HIGH POINT, N.C. – With just a couple of days before the start of the season, the competition for starting spots on the High Point University volleyball team is just heating up.
 
Head coach Jason Oliver feels his 2015 squad is the deepest he's had at High Point and is enjoying watching the young crop of outside hitters and middle blockers battle for playing time.
 
While the Panthers have three seniors expected to play a large role at setter, libero and defensive specialist, the team doesn't have a single senior among the attackers. Redshirt-junior Savannah Angel is the team's most experienced member of the attackers.
 
Although there isn't a senior, talent isn't lacking for this squad. Three of the nine players were Big South All-Freshmen team selections, one is having the best preseason of her career and the other five are talented newcomers trying to make an impact.
 
Outside Hitter:
"Right now we have four players at outside hitter," Oliver explained about his deepest position group. "This is the first time in a long time that we have four players there."
 
Oliver and assistant coach Jake Hong want a representative from each class at outside hitter and have nearly accomplished that in 2015.
 
"Olivia Barr is going to redshirt this year," Oliver said. "We are excited about her athleticism and she has shown a lot of pop on the ball. She has a thirst for knowledge and wants to get out there and get better, which is the perfect mentality for a redshirt season.
 
Barr's redshirt allows the staff to create a year of separation between her and fellow freshman Abby Broadstreet.
 
"Abby comes in with a ton of skill, volleyball ability and I.Q.," Oliver continued. "She is pushing for a starting job as we speak. She is a six-rotation type player and we're excited to see what she can do."
 
However, the freshmen aren't the only outside hitters impressing the coaching staff as two returners – junior Megan Kennedy and sophomore Haley Barnes – have shown improvement in the preseason.
 
"Megan is having probably the best preseason that I have ever seen her have," Oliver said of the junior who tallied 104 digs and 75 kills in 2014. "She is physical and focused and really stepping into her own as an upperclassmen."
 
Barnes, a 2014 Big South All-Freshman team selection, will look to up her marks of 3.12 kills and 1.59 digs per set in her first collegiate campaign.
 
"Haley was a rock for us since she got here last year," Oliver continued. "We will continue to look to her for the vocal leadership and consistency on the floor. She's gotten much stronger and we are looking for her to have an extremely good season."
 
Overall Oliver is pleased with what he has seen from the outside hitters and sees a strong trio beginning to form as Barr prepares for the future.
 
"Megan and Haley are experienced in our program and know what to do," Oliver said. "With Haley, Megan and Abby, I think that we have three of the better outside hitters in our conference."
 
Right Side:
Much like all the other positions in the Panthers' rotation, nothing is settled at the right side hitter spot. The battle between 2014 Big South All-Freshmen team member, Camryn Freiberg and freshman Katie Tylman is still ongoing as HPU enters non-conference play.
 
"Katie is an amazing physical presence at the net with her block," Oliver said of the Charlotte native. "She forces everyone to play a little bit higher, faster and better."
 
On the other hand, HPU has Freiberg who led the team in hitting percentage (.349) and blocks (92) a season ago while playing at middle blocker.
 
"Camryn has show more determination and I feel like she will fit the right side well," Oliver explained. "She's quick and allows us to run a lot of tempo-1 with her and she can hold her own at the net with her block."
 
While Freiberg and Tylman are competing at right side hitter, both have experience in the middle and could factor in there as well.
 
Middle Blockers:
Redshirt-junior Savannah Angel – the 2013 Big South Freshman of the Year – returns to the Purple & White after posting 124 blocks and 256 kills in two years of action.
 
"Savannah is the veteran of the group," Oliver continued. "She is more defensively minded at this point and has shown great improvement in her swing. She is coming off a nagging knee injury, but is getting healthier and has a chance to be the starter again this season."
 
Likewise, two freshmen – Molly Livingston and Jordan Hefner – have played well so far in the preseason and are pushing for time on the floor.
 
"Molly brings consistent and focused play and hasn't had a bad day of practice. She's been an extremely hard worker and has bought into the idea of playing good defense," Oliver continued."
 
"Jordan is a dynamic middle with a huge arm and is completely competitive. Everything about her is how she's going to win whatever she is doing."
 
The depth and versatility thrills the coaches knowing they'll be able to tweak the rotations to match up with whomever they play this season.
 
#GoHPU