Roberto Clemente isn't only hard hitter from Carolina, PR; meet UF frosh Noami Santos-Lamb
Monday, August 22, 2011 | Men's Basketball, Volleyball, Scott Carter
Florida volleyball coach Mary Wise knows a good serve when she sees one.
Wise opens her 21st season on Friday night when the Gators host Boston College in the Active Ankle Challenge at the O'Connell Center. The event also features Auburn and North Carolina.
Freshman outside hitter Noami Santos-Lamb has the kind of serve that Wise has especially enjoyed watching during camp.
“She is the one who has just got this wicked jump serve,'' Wise said. “I have a feeling when she goes back to serve, what we're hoping is the opponents gasp and the fans in the stands are really looking forward to it.''
Santos-Lamb is from a place made famous by a hard hitter: Roberto Clemente, the first Latin American player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
She grew up in Carolina, Puerto Rico, where Clemente was born and raised and where his memory is now honored with a baseball stadium in his name.
Carolina is also where Santos-Lamb started playing volleyball at age 5 and developed into a top college prospect. That wicked jump serve that Wise talks about has been clocked up to 55 mph, so Santos-Lamb adds a dangerous weapon to the lineup when she is on.
“She has a real high volleyball IQ,'' Wise said. “She has played the game from a young age. If she is doing 55 in a practice setting just during warm-ups, just wait until she gets mad at the head coach.''
Santos-Lamb is part of a freshman class that also includes middle blocker Simone Antwi, and a pair of defensive specialists, Madison Monserez and Holly Pole.
She has quickly adjusted to her new digs at UF, a place Santos-Lamb said she was drawn to because of the volleyball program and the art school. She is an aspiring artist who is interested in developing her drawing abilities.
As for UF volleyball 101, she is making progress in that class.
“I wouldn't say overwhelming, but it's been hard,'' Santos-Lamb said. “There is a lot to learn and there is a lot to work on. As you start to get it down, you start seeing results right away. It gets easier as time goes by.''
That's what Wise wants to hear. The Gators lost three seniors from last year's 29-2 team that spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the country – Callie Rivers, Lauren Bledsoe and Erin Fleming.
The newcomers such as Santos-Lamb will have an opportunity to contribute immediately if they show they're ready to pass the test.
“It's a terrific freshman class,'' Wise said. “The good news is that we're not going to have to rely on them. They're going to be part of the mix, but they will not have to lead this team.''
