Jennifer Sloan’s final volleyball season at Mountain State University has more than exceeded any expectations she had — and it’s only halfway over.

“It’s been different,” Sloan said. “We have a whole new team, so we’re just getting to know everybody. We started off really strong, and hopefully, we’ll stay that way, peak and don’t go downhill.”

The 5-foot-5 senior libero from Mount Hope has been named Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Libero of the Week three out of the first four weeks and NAIA National Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 10, while helping the Cougars to a 15-7 start on the season.

“She’s the ultimate college volleyball player,” MSU coach Tim Berry said. “She’s a team player. She’s popular with all the girls. She leads on the floor and off.”

Oh, yeah, the former Woodrow Wilson standout also leads the nation in digs with 675 and is second in the country in digs per game with 8.54.

“She’s our libero and our main defensive specialist and also our team leader,” Berry said. “She has just had an exceptional season thus far. She’s leading the nation in the number of defensive digs and is No. 2 in the nation in defensive digs per game.”

Sloan’s quickness, speed and agility have elevated her play this season.

“She covers the floor so well,” Berry said. “She can get to balls — even when she’s out of position and it’s off-line — and bring them up real quick. And she’s accurate.”

She related it’s her responsibility to get things started on the floor for her teammates.

“I have a lot of ground to cover,” Sloan said. “I try to put the ball where I know the setters and the hitters can work together. That’s my job — to make it easier on them. I try to do that as much as I can.”

It’s also her job to keep the Cougars up emotionally.

“I hope I have a good attitude and I can pump everybody up and keep them up,” She said. “Whenever I’m out there, I look to pick everybody up and make sure we all stay on the same page.”

Part of that comes with the leadership role she has assumed with the squad this season. Sloan related she was prepared to step into that role.

“I was prepared for it,” she said. “The whole team talks together and meshes well. It wasn’t that hard stepping up. I knew I had to do that, but I knew there were some seniors that were going to be here as well.”

Playing the back row exclusively also requires a different mindset on the floor. Sloan, though, takes it in stride.

“I really haven’t played anything else,” she said. “I’ve been doing it for years now. It’s just a lot tougher. I just have to make sure that I do that. That’s my job.”

Berry credits her on-floor experience for her stellar season.

“Her experience over the last four years has enabled her to target the ball well,” he said. “Her whole game is really peaking this year.”

As the season begins to wind down, Sloan has had the chance to reflect a little on her career.

“Everything is hitting me because this is my last year,” she said. “I’m kinda upset about it. I want this year to be a year to remember so I can leave on a good note.”

A diagnostic medical sonography major, she excels in the classroom as well, while also playing softball for MSU.

“I have to really have time management,” Sloan said. “With school and softball and stuff like that, I think grades are important. I want to graduate and have a career. I don’t want to just come and play ball. I want something to come from also getting to do what I love to do.”

— E-mail:

rjett@register-herald.com