Junior middle blocker Andi Lowrance attacks the ball in an exhibition match against Mount Royal University on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Sun Devils would go on to win the exhibition, 3-0. (Photo by Ben Moffat)During ASU volleyball's matches last weekend, junior middle blocker Whitney Follette began experiencing discomfort in her abdominals. Although she played in all three matches, she ended up having a serious abdominal problem and was admitted to a hospital in Louisville for treatment.
She is still being treated in Louisville and it seems unlikely that she will play in the upcoming matches against No. 8 Colorado State, Pepperdine and North Carolina Central this weekend.
It’s all but certain that senior middle blocker Mercedes Binns will move from the M-2 spot to the M-1 spot to replace Follette.
Binns said coach Jason Watson had spoken to her about it and she’s preparing to make the switch for the foreseeable future.
Outside of this, nothing is certain.
“The unknown, right now, is who’s going to take Mercedes’ spot,” Watson said.
When asked if he had any ideas what the changes were, he said he had lots of ideas and didn't elaborate beyond that.
The team has many options. The clearest one may be to insert junior Andi Lowrance, who is listed as a middle blocker on the roster but has also played outside hitter, into the starting lineup.
She played in two sets over last weekend. Against Louisville, she recorded a kill but made two errors in four attempts. Against Morehead State the next day, she got four kills on ten attempts but made another pair of errors.
Lowrance also recorded seven kills against University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sept. 5 in the sole set she played that match.
“Giving her those opportunities and having her respond is really, really important to us,” Watson said after the UAB match.
Though it’s unlikely, it may be possible that sophomore outside hitter BreElle Bailey could get playing time at middle blocker. She’s played in both rows and has been a key utility clog on the team.
“We continue to try to get Bre to be this really huge part of the offense,” Watson said when talking about last weekend's matches. “We set Bre in the front row, we set her a little in the back row this weekend, and she was good.”
Junior setter Bianca Arellano doesn’t seem overly concerned over the lineup changes.
“We have such good teammates that are out there waiting for their opportunity to come so we’ll see what they can do,” she said.
Shannan McCready return
Though Follette is out, senior setter Shannan McCready returned to practice last week after suffering a partially torn labrum.
“We’re pretty glad that she’s back, it gives us some defensive options,” Watson said last week upon her return.
McCready was unable to play over the weekend and said that she was cleared to play on Monday.
If she can get back to full health, she’d be a more experienced backup option to Arellano at setter. Currently, the No. 2 setter is freshman Madison McDaniel. Additionally, she could be a cog in the back row and allow offensive players like Bailey to remain in the front.
In rehab, McCready has been going to physical therapy twice a week and working with the team’s trainer.
“I’ve been just trying to increase my range of motion, get it back to normal and get some strength,” she said.
She hasn’t been very active at practice — she only played once last week, she said — but she’s been helping out where she can.
“I’ve been on the side just trying to give feedback to the other players the best I can, just trying to stay engaged and (do) whatever I can to help,” she said.
Reach the reporter at Logan.newman@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Logan_Newsman
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