Volleyball’s Corbett steps into unexpected role

By Mark Rudi
Western Herald

(Robert Youngs/Western Herald) WMU’s Kate Corbett goes up to block an attack by Buffalo’s Kristin Bignell on October 18.

Sophomore middle blocker Kate Corbett is in a position she never thought she would be on Western Michigan University’s volleyball team.

At the beginning of the season, it looked like Corbett would not get much playing time as she did not play in the Broncos’ first two matches of the season against the University of Pacific and the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

She started to see the court in wins over Oakland University, West Carolina University, and Illinois State University, recording three kills against the Golden Grizzlies and the Catamounts and two kills against the Redbirds. But after that, she was asked to step in a big way.

After the season ending injury to senior middle blocker Ashley Vogl, Corbett was inserted into the starting middle blocker spot, a position she had not played since high school. She admits that her first match as a starter against Wake Forest University on Sept. 12 was tough.

“It was a hard time reading the blocking transition and everything,” Corbett said. “But as games progressed, it has come a lot easier to me.”

Corbett recorded four kills in the Broncos’ 3-2 loss to the Demon Deacons, but doubled that stat to eight kills the next night in a 3-2 win over the University of Delaware.

Corbett said she’s gotten better mainly because of her teammates.

“Jill [Mitchell] has been amazing and backing me up,” Corbett said. “She’s been very positive with me, even if I get frustrated or what not.”

“She’s done a terrific job,” head coach Colleen Munson said. “She’s very versatile and growing in this position every day.”

Corbett has progressed every week and has become a force since Mid-American Conference play started. She went into double digits in kills for the first time in her career, with 10 in Western Michigan University’s 3-1 win over Eastern Michigan University on Oct 4. In the Broncos’ 3-0 win over the University of Toledo on Oct. 10, she recorded her career high 11 kills. She tied that mark in WMU’s 3-0 win over the University of Akron on Oct. 17.

“She’s playing aggressive at every point,” Munson said. “When you’re playing aggressive and you’re able to see the court like she can see it, good things are going to happen to you.”

Corbett’s road to WMU was very rough at first. She started her career at Pacific, but playing for the Tigers was not for her.

“The coaching system is 10 times better here,” Corbett said. “There wasn’t that one-on-one at Pacific.
Midwest volleyball is more of a team style. When I played out West, it was more me, me, me.”

Corbett played in 14 matches for the Tigers in 2006, recording 16 kills and 20 digs.

Corbett transferred to WMU in 2007 and joined forces with old 1st Alliance Volleyball Club teammates
Mitchell, Eberling, Caitlin Strimel and Jamie Gotham, but her WMU career didn’t start as planned.

She sustained a season-ending shoulder injury and was redshirted for the 2007 season, forcing her to sit.
“It was hard, but sitting out makes you see the game at a whole new level,” Corbett said. “I think that helped a lot coming into this season. I knew about the game cause I had always been on the floor and I never been in that position of being hurt.”

Sitting out the 2007 season helped Corbett learn the Broncos’ system, which is drastically different than the style that Pacific runs.

“She was coming off shoulder surgery and we didn’t really see her do a whole lot,” Munson said. “At the time she emerged, and playing in the spot she’s in, she keeps growing. It’s an opportunity to excel on the court and she’s taken the opportunity and run with it.”

The Broncos beat Corbett’s old school, Pacific, 3-0 on Aug. 29. Even though she did not get to play, Corbett said it was nice to see this team win over her old team.

“As much I [wanted to play] on the court, just that my team got it done, it meant the world to me,” Corbett said. “That was the No. 1 thing I wanted against Pacific. It didn’t really matter if I was on the court or not. I was on the sideline cheering them on.”

Only a sophomore, Corbett has a chance to become one of the better middle blockers in the league.
Although the transition may be difficult, she loves playing the position again.

“I never thought this moment would come: playing middle again,” Corbett said. “It’s exciting. I’m loving it.”

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=1689

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Oct 27 2008. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com