This fall, the South Alabama volleyball program will welcome six newcomers to the Jaguar roster.  Leading up to the start of the 2016 season, USAJaguars.com will provide fans an opportunity to get to know the newest Jags a little bit better away from the court.  The second newcomer in the series is Ashlyn Roberts, who joined the roster in January and went through spring practice.  

Roberts, a 5-4 freshman defensive specialist, signed with USA back during the fall after lettering the past four seasons at Sneads High School in Sneads, Fla., where she was a starter since her freshman season.  Over the course of her prep career, she played at the setter, outside hitter and libero positions and recorded 669 kills, 895 digs, 1,546 assists, 631 aces and posted an 88.8 serving percentage.  She was selected as the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Player of the Year as a senior and competed in the FACA All-Star event where she helped her North team earn a 3-1 victory and was named to the CBS MaxPreps Small Schools third-team All-American squad.

In this sit-down interview, Roberts talks about what she feels is a strength that she brings to the team, what she plans on doing after graduation, among other topics.

Q:  What are your goals and expectations for the season?  
A:  My main goal for this season is for our team to win a Sun Belt Championship.  I want my team to reach its fullest potential.

Q:  What do you feel is a strength that you bring to the team and why?  
A:  A strength that I bring to the team is my passion for the game.  I'm kind of like a firecracker.  I'm very loud and energetic and I think that that is something that every team should have.

Q:  What area do you feel you can improve on this season and why?  
A:  I would like to improve in my serve receive and defense.  I also think that my outside/right side connections could improve more.  I'm pretty solid in these areas, but I do need to improve to be able to help my team run the best offense.

Q:  What do you feel is going to be the biggest thing for you and your teammates to do this season to be successful?   
A:  I think that the biggest thing for my team and I to do this season would be to become consistent in a match from start to finish.  I think the more consistent we get, the more we will improve.

Q:  Is there a teammate of yours who you look up to?  What about them makes you feel that way?  
A:  I look up to Deanna (Canfield).  I think that we are a lot alike.  We both love volleyball and we love to win.  Even though she was injured, she still worked hard in the offseason to get better, so she could get back to the game that she loves.

Q:  What does it mean to you to be a Jaguar?  
A:  It means so much to me to be able to call myself a Jaguar.  I love the culture here.  I feel like I'm part of a family and I have only been here for a few months.  I feel like everyone has similar goals and wants to be successful.

Q:  Who on the team do you feel will take on the biggest leadership role this season and why?  
A:  I feel like the setters will have the biggest leadership role this year.  They have to be able to make the best decisions in every situation.  They have to put up hittable balls no matter what the first contact looks like.  Players look to the setter for wisdom and reassurance.

Q:  Describe South Alabama volleyball in a word:
A:  Swag.

Q:  Why did you choose to come to South Alabama?  
A:  I chose South Alabama because I fell in love with it as soon as I stepped on campus.  I loved the coaches, the team and the overall feel of the campus.  It felt like home.

Q:  What are you majoring in at South Alabama and what do you plan to do after graduation?   
A:  I'm majoring in exercise science.  After graduation, I plan on going into radiology school to be an ultra sound technician.

Q:  What is your favorite place on campus?  
A:  My favorite place on campus is Jaguar Gym, because that is where the magic happens.

BEHIND THE NET WITH…
Lauren Hartman
Ashlyn Roberts
Kellyn Reeves
Kelley Hartman
Iva Djurdjanovic
Alahna Diaz

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—