ELLIOT’S TUCKER PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS
Elliot setter Frankie Tucker putting up big numbers
Franchesa Tucker is known by family and friends as Frankie.
When the Elliot Christian High volleyball player steps onto the court to face Central California Athletic Alliance opponents, she is also known as an offensive threat capable of setting up the ball to teammates looking to record a point. When she’s behind the line to serve, Tucker glances over the opponent’s defensive set-up or opening spot to land the ball for an ace.
Tucker, one of the Eagles’ co-captains, is hoping that college volleyball programs give will give her a chance to build her skills in upcoming years — be it on a scholarship or walk-on role. But first, the Eagles are trying to secure one of the league’s four playoff spots.
Elliot (4-6 in the CCAA, 4-7 overall) has three league matches left after Monday’s non-league contest against Humphrey’s Able Charter. On Thursday, Elliot hosts Stone Ridge Christian. Next week, Elliot closes out league play at Ben Holt College Prep Academy of Stockton and Big Valley Christian of Modesto. The Eagles are battling Venture Academy for
the league’s fourth playoff berth. The Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs will start post-season action in two weeks.
This year’s Elliot volleyball team has been a blast for Tucker, a senior setter, and her teammates, including fellow seniors in Lexie Juelch, who is one of the Eagles’ co-captains, Taylor Lewis, Casandra Cruz and Katrina Themm. Juniors on the squad are Kayleigh Schrader, the Eagles’ multitalented outside hitter/middle blocker, Sophia Butler and Bailey Correia, who transferred to Elliot from Lodi High over the summer. Correia started playing for the Eagles two weeks ago after observing the section’s 30day sit-out transfer bylaw. Sophomore Annabelle Sepp and freshman Claire Hultgren round out the squad.
Brian Konrad is in his first year as the Elliot coach. Tucker feels that Konrad, an off-campus coach who works in real estate, and the squad has become stronger in recent weeks that hopes to end the regular season with one of the league’s playoff berths.
“He’s got lots of experience,” said Tucker of Konrad. “We have some club players. We have girls with experience in high school (volleyball). We have some girls that have never played volleyball before. It’s definitely a very versatile team. We’ve had our ups and downs. I think this season we’re going to finish really well.”
Tucker has 149 assists for the season. Last year, Tucker finished with 247 assists. In 2015, she had 262 that adds up to 658 assists. Tucker’s quest 700 or more assists during her high school volleyball career should take place this and next week.
When she’s behind the line serving,
Tucker has 62 aces for the season. That number includes a remarkable 22 aces in a CCAA home match against Venture Academy of Stockton on Oct. 11. She also has 22 digs and 20 blocked shots; 16 solo and four assisted. Along with her assists statistics in 2016, Tucker had 60 aces, 40 kills and 51 blocked shots. In 2015, she had 97 digs, 73 aces and 42 kills.
In recent weeks, Tucker has visited Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, as well as UC Santa Cruz, She recently had an unofficial visit to Boise State University in Boise, Idaho; she was visiting family in Idaho and had an opportunity to visit the campus. Tucker said she had an opportunity to work out members of the Broncos’ volleyball team, and worked out with one of the Broncos’ setters.
“It was a real quick scrimmage,” said Tucker, who started playing volleyball seven years ago and club volleyball
at 14. “It’s an awesome school.”
Tucker plans to major in biology and animal science, and wants to become a veterinarian. She wants to attend a college that offers the best biology classes that will lead her into carrying for animals for a living.
Tucker is glad to be a part of Elliot’s enrollment of 77 students. In particular when she was leaning toward attending St. Mary’s High. Elliot and St. Mary’s have green as part of their school colors, but Tucker is happy to be soaring like an eagle.
“It was definitely the school for me,” said Tucker of Elliot. “I have a lot of friends going there, and friends who had previously gone there. The teachers really care about you as a person. I just think it’s a really cool school.”