Written by Journal Tribine Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar

STANDISH — With its requirement for fast thinking, quick footwork, strong court vision, soft hands and an almost encyclopedic knowledge of teammates and their tendencies, setter is arguably the most demanding of all volleyball positions.

According to Saint Joseph's women's coach Yamile Nolan, it's certainly the most overlooked.

"I think setters are always undervalued, especially compared to the hitters," Nolan said. "You have to be really quick, not just in terms of your footwork and your hands, but in terms of where you're going to put the ball next. You have to be a step ahead, even before the ball gets to you."

Nolan, for one, certainly isn't one to overlook the value of a good setter when trying to put together a dynamic offense. It's one reason why she appreciates what she has in Mariah Hebert.

"She has a gift," Nolan said. "The ball just comes off beautifully off her hands."

Hebert, a freshman at St. Joe's and last year's Maine Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year at Biddeford High, has used that gift to step right in and spearhead the Monks' attack so this fall, helping the team to a 13-3 record with a her 6.82 assists per set.

At such a critical position — the setter touches the ball on nearly every play and coordinates the offensive movements of their team, and is the player who ultimately determines which player will attack the ball on the third and final touch — Hebert's has been a nearly seamless transition.

"Mariah has stepped right in and flourished," Nolan said. "It's a really tricky position because this year we have such a diverse group of offensive players that either like the sets really tight or like them high and off the net or low and fast.

"She has to sort of tailor each set to each player, and that's really challenging. For a freshman to embrace that, it's outstanding."

It's been a very important transition, too, considering who Hebert is replacing.

Kiah Begley was a four-year starter at setter for the Monks from 2009-12, breaking the program's all-time assists-per-set mark in each of her four seasons, including 8.1 a set a year ago.

In total Begley compiled 2988 assists in her career — a full 1479 above Kerri Padgett in second place — and St. Joe's offense had come to rely on that sort of production from the position. Intimidating shoes to fill, to say the least, although Hebert said she didn't think of it in those terms.

"I knew I had some big shoes to fill and I'm doing my best to fill them," Hebert said. "But I didn't really focus on that because it would just be putting a lot of pressure on myself. Instead of trying to be like her, I'm just trying to be like me.

"Mentally I prepared myself to have that confidence on the court; really just showing everyone even though I'm a freshman I can really do my job. They must have recruited me for a reason."

That reason was a sterling four-year career at Biddeford that she capped with a marvelous senior season last fall, when she totaled a remarkable 350 assists for a Tigers team that was undefeated heading into last year's Class A state championship match, where Hebert went down with an injury in the second set of a 3-1 loss to Greely.

Nolan had been on the trail of Hebert for nearly a year before securing the commitment, a decision Hebert said she made because of the similarities of St. Joe's program to Biddeford's.

"I felt very comfortable here, the coach is great and all of the team gets along really well," Hebert said. "And I think a team that gets along very well, especially in college, is very respectable. In high school my team was always a family, and I think the team here is just like that."

Hebert said it's that kind of team chemistry that's allowed the Monks to get off to its blazing start this fall, which has included dropping just one set in four wins against Great Northeast Conference competition.

"If there's good chemistry on the court and we're always talking and we're always playing up to our potential, we can beat pretty much any team," Hebert said. "It's about playing with no fear and confidence. I think honestly that's the biggest thing; playing with that attitude, I think it brings out your talent."

While Hebert has stepped in with aplomb, Nolan did say she still has plenty parts of her game refine, such as trusting her teammates to take the ball and make the set if they're in a better position to make the more high percentage pass.

Of course, there's still plenty of time for that.

"She's such a great player," Nolan said. "I could ask her to do anything, and she just listens and says 'OK." Never gives kind of a weird look like some players or gets hot when a game gets testy, that's just not in her.

"I'm so excited because I have her three more years. She's just going to get better and better each year. I just feel very fortunate that we were able to land her and have her commit to this program for four years."

— Staff Writer Cameron Dunbar can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 323.