Beat writer Mark Strotman getting it done again this week, with a feature on Chelsea Heier and the big shoes she has to fill. I will link the whole article because it’s an interesting read with some great connections to Nikki Klingsporn, but this one quote I believe is the key:
“Chelsea is going to be her own setter,” Shymansky said. “We don’t want her to be Nikki, we want her to be Chelsea. Her flair and style are going to be truly dynamic for us.”
It would stink having to hear over and over again how good the person before you was and have everyone compare you, a woman barely 4 months removed from high school, to a 20-something-year-old-woman who was so good she played professionally overseas. I’m very guilty of forgetting that these athletes aren’t robots and take time to develop and mature.
With that being said, it makes what she is doing that much more impressive. Sure she has a lot of great hitters to set up, but getting on the same page, keeping them happy, all the while adjusting to college dorms, classes and life is a tremendous accomplishment. My hats off to Chelsea and the coaching staff.
Jumpin Jesuits 