There was a time last year when the volleyball coaches weren’t sure if Emily Kauth could play the middle hitter position and they considered moving her to the outside.

Kauth proved them wrong.

‘[Kauth] had a really good spring and went home over the summer and really worked hard,’ coach Denise Van De Walle said. ‘She came back in terrific shape and is one of our top players right now on the floor. She needs to stay in the middle.’

The 5-foot-11 sophomore from Vandalia is absolutely one of the top players on the floor right now for the Falcons.

The statistics say it all.

Kauth is second on the team in kills per set (2.70) and second in attack percentage (.289). She is second on the team in blocks with 40, second in points with 236.5 and second in kills with 200.

Corey Domek has an idea why Kauth has as many kills as she does.

‘She could rip the cover off the ball,’ Domek said. ‘Emily’s a stud. For her first year playing, I think she’s a huge force on our team. She’s really taken over some matches and really dominated.’

Domek and Van De Walle were on the same page when discussing Kauth’s hitting ability.

‘I think Emily has the best arm swing on the team,’ Van De Walle said. ‘She hits fast, very fast. When she swings at the ball, it gets on the floor fast and that’s exactly what you need.’

But even though the players and coaches know she has the best arm swing on the team, she is very modest about her talent.

‘I don’t know. Sounds good. Whatever,’ Kauth said of being the hardest hitter on the team.

She talked as if this talent was almost required of her. And with her background, it is no surprise.

Kauth fell in love with the game when her mother, who played collegiately at Ohio State University, would talk about it. Volleyball was something that was always in the family.

She always thought it would be cool to play in college and when she started getting older, playing club ball and really enjoying it, she then knew playing at the college level was for her.

Though Kauth feels pressure at times, she handles it well and feels like she’s always being supported.

‘There’s pressure to perform every time you step on the court,’ she said. ‘But I think as a team we do a good job supporting each other and encouraging each other. There’s never any class separation, which is good.’

Kauth’s season goal is to hit above a .300 and to get double-digit kills each game.

Domek doesn’t think she’ll have any trouble doing this.

‘She’s quiet at times, but she really makes it up with her play,’ Domek said. ‘Playing in this conference, you get a lot of experience and you get to know the teams. Emily is gaining that knowledge and I think she’s going to continue to do well.”