By Bob Hamar
bob.hamar@theindependent.com

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For The Independent/Tomotoshi Funabashi Grand Island Senior High graduate Ann Armes (3) of Kentucky attacks at the net Saturday night during the Wildcats' spring exhibition match against Nebraska at the NU Coliseum. For The Independent/Tomotoshi Funabashi Nebraska's Jordan Larson digs a ball Saturday night during the Huskers' match with Kentucky. Click Thumbnails to View

Armes, a redshirt freshman from Grand Island Senior High, had four kills and four blocks for Kentucky in Nebraska's 31-29, 25-18, 25-20, 25-14 victory in the Cornhuskers' only home match of the spring exhibition season in front of a crowd of 2,792.

Armes, a 2007 graduate of Grand Island Senior High, spent at least 30 minutes after the match greeting her family and friends and signing autographs.

Armes said new her teammates at Kentucky now have a better idea of what Nebraska volleyball is all about.

"It was so cool," Armes said. "I feel like I've been talking about it non-stop for about a month now. The girls are probably sick of it, but once they stepped in here and saw all the people, they knew.

"They thought it was a lot of fun. We were just talking in the locker room about how we don't see this that often. We probably won't see it again, except probably Florida."

Armes was an all-state player her senior year at Grand Island Senior High and helped the Islanders to a Class A state runner-up finish. She also was a key member of Grand Island's Class A state championship track team last spring.

Armes, who also played on the GISH girls basketball team, was named The Independent's girls athlete of the year.

Kentucky coach Craig Skinner said Armes' athletic ability is a huge plus for the team.

"Ann is such a versatile athlete who can do so many things on the court," Skinner said. "We'll do what we can to highlight her strengths."

Those strengths are even stronger now after her redshirt season.

"It's really the first time in her life that she has focused entirely on volleyball," Skinner said. "Her IQ of the game, her instincts and ability to react and play at a high level has gone up considerably.

"In our opinion as coaches, she's a different player now. She's very confident and playing very hard. She's an elite athlete and she makes us better."

Armes certainly appreciates how much her redshirt season has helped her game.

"I'm so glad I did it," Armes said. "It just gave me so many touches. Instead of being on the 'A' squad, I was one of the only hitters on the 'B' squad so I got almost every set. I just got so many more touches on the ball than I would have."

Armes is part of an unusual system the Wildcats have used this spring. She lines up in the middle for the first rotation when her spot moves to the front row. The next two rotations, she is on the outside with sophomore Lauren Rapp in the middle.

When Armes goes to the back row, senior Queen Nzenwa moves to the middle for all three rotations.

"It's kind of something we're trying right now," Skinner said. "It worked out to be the best system for us this spring. Her strength is blocking and attacking the higher ball. For our personnel, it's the best system we've come up with so far."

Armes said the unusual system has worked well this spring.

"I redshirted so I didn't really know where they were going to put me," Armes said. "Now in this offense it works out really well because I can hit everywhere and block everywhere.

"As long as I'm on the court I don't even care."

The Wildcats very nearly won the first game against the Huskers. Kentucky had game point four times but couldn't put it away.

Armes said it was disappointing not to win that first game, but the match will still pay off down the road.

"Now we know," Armes said. "We know we need to serve tough every game. We know we're there on the block, we just have to finish. There were just little things that other teams we've played this spring haven't really brought out of us."

Skinner doesn't know yet what position Armes will play in the fall, but he said she will certainly have an important role on the team.

"She'll have a big impact in our success year," Skinner said. "She's a dynamic athlete. She's spent the last six months focusing on volleyball and it's paying off. She's doing some special things on the volleyball court."