蜜柚直播鈥檚 Devyn Cross, right, 鈥渃an really get up and go quick,鈥 says her coach, Dave Rubio. She was the UA鈥檚 most productive blocker last season as a freshman.
Rosenblatt said...
The details: Cross is an athletic, 6-foot middle blocker entering her sophomore season for 蜜柚直播 volleyball. She was a high school teammate of fellow UA sophomore Elizabeth Shelton at Desert High School on Edwards Air Force Base in California. Like Shelton, Cross didn鈥檛 start playing volleyball until high school. Cross didn鈥檛 have any college scholarship offers well into her junior season when UA coach Dave Rubio attended one of her matches. Two weeks later, Cross was offered a scholarship and, even after some late interest from UCLA, she decided to sign with 蜜柚直播 as part of its 2016 class. Cross called it a 鈥渘atural fit.鈥
鈥淚 chose 蜜柚直播 because of the welcoming atmosphere,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 like how close everyone seems and how they welcomed me from the first time I met the team and the coaches.鈥
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The numbers: Cross was 蜜柚直播鈥檚 most productive blocker as a freshman, leading the team in blocks per set (0.88), block solos (18), block assists (86) and total blocks (114). She also managed 1.28 kills per set at a .275 hitting percentage, along with 35 digs.
The value: 蜜柚直播 is expected to be deep at middle blocker next season 鈥 the Wildcats return 6-foot-7-inch senior McKenzie Jacobson and Jade Turner, the daughter of former 蜜柚直播 basketball player Joe Turner 鈥 but Cross might be the most talented one of them all. If Cross, maybe 蜜柚直播鈥檚 most athletic player, can keep progressing as she gains experience, the Wildcats will be better for it.
Why Cross? Rubio compared Cross鈥 athleticism to former outside hitter Kim Glass, who holds a multitude of UA career and single-season records. Cross鈥 athletic ability allowed her to contribute right away as a freshman and, with her inexperience, she has a high ceiling.
鈥淪he鈥檚 just a terrific, outstanding athlete,鈥 Rubio said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 just still young in her development.鈥
Proof she鈥檚 good: Cross wasn鈥檛 initially on track to become 蜜柚直播鈥檚 leading blocker. Heading into the final three weeks of the season, she was averaging only 0.59 blocks per set. Then she got hot and averaged 1.25 blocks per set to close out the season. That mark, extrapolated over a full season, would鈥檝e ranked seventh in the Pac-12. Cross tallied five or more blocks on 10 occasions and led the UA in blocks in 16 matches.
What Cross can accomplish: If Cross can play at the level, or better, she did in the final three weeks of the season, she becomes an outside candidate to be selected to the Pac-12鈥檚 18-person All-Conference team. That will be a tall task, however, considering just one sophomore was selected to the team in 2016.
Coachspeak: 鈥淭his spring we put her on the opposite, so she鈥檚 got a chance to play a couple different positions outside of the middle position. I think the middle is the best position for her because you can really exploit the opposing team because of how quick and athletic she is. We鈥檒l see, but she鈥檚 just an elite, elite athlete. Really quick, fast, explosive. She鈥檚 someone who can really get up and go quick.鈥 鈥 Rubio
She said it: 鈥淩ubio taught me that you have to keep a good mindset. You win some, you lose some. Looking forward to the next game and moving on is really important.鈥 鈥 Cross during last season
How Cross performed:听Cross contributed 143 points for the Wildcats in 2017, including a season-high (13) on the road against Utah. In that game against the Utes, she also had 8 kills. Reminder: she's just a sophomore. Cross is expected to be back to improve on her 2017 season.听
Contact:zrosenblatt@tucson.com or 573-4145. On Twitter: @ZackBlatt
