Some freshmen athletes report to college and it takes them some time to adjust to life on their own. They have trouble finding buildings and are worried about making new friends. Typically, the first sanctuary they find is on the playing field.
It's a comfort level. It's the first thing that is not new and frightening.
That is what's happening to Penn State freshman volleyball player Kate Price. Price hails from Fraser, Mich., (pop. 15,297) and now she roams around State College where the population is three times as numerous. Yet she has not shown any nervousness while playing in matches.
"I think she's definitely playing awesome," sophomore Kris Brown said. "She's not playing like a freshman, she's playing like she's a little older. It's like she's been here for the last two or three years. It's helped a lot to know that a freshman can come in and help out."
That is exactly what the Nittany Lions need right now. A confident big swinger who can lift some of the pressure off their almost one-dimensional offense, which consists of senior outside hitter Ashley Peterson and a 75 percent healthy Cassy Salyer.
"She came in here with a lot of confidence," Salyer said. "And that really helped her out in the preseason. She realizes she has a job to do and she does it."
Price has shown that confidence throughout her first six collegiate matches. It's attained a level similar to that Salyer herself showed last year when she started 32 matches as a freshman and was one of the key components of a Penn State team that fell one win short of the Final Four.
While Price has shown some confidence at home (25 kills, 28.5 points), she gave the impression of being a big-time force up front last weekend on the road (45 kills, 52 points). She had her best game of the young season against then-No. 12 Stanford on its home floor when she recorded 28 kills. She had 10 in the first game, tying her previous match high, which she set against Rutgers on Sept. 3, and finished her weekend by earning MVP honors of the invitational.
"She's doing better than can be expected from a freshman," fifth-year senior Tabitha Eshelman said. "She's getting on top of things. I mean, she was MVP out at Stanford against Ogunna [Nnamani, the senior outside hitter for Stanford], that's going to say a lot right there."
Price's offensive brilliance has allowed her to find a spot in the starting lineup lately. But the general consensus among coaches is when Big Ten conference play comes around, a coach usually plays his or her veteran players. That doesn't mean that Price won't still be a big part of the offense.
"I would love to be a big part of this offense," said Price. "If I keep swinging well, I will start. If I don't, I won't. I'll do whatever I can to help the team."
Her early success should be no surprise to people in the volleyball world. She was a Volleyball Magazine "Fab 50" selection last season at Fraser High School.
"She has a very big high side," Rose said. "She came from a very good high school and club program, which has given her a lot of experience in a lot of areas. She's also got a nice touch on the ball as a passer, too."
All of this fuss is over a girl who just celebrated her 18 birthday on Sunday.
