Saleaumua?s Defense Makes Others Better

By Shannon Sherman
Sometimes forgotten in Nebraska volleyball victory celebrations are the little moments of tenacious effort and sheer anticipation displayed by Jennifer Saleaumua throughout the match.

One such moment occurred against Illinois State on Aug. 30 in the Huskers' final match of the season-opening weekend. A Redbird hitter sent the ball hurtling toward NU's side of the court, and Saleaumua dove to her right.

As she fell to the floor, the sophomore outside hitter reached an outstretched arm for a seemingly impossible dig to pop the ball in the air and save a kill attempt by ISU.

Saleaumua finished the match with 13 digs and several acrobatic plays unaccounted for in the final box score.

"The bottom line is that Jen makes plays that no one else can make," NU Head Coach John Cook said. "She is so valuable to us, and I think I'm really beginning to appreciate that more and more as time goes by."

On a young and inexperienced Husker team, Saleaumua is a stabilizing force as Nebraska's best passer and defensive player in the back row. Her defensive prowess is even more significant in the early weeks of the 2003 season, as NU adjusts to a new offense and two new setters.

The Huskers captured the Barker GMC Classic title Aug. 29-30 by holding its three opponents to a combined .073 hitting percentage. NU averaged 16.60 digs per game, more than two more per game than its opponents. Saleaumua tied senior libero Jenae Dowling for the team lead in digs. Each recorded 31 over three matches.

Saleaumua takes pride in those numbers.

"My goal is to not let anything touch the ground, to always go for every ball and be aggressive," Saleaumua said. "I think it just comes natural for me. Our whole thing is to not let anything touch the court.

"Everyone watches the hitters, but you can't kill the ball if you can't play defense."

Cook agreed.

"It's just like Bo Pelini says. Defense gives you a chance to win even if your offense isn't there," Cook said. "Defense is about passion and effort. If you instill that in your team, and you can do that every time out, you have a chance to be very good defensively."

One of the keys to building a good defensive squad this season, Cook said, was moving Saleaumua from the right side of the court to the left side.

Saleaumua started 32 matches on the right during her freshman season, and she consistently produced the best all-around numbers of any Husker. Saleaumua led Nebraska with 30 service aces, ranked second on the team with 3.05 digs per game and was third on the team with 2.89 kills per game on a .295 hitting percentage. She was recognized with first-team All-Big 12 honors.

With the loss of two-time AVCA All-American Laura Pilakowski, Cook had the opportunity to switch Saleaumua to the left side, her more natural position.

"It puts Jen in the limelight and allows her to touch the ball more," Cook said. "There's more balls hit to the areas she's covering now, and it puts her in the right position to have more of an impact."

Another key to the Huskers' improved defense this season, Saleaumua said, has been the addition of Charlene Tagaloa to the coaching staff. Tagaloa was a setter on the U.S. National Team from 1997 to 2001.

Tagaloa has helped the Huskers improve their ball-handling techniques.

"We rarely have overpasses, and that's something we used to do all of the time," Saleaumua said.

While Saleaumua creates offensive opportunities for others with her defense and passing, she also manages to post impressive offensive numbers of her own. Saleaumua tallied 25 kills at the Barker GMC Classic and swung for a .292 hitting percentage, erring just six times in 65 attempts.

In 2002, Saleaumua notched at least a .400 hitting percentage 10 times, including Sept. 6 against Pepperdine, when she pounded 10 kills on a season-high .562 hitting percentage.

Before arriving at Nebraska, Saleaumua was named the Volleyball Magazine National High School Player of the Year largely because of her offensive numbers. The National City, Calif., native set a California Interscholastic Federation record for kills in a single match with 57 in the 2000 state championship match.

Even with all of her achievements offensively, Saleaumua is still known as a defensive player.

"Jen is not a power hitter, she's a finesse player," Cook said. "We have to do things to move her around the court and disguise her a bit to allow her to get the ball down and create havoc on the other side. She gives teams a different look whether it is slamming the ball down or with her shots and tips, and that's how she's so effective, even if people don't see it sometimes."

Saleaumua prefers to remain in the background, doing her damage in forgotten moments.

"Last year was a learning experience for me," Saleaumua said. "This year, I know a little bit more, and it feels like I have to take a step up to help out with the team, try to make them feel comfortable, make them not feel stressed or just not worrying about their technique and everything. Just to go with it."