Outside hitter Jaycie Roberts and the Senators host Reno today in playoffs

The first thing you notice about Jaycie Roberts is her infectious smile. Through good times and bad on the volleyball court, it’s always there.

The times have been mainly good. Roberts, a standout libero as a freshman, has started the last two seasons as an outside hitter. Entering today’s Division I home playoff opener at 6 p.m. against Reno, Roberts leads the team in kills (231) and digs (270) in sparking the Senators to a 13-3 regular-season record.

“It (volleyball) has always been a big part of my life,” said Roberts. “I can’t imagine my life without volleyball. If I’m having a bad day, I know I get to play volleyball and then it’s not such a bad day.”

“She has had that smile since she was in sixth grade,” CHS coach Robert Maw said. “That’s what endeared her to me from her time at Carson Middle School. Deep down, she is a competitor, though.”

It’s those competitive juices that enabled her to make the switch from being one of the top liberos in Northern Nevada to one of the best hitters in the region. Her kill percentage was an impressive 32 percent.

Making the change wasn’t easy for Roberts. It was downright scary.

“It was something he (Maw) talked me into,” Roberts said. “I didn’t want to do it. I’d been a libero my whole life. I’d never tried to hit. I saw the new offense, and he said I would have a lot more effect as an outside hitter.”

“I wasn’t concerned,” Maw said. “I knew she had one of the best verticals on the team and a nose for the ball. She was one of the main reasons why I went to the quick offense. Instead of high sets that anybody can block, we go quick. High outside sets doesn’t play to Jaycie’s strengths. The move (to hitter) put her outside of her comfort zone.”

Maw said it wasn’t an easy decision because Roberts was that good of a defensive player.

“She was fearless,” Maw said. “She took pride in being able to return a hard kill. The better the player the more excited she was. I knew I had to give up something to move her outside. It was a move we needed to make.

“It wasn’t easy at first. She had to ice her shoulder because she wasn’t used to swinging so much, and she had shin splits.”

Roberts admits she sometimes likes being an outside hitter and sometimes she doesn’t. She admits that attitude has more to do with how she is playing on a particular night. If she is having an off night, she doesn’t feel like she is contributing.

That hasn’t been the case in her last five matches. Roberts has pounded down 72 kills (14.4 per match), including 21 against Douglas in a four-set win.

Roberts and setter Natalie Anderson seem to be on the same page more often these days. Roberts suffered through a groin injury earlier in the season, and it affected her jumping. She admitted she was worried about injuring it worse, so that could have been throwing the timing off between the two.

Roberts said she would like to continue playing volleyball in college. What position she plays and at what level will undoubtedly determines where the 5-foot-8 junior will play. She admits she might have to go back to being a libero, or even a defensive specialist.

“I don’t know if I could hang in Division I as an outside hitter,” she admitted. “I think I could be an outside hitter if I went to a junior college or Division II.

“I think playing all six rotations will help recruiting. Schools want girls who can hit, pass and dig.”

Maw believes she can play at the next level. He pointed out that outside hitters can’t play for him unless they can pass the ball.

“I definitely think she may have some opportunities,” Maw said. “I think she could be a libero at the Division I level. Libera, that’s her game. Everything will come down to what school is interested in her, or what school she is interested in. I’m really looking forward to seeing her play next year.”

The same can’t be said of coaches in Northern Nevada. Having Roberts on the other side of the net means one tough match.