Perfecting the Transition – Ohio State freshman Katie Dull is making the conversion from high school standout to competitive col – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By: Kendra Lee, Ohio State Athletics Communications
Being an all-star in high school athletics is one thing. Trying to become great on the collegiate level is another. OhioState freshman outside hitter Katie Dull knew the transition would be hard, but is doing all she can to excel on the next stage.
Raised in Solon, Ohio, Dull attended WalshJesuitHigh School where she was a volleyball standout. She was named The Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American her senior year, while also being named to other all-star teams. However, despite her high school success, Dull knew she had to put more into her game in order to succeed on the next level.
“Trying to get prepared for collegiate volleyball has been a lot of hard work,” Dull said. “Over the summer, I worked on strength and put many hours into practice. I wanted to be as prepared as I could by the time we reported for team practice.”
Summer practice proved to be helpful for Dull’s transition. With the offering of knowledge from the coaches and experience from the upperclassmen, Dull took what she could and learned how to improve her game so she was fully prepared for what lay ahead.
“I tried to absorb all the older players and coaches had to teach and did my best to learn fast. The speed of the game on this level is so much quicker, which meant I had to learn quicker. With only four weeks of summer practice, I kind of had to take the ball and run with it.”
And run is what she did. Dull is proving she is becoming ready for the challenge of competitive collegiate volleyball and is showing it through her leadership on the team. Statistically, she is third on the squad in kills and kills per game. She is also second on the team in service aces and is one of three Buckeyes to start all 11 matches.
Her leadership and love for the sport can be seen through her passionate and emotional style of play. Dull credits her accomplishments and her animation on the court to her OhioState teammates.
“When my teammates get into the game, it helps me play a lot better. I love the game of volleyball so much and when the team is having fun and playing well, my emotions show a lot more and it makes me want to perform even better.”
With the help of a great support system and the determination to work hard, Dull has what it takes to perfect the transition. She is making her way toward becoming great at the sport she loves.
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