The University of Tampa Women’s Volleyball team is 16-0. Out of 49 sets, they’ve lost only seven. They have been overpowering and out-hustling every opponent that has come to cross their path.
They’re 6-0 in the Sunshine State Conference, and have some excellent players propelling them towards, more than likely, a seventh consecutive conference championship.
So, who’s responsible for the success? Over the years, the one constant has been Head Coach Chris Catanach and his winning percentage at UT, which is upside of .845 as the season progresses. He’s coached some great players, yet he maintains that each season has its own advantages in roster diversity.
When it comes to a steady stream of talent flowing into the UT reservoir, the philosophy is simple; develop the players right out of high school rather than import them from other colleges.
“We try to develop the players from their freshman year. We like to establish continuity and not go with the multiple transfer route,” he said.
“That being said, if we screw up a recruiting class, we feel the effects later on.”
Seven years of finishing first in the conference makes it hard to believe Catanach and the school have felt those effects he’s referring to. Recruiting is one of Catanch’s specialties. He sees talent and the potential for talent.
Danielle Selkridge was one of the recruits in a large pool that Catanach hoped to develop.
During high school in the British Virgin Islands, Selkridge was a member of the National Honor Society. She chose UT after receiving heavy Division I interest. She had time once she got to UT to develop as a player and a student off the court, because she was redshirted her freshman year.
Once she got on the court, she delivered as promised. Her freshman year, she was on the Sunshine State Conference all-freshman team, and the NCAA South Regional all-tournament team. She was thrown into the mix early, playing in 33 matches and starting nine, most of which were towards the end of the season when she became more acclimated to the speed of the college level.
Or at least that’s how some would classify it. Others would say that she was just biding her time, under the supervision of Catanach. Much like a football coach doesn’t rush a rookie quarterback into a game, Catanach did the same with Selkridge. She led the nation with a .444 hitting percentage and had a season high 15 kills in a five set win against Eckerd. Quite the freshman debut.
But this year, Selkridge steps into more of a leadership role. She’s a junior now, and her success from her sophomore season still echoes throughout the conference.
She’s a force to be reckoned with, and her statistics prove it. Last yearas a sophomore she led the SSC with a .461 hitting percentage, which was second in the nation. She was also fourth in the SSC with 106 blocks. Her experience serves as a model for the younger players to learn from, and she wants them all to succeed.
“As a team we were much closer last year, but we’re still growing,” she said.
Catanach has coached some excellent players over his time, yet he upholds that no single player can win or lose a game for any team. No player shoulders that responsibility. However, there are a few players that can drastically alter the outcome.
“There isn’t one player we can’t do without. But the keys to our success are libero Julie Howlett and middle hitter Danielle Selkridge.”
She’s on the verge of becoming one of the most solid players the university has seen in some time. She’s durable, a hard worker, but perhaps best of all, she’s humble.
Selkridge understands that no player can endure a season without having to improve particular aspects of her game.
She realizes that complacency can breed mistakes, and she will be the last one to get too comfortable resting on her laurels. Although she’s had a successful year to the season, she acknowledged that aspects of her game need improvement.
“Hitting the ball in different angles and paying more attention to direction from the outside,” she explained. “The setter is an important part, too. If she doesn’t do well, I can’t do well.”
Selkridge has been a rock in the middle for the Spartans for the previous two seasons, as well as this one. The team’s record reflects perfection, but to realize that one can never be perfect is the best way to achieve excellence.
Greg Spracklin can be reached at gspracklin@spartans.ut.edu.