In baseball, the utility player can play numerous positions, providing the team with a valuable commodity.
In volleyball, a utility player fills a similar role, making Elise Hendrickson so essential to the No. 21 Arizona Wildcats.
Hendrickson, a sophomore from Long Beach, Calif., typically plays as a libero or defensive specialist, but can also play in the front row and produce kills and blocks. In a pinch, she can also set.
"Elise has provided the ability to sub people out if we need passing, and she knows the game so well, and fundamentally, she's very sound," said coach Dave Rubio, whose 8-0 team will face Tulane and New Mexico today, and UTEP on Sunday in the Arizona Invitational at McKale Center.
Find out more about Hendrickson and the odd role of utility player as the Cats try to remain undefeated in nonconference play before the Pac-10 season opens next week:
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Who: Hendrickson's sister, Emily, played volleyball at UC-Santa Barbara, but Elise said she wanted to go her own way and ended up at Arizona. She said one of the first recruiting letters she received, near the beginning of her freshman year of high school, came from the Wildcats, and Rubio often attended her matches. "That made a huge impression," she said. Hendrickson is studying psychology and thinking about attending medical school and possibly becoming a dentist.
What: While outside hitter, middle blocker and setter are more well-known volleyball terms, the utility player boasts an assortment of skills. Hendrickson practices at libero and defensive specialist the most, but she can sub elsewhere in case of injuries. "Whitney (Dosty) broke her pinkie, so I have to be more ready to go in to hit now," Hendrickson said. "It's not unusual, but there's not a ton (of utility players). It just means you're pretty knowledgeable in every position."
Where: Hendrickson honed a variety of skills in high school. As the team's tallest player at 6 feet 2 inches, she played middle blocker for Long Beach Wilson High School. For the Cal Juniors club team, she played outside, middle, right and in all six rotations, developing her defensive skills.
When: Hendrickson provides the Cats with strong passing, after sitting out last season with ACL and meniscus tears in her left knee. Last week, when Arizona swept Santa Clara and Utah, she finished with a passing percentage over 80 percent, "which is off the charts," Rubio said. "Your goal is 65 percent as a libero." She also had 11 digs against Utah.
Why: Hendrickson takes pride in being a well-rounded player. "People usually think tall people can't play defense and can't pass, and I always hated that people would make that assumption," she said. "So, it was a major thing for me to be able to know how to do everything."
TOURNEY
Arizona Invitational at McKale Center
• Today: vs. Tulane, 11 a.m.; vs. New Mexico, 7 p.m.
• Sunday: vs. UTEP, 11 a.m.
