Set for success
There’s no ceiling for what this tall and talented Miami signee can accomplish on the court
Setter Sophie Walls racked up 3,596 assists in her three-year varsity career, helping The Woodlands reach three consecutive regional finals and advance to the Class 6A semifinals this season. The 5-11 Miami signee served up 1,446 assists last year and generated another 1,088 this year, despite losing games to Hurricane Harvey and a serious knee injury during district, making her an easy choice for the Chronicle’s AllGreater Houston Volleyball Player of the Year.
Q: How long have you been playing volleyball, and when did you begin to specialize in setting?
A: I’ve been playing since 11. I used to play club basketball, but I didn’t really like it anymore and so when I started (volleyball) I was a hitter/DS, and then I started setting around 12 and I’ve been a setter ever since.
Q: What led you to setting?
A: One of my coaches, around 11 or 12, said, “Well, you’d be an awesome setter because you’d be tall,” because nowadays they want a lot of tall setters. So he said, “We might as well put you at setter and let you stand out more, rather than be a normal, average hitter.” Q: Did you take to it right away or
have to work hard to become a good setter?
A: I had to work a lot at it because setting is really different. It’s really technical, so it takes a lot of practice. The first two years I was a setter, I really didn’t get the hang of it that well because there’s so much technique, you have to know so many plays, (and) you have to be the leader for your team, so the hitters know what to run. So it’s definitely a different role than being a hitter or DS.
Q: The setter is often referred to as the quarterback in volleyball. Why is the position so important?
A: You have to have a person to look to on the court, if you’re down or up, whatever it is, to keep that emotion in check. … In past years, it was mental sometimes, with losses, so this year we really tried to make sure we all came together and stayed calm in those highpressure situations, because we’re all super athletic and talented, so that was our only weakness.
Q: You were on JV as a freshman when The Woodlands won a state title in 2014. What do you remember about going to state and watching your future teammates play?
A: I just remember how fast-paced it was and how big everyone was. It was a totally different level … so it really opened my eyes to what I wanted to be on that team the next year.
Q: You weren’t able to get back to that point, falling to Oak Ridge in the regional finals twice and three-time state champion Hebron in the state semis this year. How do you look at your varsity journey?
A: Our goal was to get to state, but, really, our goal was to win it all, and we could have, but we didn’t have our best game in the semifinals, so that’s something I definitely regret. I wish we’d all come together more, because I think a lot of it was nerves for a lot of people. It’s such a big stage, so it affected some people.
Q: You also faced Hebron in the Pearland tournament. What makes them so tough?
A: They have some very powerful hitters. They’re losing a couple, but they’re all huge, and they run a fast offense, and they had a really good libero this year. I think she’s leaving, too, but they’re pretty stacked overall in every area.
Q: You also notched 289 kills in your career. What’s more exciting — serving the ball up or putting it down?
A: I love setting it up for my hitters, but it’s also fun, every once in a while, to throw off the defense by throwing in a jump or kill here and there.
Q: How much are you looking forward to playing at Miami?
A: I’m super excited. I can’t wait. I go at the end of June, so I’m really excited to go up another level, or two levels, because they’re expecting a lot in college now.