Medina smashes ranked opponents

It must be the jersey.

Freshman Eli Medina is wearing the jersey in question, No. 9: a jersey previously worn by All-American and 2004-05 Index Player of the Year alumna Jessica Sears that now belongs to Medina. And the honors keep coming to the jersey.

Medina is the Index Athlete of the Week for her help in leading the volleyball team to a 4-0 start.

"I picked the No. 9, and people will probably think that it is because of Jessica Sears, who is amazing, but it's not," Medina said. "It has been my number since grade school, and it's kind of my lucky number."

As the lone freshman starter, Medina has contributed right away. Playing against four teams ranked in the top 11 in the country, Medina had three double-doubles, or 10 or more kills and 10 or more digs in a game in her first four matches.

This is something the previous jersey number didn't do in her first four college matches.

"I never expected to be a starter this early," Medina said. "I knew I had to work hard and prove myself, but it was still unexpected."

Her numbers in the young season stack up well against several well-known Bulldogs.

Her 2.44 kills and 3.17 digs per game are very close to junior Sarah Sherman, the 2003 National Freshman of the Year.

Sherman averaged 3.25 kills and 3.5 digs per game in her first four matches.

As good as her numbers look thus far, head coach Jason Skoch thinks she only can improve on them.

"She did great with those numbers, with also having some poor choices," Skoch said. "She can just get smarter with that. And so I think she will be able to produce those numbers much easier. I can see her producing those numbers all year."

Medina is not someone who has a noticeable strength. Skoch said she is very well-rounded.

"Eli brings a ton of ball control and a lot of game savviness, and her defense is unreal," Skoch said. "She really knows what she's doing out there."

Winning individual awards is not all Medina wants this year. She has big plans for the team.

"I would like to keep improving every day as a player," Medina said. "And I think that the team is so great that we definitely are capable of winning first place this year as long as we work as hard as we have been."

Skoch said Medina has the mind for the game.

"She is very coachable," Skoch said. "When she messes up I can tell her what's going on, and she'll understand."