Photo by Austin Drucker ‘17 | The Lafayette

Setters do not get much credit on volleyball’s stat sheets, but Samantha Volk ‘17 knows it could be the difference between winning and losing. And that’s just how the freshman star likes it.

“Being a setter, you get to touch the ball on every play and you personally know what you contribute,” Volk said. “As long as the team is successful, I’m happy.”

Volk burst onto the scene this season, winning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors and leading Lafayette to an 8-3 record in which the team has lost just ten sets thus far. Although in her first months on College Hill, Volk knows of the struggles of late last year that was highlighted by nine straight losses to end the season.

She hopes this season will be remembered a different way.

“In the past we haven’t won in three straight sets,” Volk said. “Things are working out early and I hope we can keep that going.”

In high school, Volk helped create a culture of winning, leading Clear Lake in Houston, Texas to its first state title birth in 22 years. Bringing that winning attitude to the collegiate level will help Lafayette fit one more piece to the puzzle in its hopes of winning a Patriot League championship.

Volk came to Lafayette like many student-athletes do – for the strong academics and Division I programs.

“I wanted an environment with rigorous academics as well a strong volleyball program,” Volk said.

Despite her calm yet confident demeanor, even she has been surprised with her individual success. Volk leads the team with 204 assists and averages 8.16 assists per set.

“Obviously it was my goal to start as a freshmen, but even I couldn’t see things starting any better,” Volk said.

For Volk, winning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors is hopefully just the first of many personal accomplishments to come.

“It felt great to win. It was a team award and I hope to go out and win it again.”

The emergence of Volk has led returning players to buy in further to what Head Coach Terri Dadio Campbell has been preaching. Volk credited her coach for creating a team environment and guiding them as a leader and a mother figure.

Patriot League play began on Wednesday against archrival Lehigh and now the Leopards will expect even more from the talented freshman.

Based on her results so far, Volk seems set for the challenge.