SE: Zumach Handling Six-Rotation Role Well for K-State VB, Eager for Home Opener Thursday
Aug 31, 2017 | Volleyball, Sports Extra
In her time at K-State, Kylee Zumach has been an All-American outside hitter as a freshman and a sophomore twice because of an ACL tear in 2015, returning to her natural role as a front row force last season.
This season, however, Zumach looks to be much more than a producer of kills. She wants to play all six rotations for the Wildcats (2-1) at a high level.
Through K-State's first three matches, Zumach has handled her expanded role well. Coming into the season with one career double-double, she recorded two in the Wildcats' three-game stop in Corvallis, Oregon.
"It's really exciting," said Zumach, who ranks first on the team in kills (40) and second in digs (30). "I love being able to impact the team in a great way like that, and having the opportunity to play back row is always fun. I've always wanted to do that and it's great I get the opportunity to do that this year."
With the graduation of Brooke Sassin, a six-rotation outside hitter last season for the Wildcats, Zumach knew the opportunity to stay on the court more was coming. As a result, much of her focus during the spring and summer was on fine-tuning her back-row skills.
"When you're a six-rotation outside, other teams tend to serve at you a lot more, so just being a serving target all the time, you can't really take a mental break," she said. "Something's always coming at you. You have to be really mentally tough."
To prepare for this, Zumach and the other outside hitters worked with K-State's liberos often during the offseason. Before every spring practice or summer workout, Zumach said she would step in with the Wildcats' primary passers to work "rep after rep" on serve-receive.
"It's fun to watch, learn from them and ask them, 'Hey, what do you do on this ball? Hey, what can I do better?'" Zumach said of working with K-State's experienced back row players. "Also, it helped building relationships because I pass to them in games, so I was getting to know them better and asking them what makes them successful."
Specifically, Zumach said she learned how to use proper arm angles and when to use her hands to pass the ball. What she is still learning, with each practice and match, is when to use her arms and when to use her hands in the back row.
"I want to say it's all experience and repetition," she said, "just like shooting a basketball from different places, you just know what's working with your body and what's going help you and give you the best results."
While it is still early in the season, Zumach has proven to be anything but a liability in the back row. Her 3.00 digs per set ranks second only to Reilly Killeen, K-State's libero.
"I'm really comfortable," Zumach said of playing all six rotations. "I think I've always had the skillset to do so, but I wasn't confident enough and, physically, I wasn't ready to do the six rotations. I think this summer and this spring, having the opportunity to get more comfortable playing in this tough of an environment and working with my teammates, that time has really helped me prepare for this role."
Zumach returned last season from her 2015 knee injury but not at full strength. She was not at a place, physically or mentally, to revive her freshman form that included recording 412 kills, earning All-America honors and becoming the first Wildcat ever to earn AVCA Region Freshman of the Year honors.
"Right now, I want to say I'm at 100 percent. Last year, I was close to 80, 90, but that last 20 percent, it takes a while. And I think a lot of that has to do with your mental capabilities too," she said. "I didn't quite trust my leg a lot, 100 percent, last year, and I do now. I think just that time and those reps really get you back feeling comfortable and strong with your leg."
This year, Zumach has also dropped a burdensome knee brace — "the darn brace," as she described it — from her playing attire and added five inches to her vertical jump.
"It looked big but you don't realize how much of a strain it is until you have it on you trying to jump. Obviously, it helped a lot. I couldn't have played without it when my leg was that weak, but now just seeing the before and after effect, it's been crazy and I'm really grateful I'm done with it," Zumach said of the knee brace. "I feel a lot better and I can get to more balls. I'm jumping higher in the front row, and I'm laying out on the ground more. I physically feel fantastic and it's really fun to be playing like I used to."
On Thursday, Zumach will be competing at a place she's more than familiar with. The Wildcats host Arkansas, Syracuse and Wisconsin for the K-State Invitational this Thursday through Saturday at Ahearn Field House.
"I'm so excited, A, to open at home and, B, it's in Ahearn. I love, love, love playing in here," Zumach said. "The exhibition match against Creighton was great, but I'm excited for everyone to experience their first home game with the best pep band ever and all of our student section and everyone else. I'm so excited to play here."
K-State will play Arkansas (3-0) on Thursday at 7 p.m., Syracuse (2-2) on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and No. 6 Wisconsin (2-0) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. All session tournament tickets are available for $10, while $3 single-match tickets can be purchased when fans present a ticket for Saturday's home football game against Central Arkansas.
"I've said it time after time, and I'll say it again, this is the best environment to play in the Big 12," Zumach said. "I think we have the biggest home advantage. Our student section is incomparable to anyone else. We're loud in here. We have our chairback ticket holders who are at every single game. It's just so special to have such a loud and proud environment to play in week after week."
This season, however, Zumach looks to be much more than a producer of kills. She wants to play all six rotations for the Wildcats (2-1) at a high level.
Through K-State's first three matches, Zumach has handled her expanded role well. Coming into the season with one career double-double, she recorded two in the Wildcats' three-game stop in Corvallis, Oregon.
"It's really exciting," said Zumach, who ranks first on the team in kills (40) and second in digs (30). "I love being able to impact the team in a great way like that, and having the opportunity to play back row is always fun. I've always wanted to do that and it's great I get the opportunity to do that this year."
With the graduation of Brooke Sassin, a six-rotation outside hitter last season for the Wildcats, Zumach knew the opportunity to stay on the court more was coming. As a result, much of her focus during the spring and summer was on fine-tuning her back-row skills.
"When you're a six-rotation outside, other teams tend to serve at you a lot more, so just being a serving target all the time, you can't really take a mental break," she said. "Something's always coming at you. You have to be really mentally tough."
To prepare for this, Zumach and the other outside hitters worked with K-State's liberos often during the offseason. Before every spring practice or summer workout, Zumach said she would step in with the Wildcats' primary passers to work "rep after rep" on serve-receive.
"It's fun to watch, learn from them and ask them, 'Hey, what do you do on this ball? Hey, what can I do better?'" Zumach said of working with K-State's experienced back row players. "Also, it helped building relationships because I pass to them in games, so I was getting to know them better and asking them what makes them successful."
Specifically, Zumach said she learned how to use proper arm angles and when to use her hands to pass the ball. What she is still learning, with each practice and match, is when to use her arms and when to use her hands in the back row.
"I want to say it's all experience and repetition," she said, "just like shooting a basketball from different places, you just know what's working with your body and what's going help you and give you the best results."
While it is still early in the season, Zumach has proven to be anything but a liability in the back row. Her 3.00 digs per set ranks second only to Reilly Killeen, K-State's libero.
"I'm really comfortable," Zumach said of playing all six rotations. "I think I've always had the skillset to do so, but I wasn't confident enough and, physically, I wasn't ready to do the six rotations. I think this summer and this spring, having the opportunity to get more comfortable playing in this tough of an environment and working with my teammates, that time has really helped me prepare for this role."
Zumach returned last season from her 2015 knee injury but not at full strength. She was not at a place, physically or mentally, to revive her freshman form that included recording 412 kills, earning All-America honors and becoming the first Wildcat ever to earn AVCA Region Freshman of the Year honors.
"Right now, I want to say I'm at 100 percent. Last year, I was close to 80, 90, but that last 20 percent, it takes a while. And I think a lot of that has to do with your mental capabilities too," she said. "I didn't quite trust my leg a lot, 100 percent, last year, and I do now. I think just that time and those reps really get you back feeling comfortable and strong with your leg."
This year, Zumach has also dropped a burdensome knee brace — "the darn brace," as she described it — from her playing attire and added five inches to her vertical jump.
"It looked big but you don't realize how much of a strain it is until you have it on you trying to jump. Obviously, it helped a lot. I couldn't have played without it when my leg was that weak, but now just seeing the before and after effect, it's been crazy and I'm really grateful I'm done with it," Zumach said of the knee brace. "I feel a lot better and I can get to more balls. I'm jumping higher in the front row, and I'm laying out on the ground more. I physically feel fantastic and it's really fun to be playing like I used to."
On Thursday, Zumach will be competing at a place she's more than familiar with. The Wildcats host Arkansas, Syracuse and Wisconsin for the K-State Invitational this Thursday through Saturday at Ahearn Field House.
"I'm so excited, A, to open at home and, B, it's in Ahearn. I love, love, love playing in here," Zumach said. "The exhibition match against Creighton was great, but I'm excited for everyone to experience their first home game with the best pep band ever and all of our student section and everyone else. I'm so excited to play here."
K-State will play Arkansas (3-0) on Thursday at 7 p.m., Syracuse (2-2) on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and No. 6 Wisconsin (2-0) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. All session tournament tickets are available for $10, while $3 single-match tickets can be purchased when fans present a ticket for Saturday's home football game against Central Arkansas.
"I've said it time after time, and I'll say it again, this is the best environment to play in the Big 12," Zumach said. "I think we have the biggest home advantage. Our student section is incomparable to anyone else. We're loud in here. We have our chairback ticket holders who are at every single game. It's just so special to have such a loud and proud environment to play in week after week."
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