes knowing what to say to the different players and forming a connection with them.
Although the setter seems to have a positive correlation with the hitters, SU assistant coach Carol LaMarche said the role of the setter (or quarterback as she too called it) is vital to the whole team, not just the hitters.
"Your team is as good as your setter," LaMarche said. "The better your setter is, the better your team will be."
LaMarche also said that Quigley has been working hard to get her speed up, and the team has come to see her as a leader.
Being a leader on the court, though, is something Quigley enjoys.
"I like the leadership of it," Quigley said. "I try to push the players as much as I can. It's my job to get them up and get their head into the game. I do enjoy that role of being captain on the court and making those decisions out there."
Although the hitters may get the attention from the crowd, to Quigley, the former hitter finds a way to get satisfaction from the same kills she could be doing.
"Even though you don't get the satisfaction of a hitter who gets the actual kill," Quigley said, "it's like you're the one who sets it up for them, and you make the play happen."
Be the first to comment on this article!