STARKVILLE – First-year Mississippi State volleyball coach David McFatrich sees a career in volleyball for senior Emily Howard.
The senior middle blocker stands 6-foot-2 and according to McFatrich her body type is exactly what professional volleyball teams are looking for. She also has the other key attributes to play at the next level.
“She’s very graceful on the court, she’s got a great arm swing, she gets to the point of attack, she can hit a variety of sets, she’s good off one leg behind the setter, she’s good off one leg in front of the setter,” McFatrich said.
Howard would have to move overseas to pursue a professional volleyball career and it’s something she has considered off and on.
“Sometimes I think it’s kind of scary to go to a country you’ve never been to, but there are a lot of opportunities,” Howard said. “My body’s still holding out for a couple more years hopefully.”
Howard and the Bulldogs get the 2015 season underway Friday in the MSU hosted Bulldog Invitational. MSU plays Arkansas Pine-Bluff at noon and Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m. The Bulldogs finish the tournament on Saturday with Jackson State at noon and Southern Utah at 7 p.m.
Howard transferred to MSU after spending two seasons with the University of Houston. She appeared in 56 matches with the Cougars and drew 46 starts. She had a stellar freshman season which led to be being named to the 2012 Conference USA All-Freshman team. During her first year with the Cougars, Howard was fourth-best in kills (144) and kills per set (1.45). She was second-best in attacking percentage (.241) and total blocks (.241). She recorded 50 total blocks – six solo and 44 assists – in just 85 sets played at Houston.
She finished her first season at MSU with 132 kills, 1.71 kills per set and 51 blocks.
“I’ve got a sneaking suspicion this is going to be her best year by far,” McFatrich said. “I have challenged her and I have probably pushed her more than any other player on the team. I think it’s paid off. I think she can be great. I think she’s good right now, but I think she can be great. Part of it is accepting our philosophy and our style of play and I think she’s done a good job of that.”
McFatrich’s philosophy is pretty simple. Everybody has a role. Howard learned that early on and she began to grasp more and more as the summer went on what her role needed to be. She needs to be more aggressive.
“Especially on the court, I’m kind of used to tipping every now and then or maybe if the set’s slow, not swinging as hard,” Howard said. “With Fatch, it’s just go for it, always be aggressive, have aggression when you’re hitting and always just going 100 percent.”
Being more aggressive could translate to a professional career for Howard.
When Howard transferred to MSU, former Bulldog player Jenny Hazelwood was the coach. She spent one season with Hazlewood before the coaching change.
“A lot of things are different, but Fatch and his staff have made it really easy to just adopt their philosophy and their style,” Howard said. “I think it’s fun and exciting, you get the love for volleyball back, so it’s been really easy to deal with those changes.”
The practices have been totally different than what Howard is accustomed to, but it has been a welcomed change of pace.
“You’re always moving, you’re always competing against another team,” Howard said. “There’s always a winner and there’s always a loser in everything that we do, every drill. Everyone’s always competing and it just gets that fire under you, especially since everyone’s going 100 percent and being aggressive. It takes the level of play up a notch and that’s exciting.”
Even though Howard is thinking about life after college volleyball, she hasn’t lost sight of what she wants to accomplish in her senior season. She wants to help the Bulldogs go to a place they have never been before.
“Right now I think my biggest goal is I want to go out with a bang. I want to go to the NCAA Tournament,” Howard said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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