When LSU junior middle blocker Khourtni Fears suffered a knee injury that ended her season before it started, volleyball coach Fran Flory expected she’d have to get creative to fill the gap her player left.
What she didn’t expect was finding her solution in someone who hadn’t played the position since high school. That’s exactly what she discovered in junior outside hitter Emily Ehrle.
Since the start of Southeastern Conference play, Ehrle has stepped up as a viable option at middle blocker for the Tigers, and according to Flory, she’s acted as a key cog in the Tigers’ 10-game-winning-streak machine.
“What an unselfish move,” Flory said. “A lot of kids on the team would have said, ‘Oh my gosh, I haven’t done this since I was 14 years old and I’m not capable.’ Emily embraced the role and did everything she possibly could to put this team in a position to be successful. She’s the X factor. If we don’t have Emily in that spot, our season’s much different.”
Though stepping into the new role seemed intimidating at first and posed a set of challenges to which she had not yet been exposed, Ehrle didn’t hesitate when Flory presented her with the opportunity to contribute on the court.
“It’s really great to get back involved, even though it’s not at my outside position,” Ehrle said. “I’m willing to step into any role that the team needs for me to fill for us to be successful in the season.”
Ehrle said there was an adjustment period at first, but Flory made every effort to ensure she became as comfortable as possible at the position.
Since earning a starting role in LSU’s second SEC game of the season, Ehrle has produced 0.49 blocks per set and 1.15 points per set while earning the confidence of her teammates.
“She’s definitely doing a good job of stepping up in that role,” said freshman outside hitter Mimi Eugene. “She’s definitely been secure in that spot and somebody we can rely on.”
Ehrle’s success did not come as a complete shock to Flory.
Flory said she and the Tigers’ coaching staff make a concerted effort to recruit well-rounded players — like Ehrle — who show potential at a multitude of positions.
“Ultimately, teams that make championship runs and have nice seasons have enough depth on their roster,” Flory said. “We recruit a lot of multipositional players. A lot of people that come in have played more than just left side or middle or right side — they’ve played and shown an ability to do more than one thing.”
The Tigers’ diverse lineup allows them to remain comfortable and composed when they get out of position or if someone needs to step up into a new role like Ehrle did.
Ehrle said while she may have felt more comfortable playing her usual outside spot at the start of the season, she’s happy her versatility and hard work allowed her to contribute to LSU’s success this season.
“I’ve embraced it, and I’m doing whatever I can to help the team, so I’m glad we’re going in a positive direction,” Ehrle said.