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Blockers can be clueless opposite Lady Eagles' Billmyer

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It’s become predictable that Nixa right-side hitter Allie Billmyer will be unpredictable for opposing blockers to read.

Upon approaching the net and receiving an assist from setter Sydney Golden, Billmyer herself often doesn’t know where she is going with the ball. She repeatedly makes a split-second decision as she prepares to attack.

“Over the years, I’ve tried to progress with my shot selection — I don’t want to be an easy hitter to read,” Billmyer said. “I want to be able trick the blockers and be able to hit down the line or hit a deep cross or a sharp cross short.

“I’m able to get a lot of vision when I’m in the air,” she added. “I can see the block and where I want the ball to go and then make my best efforts to make the hit hard and aggressive.”

Billmyer has made the leap from good to great, while recording 173 kills in the Lady Eagles’ 17-2 start. She’s on track to far exceed her 232 kills from all of last year.

“Allie does a good job of mixing it up,” coach Annie Zimmerman said. “That makes her tougher to defend. Sometimes, I think at the last second she sees what the defense is trying to take away from her and she goes somewhere else with it.”

Billmyer’s best shot might actually be the result of when she doesn’t have perfect timing while receiving an assist from Golden. On those occasions, she has shown a tendency to hit the ball behind her and away from the defense along the out-of-bounds line.

“If I know there is no way I’m going to be able to be on top of the ball, I’ve got to adjust and make my shot selection as quickly as I can,” she said. “Mostly when I overrun the ball, I’m able to adjust and hit it over my shoulder behind me. I’m known for hitting down the line.”

“She can hit it down the line when you think she’s hitting cross,” middle blocker Jena Medearis said. “(The defense) has no clue. They are probably just waiting and hoping it doesn’t come to them.”

“The fact she can hit a variety of shots and do it fairly consistently is a big key for her success,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman adds Billmyer’s intangibles make her valuable, as well.

“She brings a ton of energy to our team and is very coachable,” Zimmerman said. “She’s always listening and ready for feedback. She wants lots of feedback because she wants to get better and better.”

Billmeyer is among four Lady Eagles with 100 or more kills already. Jaycee Fixsen leads the way with 236 kills, while Medearis has 147 and Hillary Estes 105.


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