SE: Dixon, Smith Growing in Ability to Run 6-2 System for K-State VB
Oct 04, 2017 | Volleyball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
K-State volleyball's Sarah Dixon and Brooke Smith may be different people, but they must think and play as one. They are never on the court at the same time, yet one is always intently watching the other, and for good reason.
For the first time under 17th-year head coach Suzie Fritz, K-State is running a 6-2 system. This means Dixon and Smith work in rotation as K-State's setter, a position that relies on chemistry and consistency with their hitters.
"I think the biggest challenge is just getting on the same page. The set has to be very similar," said Dixon, a redshirt sophomore in her second year at K-State. "For the hitters it's a big difference hitting off two different setters, so getting us to set more similarly, I think, is a big thing."
Smith, a junior transfer from Nebraska, said the effort to create identical sets starts with having an open communication with everyone involved.
"I love the feedback and I'll take the feedback. Tell me what you need because that's what I'm here to do. I'm here to give them the best ball I possibly can," Smith said. "Any feedback or any communication they can give to me definitely helps. They do a really good job of that."
The two setters also converse constantly. They study the game intently on the sideline, making mental notes to exchange with each other during timeouts or between sets.
"It's nice to have somebody there who is off the court, watching what's happening on it and being able to help you through that and is kind of telling you, 'Hey, this is open. This hitter's hot. This is where the gap is,'" Smith said. "It's definitely helped us develop a stronger relationship."
"Sometimes you can see things off the court when you're standing back there that you can't see in the game," Dixon added. "So you can be more aware and more mindful of them when you go back in, knowing that's what your counterpart saw."
In contrast to the more standard 5-1 system, where one setter plays all six rotations with five hitters, K-State switched to the 6-2 this season to utilize its personnel more effectively.
With the exception of the start of sets, K-State's 6-2 rotation forces the Wildcats into a double-substitution after every three of the their side-outs, when the Wildcats win the serve back and rotate. Every third side-out, Dixon or Smith will come in for whichever teammate is rotating to serve, and an outside hitter will replace the other setter rotating to the front row.
Since teams are limited to 15 substitutions per set, this places a new challenge on Fritz. Fortunately, she said, this team's built to handle it.
"Adaptability is one of the strengths of this particular team, their ability to adapt and adjust," she said. "I don't think it's complicated for them. That's maybe the most important thing."
Since K-State fully committed to the 6-2 against No. 6 Wisconsin, the sixth match of the season, the Wildcats have steadily improved within its new system.
K-State's last 11 matches, compared to its first five, show this progression. In the last 11 matches, K-State is averaging 12.25 assists per set, compared to 11.58 in the first five. Similarly, the Wildcats' kills-per-set average since the switch is at 13.32, up from 12.47.
"It's very obvious, just the cohesion on the court is better," Dixon said. "In the beginning, it was very clear that we weren't all on the same page but now it looks pretty seamless when we transition."
After a 2-4 start, K-State has improved its record to 8-8, with four of those losses coming to teams currently ranked at No. 11 or higher in the AVCA Coaches poll. The Wildcats also acquired a quality win against now-No. 21 Northern Iowa, and nearly upset No. 11 Kansas.
"This team just keeps making progress. I know there's different things we're trying to work on each week to become a better team and a better unit, but as far as the 6-2 goes, I think it's a lot smoother now," Smith said. "Everybody's on board, there's a lot of communication and everybody's energetic about it."
While their teammates have embraced this system, Fritz said the way Dixon and Smith have handled the shared role has been equally as important.
"They're both very much team players. They want what's in the best interest of the team, first and foremost. They're very supportive of each other, which is helpful," Fritz said. "They're getting better. Their in-match management is a little bit better and I think they're beginning to make better setter choices and setter decisions. We still have plenty to do but they're getting better with every opportunity."
K-State's next opportunity for a Big 12 win will be at TCU on Wednesday at 8 p.m., which will be aired nationally on ESPNU. The Wildcats return to Ahearn Field House on Saturday to face Texas Tech at 1 p.m.
K-State volleyball's Sarah Dixon and Brooke Smith may be different people, but they must think and play as one. They are never on the court at the same time, yet one is always intently watching the other, and for good reason.
For the first time under 17th-year head coach Suzie Fritz, K-State is running a 6-2 system. This means Dixon and Smith work in rotation as K-State's setter, a position that relies on chemistry and consistency with their hitters.
"I think the biggest challenge is just getting on the same page. The set has to be very similar," said Dixon, a redshirt sophomore in her second year at K-State. "For the hitters it's a big difference hitting off two different setters, so getting us to set more similarly, I think, is a big thing."
Smith, a junior transfer from Nebraska, said the effort to create identical sets starts with having an open communication with everyone involved.
"I love the feedback and I'll take the feedback. Tell me what you need because that's what I'm here to do. I'm here to give them the best ball I possibly can," Smith said. "Any feedback or any communication they can give to me definitely helps. They do a really good job of that."
The two setters also converse constantly. They study the game intently on the sideline, making mental notes to exchange with each other during timeouts or between sets.
"It's nice to have somebody there who is off the court, watching what's happening on it and being able to help you through that and is kind of telling you, 'Hey, this is open. This hitter's hot. This is where the gap is,'" Smith said. "It's definitely helped us develop a stronger relationship."
"Sometimes you can see things off the court when you're standing back there that you can't see in the game," Dixon added. "So you can be more aware and more mindful of them when you go back in, knowing that's what your counterpart saw."
In contrast to the more standard 5-1 system, where one setter plays all six rotations with five hitters, K-State switched to the 6-2 this season to utilize its personnel more effectively.
With the exception of the start of sets, K-State's 6-2 rotation forces the Wildcats into a double-substitution after every three of the their side-outs, when the Wildcats win the serve back and rotate. Every third side-out, Dixon or Smith will come in for whichever teammate is rotating to serve, and an outside hitter will replace the other setter rotating to the front row.
Since teams are limited to 15 substitutions per set, this places a new challenge on Fritz. Fortunately, she said, this team's built to handle it.
"Adaptability is one of the strengths of this particular team, their ability to adapt and adjust," she said. "I don't think it's complicated for them. That's maybe the most important thing."
Since K-State fully committed to the 6-2 against No. 6 Wisconsin, the sixth match of the season, the Wildcats have steadily improved within its new system.
K-State's last 11 matches, compared to its first five, show this progression. In the last 11 matches, K-State is averaging 12.25 assists per set, compared to 11.58 in the first five. Similarly, the Wildcats' kills-per-set average since the switch is at 13.32, up from 12.47.
"It's very obvious, just the cohesion on the court is better," Dixon said. "In the beginning, it was very clear that we weren't all on the same page but now it looks pretty seamless when we transition."
After a 2-4 start, K-State has improved its record to 8-8, with four of those losses coming to teams currently ranked at No. 11 or higher in the AVCA Coaches poll. The Wildcats also acquired a quality win against now-No. 21 Northern Iowa, and nearly upset No. 11 Kansas.
"This team just keeps making progress. I know there's different things we're trying to work on each week to become a better team and a better unit, but as far as the 6-2 goes, I think it's a lot smoother now," Smith said. "Everybody's on board, there's a lot of communication and everybody's energetic about it."
While their teammates have embraced this system, Fritz said the way Dixon and Smith have handled the shared role has been equally as important.
"They're both very much team players. They want what's in the best interest of the team, first and foremost. They're very supportive of each other, which is helpful," Fritz said. "They're getting better. Their in-match management is a little bit better and I think they're beginning to make better setter choices and setter decisions. We still have plenty to do but they're getting better with every opportunity."
K-State's next opportunity for a Big 12 win will be at TCU on Wednesday at 8 p.m., which will be aired nationally on ESPNU. The Wildcats return to Ahearn Field House on Saturday to face Texas Tech at 1 p.m.
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