AUBURN, Ala. – It all starts with the pass. To set up a smooth offensive attack, a team's back row has to be a reliable group of talent in order for the squad to be successful. And for Auburn volleyball head coach Rick Nold, this year's defensive specialists brings that talent to the court.
"We have a good mixture of incoming talent and returning experience," Nold said. "This group has great leadership from top to bottom and brings in a really good work ethic."
The 2018 edition of Auburn volleyball will have to fill the shoes of three-time starting libero, Jesse Earl, who graduated in the spring as a two-time All-SEC honoree and the program's first AVCA All-American with honorable mention recognition last season.
"We don't know who will step into that libero role yet," Nold said. "We have options and this will probably be one of our biggest battles coming into the season in practice. This group continues to take on repetition after repetition and we have some great depth."
Returning for the Tigers is junior Karis Beasley and sophomore Payton White. Each played in every set last year, finishing among the top on the team in digs.
Beasley, a Granbury, Texas, product, came in fourth on the squad with 193 digs and a 1.89 digs/set average. White, from Indianapolis, finished with 177 digs and a 1.74 average.
The pair also contributed from the service line and concluded the year among the team leaders in aces.
"Karis and Payton got great experience last year in the defensive specialist role," Nold said. "We're going to look to their leadership to guide this incoming group and help them adjust to the pace of the collegiate game."
Joining Beasley and White are two freshmen in Bella Rosenthall and Katie Persons. The duo is expected to contribute right away with the talent they bring to the Plains.
Rosenthall, from Yorktown, Ind., was very successful in her prep career, earning All-American honors in 2016 and being placed on the 2017 Under Armour Watchlist.
Persons, a Grand Rapids, Mich., product, had a solid career at East Grand Rapids HS. She finished as a two-time All-State honoree and was placed on the 2016 AVCA Phenom List.
With the addition of outside hitter and senior Brenna McIlroy, the Auburn back row has a solid corps of talent and drive that is set to give the Tiger offense great opportunities all season.