Sophomore continues career-breaking season

Sophomore Jeane Horton had always been a middle blocker until her position was switched to outside hitter this season. For many, having to learn a new set of systems and a new style of play may be a challenge, but Horton took to the role quickly as head coach Ken Murphy began rotating her in more often to gain leads.

"Middle is extremely different from outside in numerous ways," Horton said. "In the middle, you have a fast and quick arm swing and you have to block all three hitters, where in outside, you only have to really focus on one, and you have to recognize how many blockers you have — where are they lined up at — and then determine what type of arm swing you will use."

What initially sparked this decision was when Murphy observed the middle had a lot of depth among the players, which made him look to see what Horton could accomplish in other places.

"We thought if we moved her outside, she'd have to do a few more things that maybe a normal outside hitter didn't do," Murphy said. "What it has allowed us to do is give her a lot of sets at different places on the net, get a lot more attempts during a match and play off the things she's able to do for us."

As a middle blocker her freshman year, Horton was selected to the Conference-USA All-Freshman team and was second in kills for the season. She was also the only freshman ranked in the top-20 in hitting percentage. She also had five contests with five or more blocks that year.

Since the move, Horton's kill performances have seen an increase. She has 20 or more kill performances in the 2011 season and is 10th in the conference with 190. This season, Horton is second with 324 kills and a .185 hitting average, breaking her record last year of 301 kills already.

Horton has broken her career highs in kills three times this year. She had 20 against Marshall Sept. 30, 22 against Tulane Oct. 23 and 25 a week later against Houston. She also had career highs with 57 attempted kills against Houston and a season-high seven blocks Oct. 7 against Memphis.

"Personally, I think my progression is coming along," Horton said. "I have such a great team that understands I am learning a new position and that supports me throughout my transition."

Horton's switch from middle blocker to outside hitter wasn't the only challenge she has had to face. After moving to El Paso from her hometown of Fresno, Calif., she said the different type of weather the Sun City brought was an obstacle in itself.

"In El Paso you would have every season in a period of one week," Horton said. "Windy on Monday, raining on Tuesday, snowing on Wednesday, extremely hot on Thursday and the perfect weather on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This was a big change from the weather in Fresno."

Horton was inspired to play volleyball thanks to her mother who loved the sport and taught her the game. But according to Murphy, Horton was limited as she came into volleyball thinking she was going to be a track athlete.

"She only played club for half a year and came into volleyball during ninth grade," Murphy said. "Good thing was she was a fast learner and she has really become an outstanding player. After a year or two, I think she'll really blossom into one of the top players of the conference."

Freshman setter Rachael Scott met Horton during the summer on her recruiting trip to UTEP and became Horton's roommate soon after. The two players became close friends while living together. On the court, Scott said that Horton plays much like her character: smart and energetic.

"I remember seeing her hit for the first time and thinking, ‘This girl can really hit and is very talented,'" Scott said. "Jeane is a very powerful hitter. She has a great style of play because she can see what shots are open and hit to them."

Murphy said that if she continues to learn and work hard, she will be a threat on the court.

Horton said, the season has not been based on just one player alone, but the whole team.

"My favorite moment this season is every time I am on the court with the team," Horton said. "Whenever I am on the court with these group of girls is when I shine the hardest because we're shining as a team."

Krystal Oblinger may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.