University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
A Chance to be With Friends Leads to a Great Volleyball Career
10.01.2009 | Women's Volleyball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Lauren Ficker decided to play volleyball in the seventh grade because she wanted to hang out with her friends.
UNC Asheville volleyball fans are glad she decided to do so.
The former West Henderson standout is having a sensational senior year for the Bulldog program. The middle blocker has helped lead UNC Asheville to a 13-5 start, the program's best start in four years. The Bulldogs are 2-0 in the Big South Conference and play a crucial league game against Charleston Southern Friday night at Justice Center starting at 7 p.m.
Ficker, coming off a knee injury suffered last year, is averaging 3.1 kills per game and hitting a team-high .341. She leads the team in blocks with a .56 per game average. In addition, Ficker has been named to four all-tournament teams this year and was the MVP of the USC Upstate Classic on Sept. 12 when the Bulldogs went 3-0 in the tourney. One of the victories was a 3-1 win over ACC foe N.C. State.
At West Henderson, she was a key player on a team that went 110-2 in her four-year career (2001-05). Ficker helped lead Jan Stanley's program to two 2-A state titles and one runner-up appearance.
All of this happened because she didn't want to be left out in the seventh grade.
"All of my friends decided to try out for volleyball team, and I wanted to be around my friends, so I didn't want to be left out," smiled Ficker before a UNC Asheville practice recently. "I think it's worked out pretty well."
UNC Asheville coach Julie Torbett is pleased that Lauren decided to be with her friends in the seventh grade. She has enjoyed coaching Ficker.
"Lauren is a hard worker who has done a great job for us in her career," commented Torbett. "We really liked her out of high school because she was such a fast and explosive player."
Ficker faced some adversity last year when she went down with a knee injury in a match at Winthrop on Oct. 4. She missed most of the rest of the season before trying to come back late in the year and manage to play a few matches.
"Lauren was off to a great start last year and might very well been an all-conference player if she hadn't gotten hurt," declared Torbett. "However, she's come back and is having a sensational senior season."
The Bulldogs have had to change her role a little bit this season as Ficker is also playing in the back row.
"We've had to make some adjustments and one of those is using Lauren in the back row," said Torbett. "She hadn't played in the back row in awhile but she has accepted it and has done a nice job back there."
Ficker gives credit to her teammates for any success she's having this year.
"For us to have any success, the whole team has to do well and that's what's happened this season," stated Ficker. "For me to get a kill, there has to be a good pass and a set before that. I've been fortunate that our team has played so well."
Torbett is also pleased with the leadership that Ficker has provided her team this season.
"Lauren has been a real leader both on and off the court," stated Torbett. "The freshmen really look up to her and she does a nice job in that area."
The Bulldog coach believes Ficker is a little extra motivated in her senior year to go out on top.
"Lauren wants to win a championship like all of us," said Torbett. "It's her senior year. She got to the Big South title game as a freshman and I know she wants to get back and win it as a senior and go to the NCAA Tournament."
Ficker believes this year's team can accomplish a lot as well.
"We can be really, really good before the year is over," added Ficker. "We have great chemistry, and I truly believe we can go a long way this season. I'm excited about what we can accomplish."
