Redden making her mark at UNCG

GREENSBORO – Caley Redden’s college volleyball road has not been as smooth as it was during her days at McMichael High School, but nonetheless the former Lady Phoenix is beginning to leave her mark on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro program.
Redden, a junior outside hitter for the Lady Spartans, is coming off a career-year in 2008.
Currently, Redden and her UNCG mates are 15-12 on the season (7-5 in Southern Conference) following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Samford.
She sat out her freshman season – as a redshirt returning to the floor in 2007 only to be faced with a setback.
Redden was limited to just 12 matches during her sophomore year due to an injury. In 43 games, she recorded 57 kills and 28 digs from her outside position.
However, last season seems to be her “breakout” year and that has spring-boarded her into this campaign.
She has played in 25 of the team’s 33 matches in 2008 – where Redden set career-highs for digs in a match (12), blocks in a match (6) and a season-high 10 kills against Chattanooga.
The team finished the season 23 up and 10 down, including a 14-4 Southern Conference mark. UNCG lost to College of Charleston in the second round of the conference tournament.
Heading into the season, the Lady Spartans had just three seniors on their roster and a strong six-player junior class that included Redden and Ariel Newman, a former player at Southern Guilford – who competed against Redden when McMichael and Southern both resided in the old North State 2-A Conference.
In addition to that, UNCG also welcomed in a new coach, Patrick Nicholas, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Marshall University. He became the sixth coach in the past 30 seasons at UNCG – following the departure of Shawn Garus, who left UNCG to take over as the head coach job at Boise State University.
In what could be considered a transition or “rebuilding” season, the Lady Spartans won four of their first six games, but then dropped then next five to stand at 4-7 competing in the UNCG Tournament held in mid-September.
Following the tourney, things turned around as UNCG had a season-high seven straight wins and the Lady Spartans found themselves at 13-9.
Sunday’s loss ended the Lady Spartans’ two-game winning streak.
In the loss to Samford, Redden had a career-high 19 kills to lead the Spartans offensively and also added 13 digs for her 11th double-double of the season. Redden also had two blocks.
Heading into tonight’s match with Elon, Redden is averaging .12 assists per set, 2.65 kills per set, 2.66 digs per set and .47 blocks per set – in 98 sets played.
Redden, who played under current and longtime McMichael head coach Marty Woods, was an all-conference player with the Lady Phoenix and also starred on the DMHS basketball team.
With just four games left on the docket, Redden and the Lady Spartans hope to continue building some momentum heading towards the Southern Conference Tournament, which begins on Nov. 21.
Until then, UNCG will turn its focus to Elon, Furman, Appalachian State and Western Carolina.
The Lady Spartans are in third place in the conference standings behind Samford (9-4) and Elon (8-4).
Tonight’s game in Elon is set for 7 p.m.