After playing three years of volleyball for Dana Hills High School in Laguna Niguel, Calif., Chelsea Goodsell packed up her things and moved north to play for the Sacramento State Hornets.

Before moving to Sacramento, Goodsell played with the Dolphins from 2003-05. As a setter, Goodsell was the team’s MVP in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. She also played for a club volleyball team called Saddleback Valley for nine years. As the starting libero, she played on teams that took either the first or second place titles in three consecutive Volleyball Festivals (2004-06).

In 2004, she played for the 15-under team that took first place out of 81 teams in the Volleyball Festival.

“I started playing competitive volleyball in fourth grade. My older sister played, so it’s just one of those things where your siblings played and then I just stuck with it. I’ve always been short, so thank goodness there is a position called libero, so I just started learning defense,” Goodsell said.

Goodsell is a part of the Hornets’ defensive team. The libero is a designated back-row player intended to be a defensive specialist.

The libero cannot play front row or try to block the ball. The libero also cannot set the ball to another teammate or try and make an attack in front of the attack line. The main purpose of the libero is to help the defense and pass the ball after the opposition hits the ball back over the net.

The libero is allowed to come into the game at any time for a back row player. Whenever a libero comes into the game, it does not count as an official substitution. Although the libero is not on the official starting lineup, the libero can serve for any player rotating into the back-row.

Goodsell is the replacement of recently graduated, three-time Libero of the Year Kristin Lutes. Lutes was named honorable mention All-Pacific Region and averaged a Big Sky best 6.24 digs per game. She also has the Big Sky single season and career records for digs.

Not only was Lutes a record holder for the Big Sky, but she holds those records in Sac State history as well.

“Kristin was a good player and there is pressure on me [to play well], but the coaches do a good job of not making me feel like I have to be how she was. There is a lot of experience that you get playing Division I volleyball. I’m still a baby. I’m only a freshman, so I’m still learning. It gives me a goal to try and break her records. So I look to her as a role model for defense,” Goodsell said.

Goodsell was recruited to Sac State by head coach Debby Colberg. Colberg watched a tape that Goodsell had sent in, but it wasn’t until she saw Goodsell play in a junior tournament in Las Vegas that she recognized her potential.

“She played really well in Las Vegas, and I think the only problem is that she played so well that other schools became interested. We were worried we weren’t going to get her, but in the end we did and I think she is a really good libero,” Colberg said.

Goodsell leads the Hornets with 243 digs in 14 matches. During the Sacramento State Invitational, Goodsell tallied 44 digs in three matches. Her defense helped lead the Hornets to a second place title in the Invitational.

Goodsell also plays a big role in the Hornets’ offense. She has nine service aces tallied for the season so far.

A service ace occurs when the player who is serving the ball does not allow the opposing team to return the ball on the first play.

Colberg is known for teaching her players a lot about defense. Goodsell maintains her skill comes through coaching from Colberg.

“She really knows a lot about defense. I think she is one of the best defense coaches in the nation,” said senior Lindsay Haupt.

Goodsell has already posted big numbers for defensive plays early in the season. As the season continues, Goodsell will try to keep posting big numbers and grow closer towards her goal of filling Lutes’ shoes.

The Hornets won its second title at the USF Invitational this past weekend. Goodsell tallied 48 digs in three matches.

Sac State will return to the Hornets Nest to host Northern Arizona in the league opener on Friday.

Alicia de la Garza can be reached at [email protected].