If you've been following Virginia volleyball this year, then it won't shock you to learn that a Cavalier freshman is leading the ACC in a statistical category.
What might surprise you is that the freshman player is Melissa Caldwell. The Houston native currently leads all ACC players in digs per game with 5.41.
"I really didn't know I was leading for a long time," Caldwell said. "It wasn't until my coach told me, and I was like, 'What?'"
In addition to being one of the surprises for Virginia this season, Caldwell has the added pressure of taking over the libero position from four-time letter-winner and 2003 All-American honorable mention Whitney Ashcraft. At the beginning of the season, the Cavaliers had a three-way competition to fill the hole left by Ashcraft's graduation. Also vying for the spot were Annie Hylton and Emily Perilli.
"In the beginning of the year, all three of us trained for it," Caldwell said. "It was good to have people there with me going through everything. I learned from them and we were all for each other."
With Hylton returning from injury, Caldwell and Perilli began the first match of the season splitting time at libero. Caldwell, however, soon took over the position full-time with a strong performance at the University of Louisville Courtyard by Marriot Tournament. In that three-match competition, Caldwell had consecutive matches in which she registered 24 and 26 digs. Caldwell was also named to the All-Tournament team. Since then, she has set her career-best performance with 37 digs against Duke Sept. 26.
What makes all of these accomplishments even more impressive is the fact that this is Caldwell's first season playing the libero position full-time. At Stratford High School in Houston, Caldwell played outside hitter. The 2004 season outlook even had her listed as one of the players vying for playing time at that position. But Caldwell did have some experience playing libero and middle blocker in high school. This experience helped her in her transition.
"It isn't too different because I played back row in high school," Caldwell said. "It's just back row all the time now, so I guess I have to play a little bit differently."
The transition has not been perfectly smooth. Consistency has been an issue. Caldwell does have three matches where she registered at least 30 digs, but she also has three matches where she has had fewer than 12 digs. Despite her youth, Caldwell has been the leader for Virginia's defensive effort.
"We're going to work on defense more, and keep trying to get there with our middles," Virginia coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton said of the defensive unit that Caldwell leads.
Caldwell is handling the switch to her new position in stride, and she is even adopting a new on-court mentality.
"You're kind of antagonizing the other team," Caldwell said. "Being in the back of the court and seeing everything and kind of directing things is a fun role to play."
With Caldwell calling the shots for the Cavalier defense, outside hitters in the ACC could have a lot of headaches for the rest of this year and, more importantly, for the next three years.
Read More
'The Måns Dahlberg show' is kicking into gear, just in time for Virginia’s title chase
By Thomas Baxter | 15 hours agoHe's one man during the first few months of the season, quite another in the final two.
TILOCK: The real Virginia baseball just stood up
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoThe Cavaliers' chronic issues are dwindling, and underperforming stars are ascending.
Dietrich’s comeback clincher sends No. 7 seed men’s tennis to NCAA quarterfinals
By Margaret Piatos | 2 days agoFor the 18th time in 20 years, Virginia is headed to the quarterfinals.
