It can be hard to stand out as a younger player on a veteran team with lots of other high-end talent. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Sierra Hunt, however, is leading the women’s volleyball team in points and kills during her first season starting.
Hunt grew up in Aurora, Colorado. She played volleyball during her middle school and highschool years for Rangeview Highschool, as well as a handful of club teams. She began looking at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) as a potential college to play for during a camp she attended when part of the Colorado Juniors Club.
“I chose Mesa because of the coaches. I went to this camp my junior year and we broke off into positions. That’s when I originally met [head coach for beach volleyball] David Skaff. And every time I would go to hit, he’d be like ‘Oh come on, I know you can hit the ball harder’. I really liked that in a coach, because he’d just continue to push you to your best,” Hunt said.
Hunt committed to CMU; however, her first season would be plagued by the COVID-19 epidemic and subsequent sports scheduling restrictions. Hunt saw her first collegiate playing time in the shortened 2021 spring season.
Hunt showed promise, especially during the second half of the season when she received more playing time. Her efforts were recognized by an All-RMAC Honorable Mention at the conclusion of first year.
Hunt, like the other fall sports teams who were forced to play in the spring during the 2020-2021 year, had a quick turnaround before the fall 2021 season. The team would go 21-7 and earn its ninth ever NCAA D2 Postseason Tournament Appearance, but Hunt would only see limited playing time.
Hunt acknowledged that the drop in playtime negatively affected her self-esteem, but also understood that her sacrifice benefited the team. Hunt credits her 2022 outdoor beach volleyball season, where the team won a national title, for helping her to regain some confidence and play more calmly.
“In the offseason, I played beach volleyball, so we were spending a lot of time outside. My beach partner, who is [redshirt senior defender] Ara Norwood, really helped me. You can do a lot of shots in beach [volleyball] and you can go up and look at the court and see what’s available. I think the IQ of the beach game helps a lot when you go back into indoor. And so then, going into this year, it was more of just like, ‘I’m gonna prove this is who I am’. I came into the season having fun, not really caring about all the little things and errors which has really done a lot for me,” Hunt said.
This season, Hunt has shown to be one of the team’s best players.
The team’s opening set of matches took place within the Oredigger Volleyball Classic. Hunt was awarded as a member of the All-Tournament Team, along with graduate student middle hitter Erin Curl, the overall most valuable player. Hunt finished the two-day tournament with a total of 54 kills and 19 kills while hitting .407 percent. She recorded double digit kills in three of the four games.
“Sierra has always been a dynamic attacker and jumper. She has really improved on her blocking, defense and passing. In her position as an outside hitter, it is important that she can do everything. With her success on the beach team, she has improved in all those areas. She is also getting better about where and why she is hitting/attacking a certain spot. She is also getting better with dealing with sets from our libero when it is not perfect,” said head coach Dave Fleming.
This season, Hunt has recorded a team-best 160 points and is currently fourth on the team with 19 blocks. She has been top-two in kills in 11 of the team’s 13 games thus far, and sits at sixth on the team with a .216 hitting percentage.
“Sierra is one of the kindest people. She lights up a room when she walks in with her funny humor and how she treats each person. We have a very close connection on the court, and I know I can rely on her in tight situations,” redshirt sophomore setter Sabrina VanDeList said. “During one of our matches last year, she came in to play when we were not playing well. Every set I gave her, she earned a kill, and we ended up winning that match. We were all cheering for her and one of our teammates, Holly, went to hug her and they both tripped and landed right on top of each other. It was a funny memory and shows how much support she gets”.
Anyone who has not seen Hunt and the rest of the Maverick indoor volleyball team in action will get a chance when the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs visits town Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. in Brownson Arena.
