Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Volleyball's Marissa Washington Shines Bright For Salukis
11/03/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 3, 2003
By David Siegal
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Being a veteran with a year of experience can be beneficial if you are looking to improve. Sophomore Marissa Washington has proven to be that type of player, just look at her statistics. Washington has already increased her game total from 48 to 89 and upgraded her hitting percentage from .144 to a team-high .276 overall.
She has stepped up in Missouri Valley Conference play with a team-high .310 hitting percentage. In addition, Washington has improved more than just her statistics. She has assumed a leadership position on a freshman-laden team.
"The team looks up to me a lot and looks to me for kills. You've just got to put the ball down when we need the point. I wish the load was spread out evenly, but sometimes I think we have people step up at times in the games, but not as consistently as we need to as a group, and I still wish it were spread out," Washington says.
Head Coach Sonya Locke has been pleased with her middle blocker. "I think that she has really started to display the consistency that we would like for her to," describes Locke. "Our ball control sometimes doesn't allow for her to get the ball as much as we'd like, but she seems to have a higher ability to finish the kill when she does get the ball. We definitely need to work to get her more sets so that we can get more production out of her offensively. She's working hard and trying to get better, so that helps."
The Theodore, Ala. native says she chose SIU because it fit her preferences when she visited. "I liked the people here, the team when I came, and the coach." She says having the opportunity to play volleyball at the Division I level and go to school and get an education is most beneficial. Washington is impressed by her statistical improvement, but not by her performance alone. "I'm glad that I can lead the team in hitting percentage. I just thank my setters for giving me the ball and making good sets. Sometimes it doesn't feel like I put the balls down, but the statistics show the percentage. I'm so involved in the game I don't think about it. Just leading the team in conference hitting percentage is great."
Washington's experience has resulted in more confidence when she steps on the court this year. "I try not to put a lot of pressure on myself. You have to be cool, confident, and know that you're going to put the ball down. That's what you should think before you go up to hit."
Locke notes the team needs to increase their production to get on par with Washington's developments. "I think that knowing that she hits it is half the battle, the rest is getting her the ball. To try to do that is difficult when the passing isn't there, but I think to just know you have a player on your team that can finish gives the setters something to look forward to and makes them more determined to get in position so that they can set her the ball. That way, she can finish if we can give it to her."
It has been a tough road for the 6-19 Salukis with their last five road matches resulting in being swept. Washington can understand the difference between Davies Gym and being on the road. According to Washington, the fans at Davies Gym are the most important thing. "We love the fans because they give us so much energy and make us play well. When we're on the road, we have some dedicated parents there, but it's not the same."
Despite SIU's record, she is optimistic and still looks for improvement. "I love to win. I've always been on a winning team because our teams were good and I think this program will be good too. I hope to improve my blocking, I want the to lead the team in blocking percentage, and I want the team to come out every night and be competitive, confident, and execute."
Washington is hoping her efforts can help provide a winning tradition at SIU for herself and her teammates in the near future.
