Marshall University Athletics
BOGACZYK: Craft Battles Back, Emerges on Court
9/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
By JACK BOGACZYK
HERDZONE.COM COLUMNIST
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Justice Craft didn't come from nowhere to become the MVP at volleyball's season-opening Eagle Challenge at Morehead State two weeks ago.
It may have seemed like it. Actually, Craft actually came from Caledonia, Mich., to Marshall's program last season and played through knee and shoulder injuries and admitted homesickness. Then, with resilience and an opportunistic attitude, she led the Herd to wins in nine of 10 sets in sweeping the Morehead event.
Does she perhaps figure some people wondered, "Where did this middle blocker come from?"
"Well, just maybe," Craft said. "I think the biggest thing I thought about it was I didn't think; I just played. I was excited to be back, excited to touch the floor again. I'd been playing all summer so I wanted to prove to myself - mostly - and my team that I was capable of things that they were asking me to do."
As a Herd freshman in 2014, Craft "was a Rotation 2 specialist. I'd go in there and hit a 2 and come right out. I didn't play a whole lot, but I certainly played more than I thought I would. I hurt my (left) knee in the beginning, played on it all season. I couldn't damage it more or hurt is worse, so I figured if I can tolerate the pain, well, that's what I've got to do."
She played in 26 matches and made six starts, but finished the season with 61 kills and 26 blocks. In those three wins at Morehead to open 2015, the 5-foot-10 sophomore recorded 19 kills and 12 blocks with a .368 hitting percentage and was named the event's MVP.
"No, I didn't feel like I was playing like that," the 19-year-old Craft said of her performance. "I looked back on the stats and I'd be like, 'Is that my name?' because I was just in the game, in the moment. I was just playing, to be honest.
"Yeah, it was my shining moment, if you want to say that. It was my opportunity. I just wanted to do what I could do with it."
Craft, who is majoring in health and wellness and carries a 3.10 cumulative grade point average, also is involved with the Herd's Student-Athlete Action Committee (SAAC) with teammates Ally Kiekover (SSAC president) and Taylor Riedel. The middle blocker credits her teammates with helping her manage a first collegiate season and school year.
"I'm just really excited to be out on the court again," Craft said. "I really love being out there with my team ââ'¬Â¦ It's the highlight of every day for me. Sometimes it might not be the best thing of the day, but it's the easiest because I appreciate them so much.
"It was probably the most frustrating thing, sitting out, watching them get better and have fun without me being able to participate. Homesick ââ'¬Â¦ it was very tough. I struggled being homesick. You can ask my team. I'm a homebody. All the girls, they're so comforting, always there, and when I'm bawling my eyes out, I always have somebody I can talk with. That's the most at-home feeling you can probably get.
"I'm always homesick, but they're my sisters, and always be there for me."
Veteran Herd Coach Mitch Jacobs, whose 6-1 team plays three matches Friday-Saturday in the Panther Invitational at High Point (N.C.), said Craft's personality helped her through tough times.
"Justice worked as hard as anyone getting through her knee issue, and continues to work hard with Mallory (Gomes, trainer) on her shoulder," Jacobs said. "She is a superb athlete, but more so, she is a super kid to be around ââ'¬Â¦ always enjoying life and giving her best to be the best for her team. You just have to be so happy for Justice to not only go through the struggles, but to come back and in the first weekend win MVP at Morehead.
"Justice tries to do things the right way, on the court, in the classroom and in life. That's also why I recommended her to be on the SAAC committee with two of our other leaders. Justice has that infectious way about her and I felt that SAAC is a great step to help develop her leadership skills. Sometimes her joking way can subtract from people seeing her as a leader, but I think as she gets older, she will learn when to be serious, and she can be a great leader for this team later in her career."
Craft has bounced back from the lateral meniscus tear following surgery in mid-December. She spent the summer close to home playing sand volleyball and working on her game at Davenport University in Grand Rapids. She said she felt ready to show Jacobs and her teammates the game she brought to Marshall from East Kentwood High and in top-flight AAU competition with the Dead Frog FaR Out Club.
Craft said that while her health limited her play in 2014, she felt she did fit with the Herd.
"It was more like, 'I'm not there yet,'" she said. "The coaching staff does a good job of telling you what your potential is and what you need to work on. So, I knew I was there. It was just -- I think --at my age, at my immaturity to the (college) game, I didn't know how to put forth what I do now.
"I think experience was what was in front of me. I'd get that. And it wasn't so much of 'I'm behind people on doing this.' In practice, Coach Jacobs makes a big deal that if you're on the two-side you're working on getting (the regulars) better. At the same time, I was getting better and working on my game and learning, too. So, by helping them grow, I helped myself, too."
Craft, who has 40 kills and 19 blocks in 26 sets played in the Herd's 6-1 start, said she took a confident attitude into the season.
"In the preseason, coaches are trying to get a feel for what they can do, if they can get the effort they're looking for. So, honestly, I was like to myself, 'Just play.' It's early in the season, there are going to be mistakes, so ââ'¬Â¦
"In practices, it's just about working hard. (Jacobs) is huge on saying there are two things you can control in the game -- attitude and effort. There are two things you always need to do, so I did my best every practice. .. When I walked in the gym, it was, 'This is my focus; this is my goal.
"The biggest thing I've learned ââ'¬Â¦ It's a tossup between ââ'¬Â¦ well, I guess they correspond -- making your team better and playing together. The whole game, I say, 'Play together, stay together.' I tell you now, if we play together and stay together the whole time, we're going to give Conference USA all they can handle."
