Vanderbilt Volleyball played its first game as a program in nearly 45 years on Aug. 23 when it took on No. 14 Kansas at the AVCA First Serve Showcase in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Commodores came out swinging against the Jayhawks, winning the first set (25-19). Kansas, who was at one point down two sets to one, eventually showed why it was a nationally ranked team. The Jayhawks grinded out the fourth set before dominating the fifth to walk away with a win (25-19, 18-25, 26-24, 20-25, 4-15). This showing proved that Vanderbilt could compete with the nation’s best, and now it must turn the page and look to this weekend to get its first win of the season.
Moore involved
Vanderbilt had the most success against Kansas when senior middle Jackie Moore was on the court and scoring points. From the very beginning of the match, the Loyola Marymount transfer showed her experience, getting the program’s first point on a kill. Moore finished the Kansas game with a career-high 17 kills and a .323 hitting percentage, while collecting 4 blocks. In set one, she hit an impressive .333 with five kills while tallying two blocks. While she quieted down in set three, hitting just .167, she still added two kills while assisting in a block. Vanderbilt will certainly look to get Moore involved on both offense and defense to lead the team in its coming matches.
The elements
Vanderbilt’s first home game will be played on Wyatt Lawn, an iconic symbol of the university. This match will undoubtedly be one to remember and a strong symbol of the team’s impact on campus. This also means that there will be a clear unknown: the elements.
First and foremost is the wind. While Friday doesn’t forecast to be overly windy (estimated six miles per hour), it’s a different environment than the Commodores are used to playing inside Memorial Gymnasium. Vanderbilt mostly utilized float serves against Kansas, which will be extremely susceptible to the wind. The next environmental factor in play will be the heat. The feels-like temperature in Nashville at first serve is forecasted to be in the mid-to-high 70’s, and while it certainly could be worse, it could make Vanderbilt’s fast offense tire quicker than usual.
Vanderbilt’s game will not be determined by these smaller elemental factors, and both teams will have to adjust to them. They do, however, present more uncertainty to a tactical game that tries to eliminate unknowns. Vanderbilt must utilize its quick offense to set Belmont back on its heels and get out front from the beginning.
Animashaun offense
One of Vanderbilt’s biggest strengths is its fast and unpredictable offense. The Commodores are far from the biggest team one will find in the SEC, but what they lack in size they make up for in athleticism. This is perfectly encompassed in sophomore Reese Animashaun. She is a small outside, standing at just 5’11, but her presence is dominating for Vanderbilt with a 10’5 touch; she elevates way above the net and taller opponents.
In her first-ever collegiate game against Kansas, Animashaun recorded a double-double, 18 kills and 11 digs, with five assists and four blocks. She attacked and executed from both the front and the back row while also setting for the team, a tall task for a player in her first season in the NCAA. Look for Animashaun to stay an integral part of Vanderbilt’s offense.
Tape study
Vanderbilt had an advantage going into its matchup against Kansas that will be eliminated this week: game tape. There was no existing tape for Kansas to study last week because Vanderbilt had not yet played a game. Now, Vanderbilt has played a game and both Belmont and Illinois have been studying that tape to understand head coach Anders Nelson’s team. On the other hand, Vanderbilt will have very limited insight into how either Belmont or Illinois will play, as both teams have yet to play a game this season.
Illinois was an NCAA Tournament team last year and was picked No. 9 in the Big Ten preseason poll. The Illini, however, have a slew of new players after three time All-Big Ten First Team selection Raina Terry graduated and other integral players, including Brooke Mosher and Laynie Smith, transferred out. Head coach Chris Tamas brought in many big-name players, including setter Kenna Phelan, a transfer from Florida State with more than 1,200 career assists. Vanderbilt will have no idea of how this Illinois team is going to come together until they step on the court.
Vanderbilt will host in-town rival Belmont for an outdoor match on Wyatt Lawn at 7 p.m. CDT on Aug. 29, before heading down West End to take on Illinois in the Broadway Block Party at Bridgestone Arena at 5 p.m. CDT on Sunday. Both games will be available to watch on SEC Network.
