Posted: Dec 15, 2016
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Leadership isn't about statistics. Sometimes it's a can-do spirit, a determination to do what is needed and an infectious attitude that can bring one to the forefront.
That's one of the best ways to describe sophomore volleyball standout Jessica Oliver.
It was her leadership skills, her commitment to the program, her willingness to work that made her an exemplary standout for the Golden Eagles, as well as the November selection for the Tech Athletics' Unsung Hero Award.
"Anyone who has been to our matches, even though we had some tough losses, anyone who was there noticed Jess," said Tech volleyball head coach Dave Zelenock. "Whether she was on the floor or not, she was the loudest, craziest person out there.
"And that's not just for matches. She's that way in practice too. She never stops talking, she has a smiling face every morning. We have people, because we practice so early in the morning, will come dragging in, but at 5:30 in the morning, she's welcoming everyone. She's the person who gets everyone in the right place in practice."
And it's very important to have a player like that on the team, that can motivate everyone around them – whether it's players or coach – and make the team strive to work harder.
"I've coached collegiately for 13 years and I don't think I've had anyone quite like her," Zelenock said. "We came out of this season with the results we did, but because of Jess' efforts, we're in a very positive place as a team and culture."
Even though the results weren't what the Golden Eagles would have liked, it was still great to have a player like Oliver who kept the players going and their spirits high.
"There were days she was raising the coaches' morale," Zelenock said. "Things just weren't going great, and we'd look over and Jess was acting crazy, and you just kind of chuckled to yourself and get you back in a good place.
"Yeah, we would have been in a much worse place as a team if we didn't have her."
Oliver is a quick learner, something that has paid huge dividends to the Tech volleyball program.
"We have a running joke within the program that she's pretty good at whatever she does," Zelenock said. "She tries it for the first time and it's going to be something she excels at. Last year, we had Calaeb (Campbell) as our volunteer and he's a Zumba instructor. After trying it and learning it, Jessica is just as good as Calaeb. During the offseason, she trained and got certified in it as an instructor.
"There was a rope somewhere at some gym we were at, and I joked, asking if anyone could climb it, go to the top and hit the bell. She had never done it, but she's that type. She excels at anything she decides to do."
The ability to learn and adapt has played a more crucial role for Oliver as she has learned to play a different position than she grew up learning the game at.
"It's exciting, because on the volleyball side, she had a position switch (from a setter to defensive specialist)," Zelenock said. "That's why you didn't see a lot of her on the court. I expect to see her out there a lot more next year now that she's caught up in the skills required for this new position. I think it's going to be interesting to see her out there with a new energy."
And it's a transition for sure, changing to completely different philosophies of the game.
"Going from setting to passing?" Zelenock said. "She never used her arms in high school. She was a setter, all hands. We have kids who aren't as athletic as her, but have 10 years of doing it in front of her. She's caught up in two seasons what these kids have done in 10 years.
"It would be incredibly hard. I don't even know how to compare it. It'd almost be like a lineman playing quarterback."
Being able to make a sacrifice like that, to learn a new position for the benefit of the team, speaks volumes on Oliver's character.
"Oh yeah," Zelenock said. "She didn't get a lot of playing time in the last two years, but it hasn't deterred her. She's seeing the progress she's making. The biggest impact she makes right now is in intangibles, but we're hoping, in the next two years, she's making statistical impacts on top of these intangibles."
Her move is an investment in the program's future, but, for Oliver, it's just a matter of doing what is needed.
"She sees the big picture," Zelenock said. "She wants to be a part of something. She sees where we're going as a program and she wants to be a part of it. Yeah, it was a gamble for us to take in a kid that's never played that position and turned her into that. We're just kind of sitting and waiting, but she's the right person to do that. We did the same thing with Kennedy (Wade) and she turned it around too."
Photo by Jim Dillon
