Kills, digs, blocks, running and a few jumps are all a part of Sarah Jaynes’s day.

Jaynes, senior psychology major, has played volleyball since seventh grade until now, only taking this past season off. She is considered to be one of Southern’s top players and a versatile athlete, as she plays two positions, outside and right side hitter. However, this is her last year to play collegiate volleyball.

Jaynes said although it will be sad to leave, she is “looking forward to a good year.”

Jaynes’s career as a Lions’ volleyball player has made an impact on quite a few people.

Chris Willis, the new head coach for women’s volleyball, has been at Southern since the beginning of July but even before he started coaching in August he realized he wanted to have Jaynes on the team.

Having known Jaynes did not play in the spring, but being impressed with seeing her play before, Willis called Jaynes and invited her to rejoin the squad.

“She is very consistent day in and day out. You know exactly what to expect [when she plays],” Willis said, “Her work ethic never seems to waver.”

Willis also said she is a stabilizing factor for the team and that, by bringing her in a match, it allows the team to look at several different options which they may not have otherwise had.

Looking at Jaynes’s statistics for the years she has played, one can see what he means.

In 2002, Jaynes averaged 2.41 kills per game and an average of 0.40 blocks a game. This year she has started off with 1.65 kills per game and has landed 0.88 blocks a game.

However, Jaynes’s work ethic doesn’t just show in her games or practices.

“My goal is to be more than just an athlete,” Jaynes said, “I want to be a student too.”

And she has been too. In 2002, Jaynes was named to the MIAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, even though she played in 100 games for Southern as a sophomore.

Willis is also impressed with her fantastic outlook on and off the court.

“She’s one of those people that make you say, ‘Wow, this is why I enjoy coaching,'” Willis said. “She brings a great attitude and an openness to different things.”