Position Preview: Setters
8/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 23, 2009
Check back all week for position-by-position previews. Look for the preview of Baylor's outside hitters on Monday.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Baylor offense will be in the experienced hands of senior setter Taylor Barnes. A 2008 All-Big 12 first teamer, Barnes has been piling up the assists for the Bears the last three seasons, establishing herself as one of the best setters in program history. The Arlington, Texas, native ranks second all-time in assists per set with 11.20, and fourth with 3,932 career assists.
In addition to running the attack, another dimension to Barnes' game has made a huge impact for Baylor: serving. A left-hander, Barnes has the ability to take over matches from behind the serving line. Her ability to hit a hard, top-spin ball from the left side led to a league-leading 0.43 service aces per set in 2008. Barnes enters the season ranked second all-time at Baylor with 158 career aces, just 24 behind the school record.
"Taylor has had the best spring and summer of her life," head coach Jim Barnes said. "She became very committed to be in the best shape that she could possibly be in, work as hard as she could work. She has always had the talent, now she is determined to make this team go to another level. Taylor can really take over a game [serving]. She brings a lot of things to the table, but the biggest thing out of all those attributes is that we want her to lead this team."
Taylor Barnes also has an extremely capable backup in sophomore Brittany Ridenour. With Barnes handling all of the duties at setter in 2008, Ridenour put her versatility on display in Baylor's back row. The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native saw action in 27 matches, tallying 160 digs, the fourth-most on the team. Ridenour will be able to push Barnes on the practice court, while providing her with rests throughout the season.
"Brittany has developed quite a bit," Jim Barnes said. "She is that player that is probably the fiercest competitor out there. She helps our team in the gym to compete at another level. I don't think anybody could out-compete her. That is really exciting when you look at a second setter who is competing across the net every day in practice."
