Date: 8/15
Position: Defensive Specialists

Returning Letterwinners (Key stats): Abby Baker, R-Sr. (295 digs, 4.28 dps, 12 service aces, 62 asst);  Arissa Chappell, Jr. (306 digs, 2.68 dps, 26 service aces, 44 asst)

Letterwinners lost (Key stats): Alahna Diaz (59 digs, 2.19 dps, 11 asst, 5 service aces)

Newcomers (Yr., Previous school):  None

Miscellaneous Notes
- South Alabama ranked fifth in the Sun Belt Conference in digs per set (14.80) last year.  
- Baker ranks first in career digs per set (3.74) at South Alabama, and sixth in career digs (1085) entering her senior season.
- Baker was named the SBC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 19 last season after recording 70 digs in 12 sets for an average of 5.83 digs per set at the Bulldog Invitational in Athens, Ga. She finished the 2016 season ranked fifth in the SBC in digs per set (4.28).
- Chappell appeared in all 30 matches last season, and ranked second on the team in service aces (26).

Head Coach Amy Hendrichovsky
- On the returning experience between Abby Baker and Arissa Chappell:
"Abby and Arissa have both had plenty of experience on the court over the course of their career. However, I'm very excited to see their play this season because over the course of the spring we focused on their technical aspects as a ball-control player, but also spent a large part on improving their IQ of the game. I believe this will allow these two to be a solid factor on our court passing and defensively, and be a foundation for our team."  

- On the depth at the position:
 "This position in our gym is one of our strengths of the team this training camp. This is probably the strongest this position has been top to bottom with these two young ladies. It has a lot to do with the maturity and experience they both have."  

- On the libero:
"At this point I don't have a feel (for who will be libero) but what I appreciate with these two is they are very competitive in the gym, but the competition for the position of libero is not their only focus. They both are each other's biggest fan and want this team to be very successful no matter what role they are in."  

- On what Baker and Chappell bring to the team in leadership:
"Both of them have different personalities and roles leadership-wise. During our leadership training, my goal has been to help them realize what their role is and how they use it to our advantage. Abby is demanding and encouraging at the same time. She has high expectations and pushes those around her. Arissa can be a calmer but also an energizer. She is the Energizer bunny that just keeps going and is consistent in her role. I truly believe this is a position in the game of volleyball that demands a lot of respect because of the effort and toughness required to be successful in this role."      

Junior – Arissa Chappell
- On how she has progressed during her first two years:
"I would say I have grown a lot in reading a hitter and knowing where to be. This year they (coaches) are working a lot on telling us why it's happening. We know what to do and how to get the ball there, but we don't know why we want to place the ball there. I have learned in my first two years how to do it, how to read the server and hitter – and I'm still learning a lot."

- On the difficulty of the position:
"I used to think it was a lot harder until this year. We've come up with a new system that's really helped me a lot with reading a hitter. It's hard; I have to be low and it's pretty mental sometimes, but for the most part I know my range and I can put myself in a position where I can cover multiple shots and a good amount of court."

- On the depth at defensive specialist:
"Some of the people we have had in that position haven't been as disciplined or bought in to what coach is asking for. Abby and I are so bought in. We mesh together really well, so it would be awesome to have Abby and I on the court together. When we're on the court together, it's smooth and flows – it works."

- On her individual goals for this season:
"I really want to be recognized in the conference. This year I think I have the right skill and mental ability to read these hitters, make the plays and be recognized in this conference."

- On this year's team:
"There is a very positive attitude. We come in every day and work hard, and do what we need to do to win. We're really looking forward to this year. I feel so great about this team. We have the best chemistry and we're all focused on the same goal."

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