Just an injury away — that is how close Amanda Kullman is to being the starting setter for the Syracuse volleyball team.

But in reality, Kullman is not a starter. She doesn’t always play. Her games mostly involve sitting on the bench and cheering on her teammates, with the occasional playing time thrown in here and there.

‘We’re expecting her to be ready for whenever we need her,’ assistant coach Carol LaMarche said. ‘I don’t really foresee her taking over, position, at least not this year. We expect her to keep improving.’

Kullman is currently second on the depth chart behind sophomore Laura Homann as SU’s starting setter. That is something that, for now, sits fine with Kullman, a freshman who spends most of her time standing on the sidelines and watching her teammates.

Kullman realizes Homann is firmly entrenched as the starting setter. It’s just motivation to work harder.

‘That’s what I’m always up for: being challenged and making it to the top,’ Kullman said. ‘Always pushing myself to get better.’

As a freshman, playing time may not come very often. But when it does, like in the game against Cornell last week, Kullman is ready.

‘I think she knows where she needs to improve, and it’s just good that we’re getting more and more confidence in her that if something does happen to Laura, she can step on the court and deliver the balls,’ LaMarche said.

Against the Big Red, Kullman got her first playing time since early-season tournaments. It wasn’t a Big East game, but it was a match that let her receive more game experience.

The set also provided an opportunity for Kullman to showcase her skills, should she need to play more at some point later in the season.

‘When (head coach Jing Pu) told me (I was going into the game), my heart skipped a beat,’ Kullman said, recounting the moment she was called on during the Cornell game.

‘I was really nervous at first. But stepping onto the court, I just had to keep telling myself, ‘It’s just like practice. This is what we do every day. I know how to do this. This is what I love to do.’ So I just had to keep telling myself that you’re good at it and you can do it.’

Kullman played one set and finished with 12 assists, right behind Homann’s 16 assists.

The freshman won’t be unseating Homann anytime soon, though. But that does not mean she isn’t talented. LaMarche has seen her consistent play in practice, which translated to the court against Cornell.

And although she hasn’t played a lot, Kullman has improved over the course of the season, LaMarche said.

‘Every time, every day she comes to practice, she works hard, she focuses on what she needs to do,’ LaMarche said.

In only her first year at SU, Kullman understands what her role is, and she has begun to adjust to it. During games, she can be seen standing by SU’s bench with her other teammates also not in the game. They all cheer loudly, rooting their team on.

‘Being on the bench is hard,’ Kullman said. ‘You have to know that you do have a role on the team.

‘It was hard especially during preseason, it was really a mental game. But now that I know that I’m just as good as these girls, it’s a really good feeling.’

Kullman may or may not get more playing time as the season progresses. Even if she doesn’t get minutes in Big East play, the effort is there — and that effort will get her far in the future, even if the present doesn’t seem so bright.

Kullman has embraced her role. She doesn’t let it get her down. That, LaMarche said, is the sign of an ideal bench player.

‘You don’t want your bench players to be pouting on the sidelines and not cheering their teammates on,’ LaMarche said. ‘You want them to stay focused and keep working hard and be ready whenever their opportunity arises that they get to play. And that’s what Amanda does.’

rnmarcus@syr.edu

Published on October 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Rachel: rnmarcus@syr.edu