CHAMPAIGN — Jacqueline Quade knows she's a target when she's playing the back row. Serves are coming her way. It's simply the regular expectation for a six-rotation outside hitter.
Why would the opposing team serve to defensive specialists whose entire training is built around a good first contact? Thus, pin hitters rotated to the back row are the preferred target.
"When it's going good, it's good," Quade said. "When it's not, it can get pretty tough mentally knowing that they're coming after you."
This season has been good for Quade. The Illinois junior is playing six rotations full time for the first time in her career, and she leads the team with 195 kills while providing fairly consistent back-row passing and defense as the No.