This week, one of Thomas Dale’s best volleyball players ever will celebrate her last home game in maroon and grey. That is senior Sydney Frink.
“She’s one of the best student athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of coaching,” said coach Aariane Hayes. “Sydney is a kid that’s gotten better every single year.”
Frink, the Knights’ standout has firmly planted herself in the record books and the Lynchburg College committed player name may not be going anywhere for a long time. The senior holds single-season and career school records for kills, digs and serve percentage. Frink also added the single-season mark for blocks in her sophomore season.
Typically speaking, most players specialize in either offense or defense. Frink’s career numbers (with at least two games left) have her tallied with 766 kills and 639 digs, two numbers that are not often that high, or that close to each other.
Career Stats
• 766 Kills
• 179 Aces
• 165 Blocks
• 639 Digs
• 72.8% kill rate
• 95.3% serve rate
*Atleast two games left to play
The senior’s development has been primarily from a defensive player to an evenly balanced player who produces on both sides of the net. There are two stats that measure defense in volleyball, the “dig” and the “block.”
“She went from being a not much of a defender to being a defensive machine,” Hayes said.
Frink’s made a living off the dig, which is typically the first hit over the net, a pass, to usually, the setter. From there, the setter looks for either the outside or opposite hitter to finish the point. Hence, the old volleyball adage of “Bump, Set, Spike.” Over the past two years, it’s been Frink starting and finishing plays to help score.
The two-year team captain should end up as outside hitter for Lynchburg, the post she’s held at Thomas Dale. Frink plans to major in business and was a show choir participant and a member of the honor roll as a Lady Knight.
Frink joins L.C. Bird’s Taylor McNeely as a college commit from the local area. The Skyhawks’ libero will play at Bridgewater College.
