Brittany McGinnis, Ball State University's best women's volleyball setter couldn't be found in her normal position this weekend.
In an unexpected turn of events right out of the gate, two injuries to defensive players and ball handlers forced the women's volleyball team to try something radical. As a result, McGinnis was moved from her setter position to outside hitter, a successful venture.
"I'm very competitive. I don't like losing," McGinnis said early one morning before practice. "On the court I'm very focused and aware of everything that's going on."
Having played outside hitter in high school, the position wasn't foreign to McGinnis and it showed. In her only outing as an outside hitter she notched 11 kills. Most recently, McGinnis came up with a solo block against Big East power University of Louisville during a critical moment in their match.
In other words, don't try to sneak anything by McGinnis because it probably won't work.
"Brittany is a very driven person," women's volleyball coach Dave Boos said. "She's always working hard to improve and she's just naturally gifted for setting."
The gift Boos spoke of can be backed up by McGinnis' stats as a freshman. In one season she sits ninth all-time in assists without the benefit of sets being played to 30 points (a NCAA rule change cut sets to 25 points starting last season), but it isn't just the on-court accomplishments that define McGinnis.
"Brittany is two different people. There's the serious and competitive side you see on the court and the fun, energetic, outgoing girl off the court," sophomore Kaylee Schembra said. "I try to make her laugh sometimes on the court to keep her relaxed because she can get too serious."
Labeled as charismatic, laid back, easy to talk to and a joker, McGinnis seems to be near the center of anything that's going on at team functions.
"People seem to just gravitate to Brittany," Boos said. "She's a charismatic person."
That's not the only way teammates characterize McGinnis, though."She's such a hypochondriac. Brittany always thinks she's dying of something," junior Alyssa Rio said. "We both are really. We end up freaking out about these things together. It can be hilarious."
It doesn't matter the ailment, McGinnis is widely known for her reactions to them.
"Any bump or headache turns into something bigger than what it really is," said Schembra, who lives with McGinnis. "It happens randomly throughout the course of the year."
Despite the hectic schedule of a full-time student and Division I athlete, McGinnis finds time to relax and just hang out. Whether it's with teammates or back home in Michigan she enjoys a variety of activities, from being out by the lake to watching two distinctively different TV shows.
"I love watching Ace of Cakes," McGinnis said. "They build all different kinds of cakes and it's interesting to watch. I also love Grey's Anatomy."
With a year under her belt, McGinnis understands the anatomy of her schedule and has learned plenty of life lessons to apply.
"I learned I have to go to bed early and on time because we have to be up early to practice," McGinnis said. "Getting homework done is also a necessity, as is calling my family."
McGinnis' oldest sister Angie was a two-time South Eastern Conference Player of the Year in her time on the University of Florida volleyball team and has played an instrumental role in McGinnis' life.
"My sister was an inspiration. I got to see her play a lot and that helped me get used to the speed of the college game faster," McGinnis said. "She really helped me get through last year because the freshman year isn't always easy to get through."
With a successful first year at Ball State, McGinnis continues to improve her game and have fun all the while.
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