Rael Rotich leads Columbia College volleyball

After playing sparingly for the majority of the 2005 Columbia College volleyball season, Rael Rotich is making the most of her starting role in 2006.

Rotich, a sophomore outside hitter, leads the Cougars in kills this season and was dominant in Columbia College’s 30-24, 30-12, 30-23 sweep of Williams Baptist College Saturday.

“She (Rotich) is moving from that freshman stage to the upperclassman, more experienced stage,” Cougars’ coach Melinda Wrye-Washington said. “Last year, the only thing she could do was hit. That skill has even improved, plus now she’s a blocker and she can pass, she can set.”

Rotich, who played organized volleyball for only two years in Kenya, said she has learned more from the program at Columbia College than she did in Kenya.

“Our coaches were not very experienced (in Kenya) and we did not do too well,” Rotich said.

Because Wrye-Washington coaches players with varying levels of experience, she makes sure to give players such as Rotich as much individual attention as possible. Wrye-Washington said Rotich has learned to listen well and accept criticism.

“Last year she (Rotich) felt like we were on her all the time,” Wrye-Washington said. “I think she feels like we’re talking to her and she’s accepted that. Now she knows we’re on her because she know she can improve.”

Rotich credits the individual attention in helping with her development as a player and her confidence.

“Attacking, I used to leave the ball behind me but she (Wrye-Washington) has really helped me to hit those balls in front of me,” Rotich said. “My coach has really helped me to feel like I can do it. She also used to call me into her office and say, ‘Rael, you can do it, I know you can do it.’”

In Kenya, Rotich did not play in a gym, but instead on grass.She said it was difficult to play in Kenya and she was afraid to dive for balls because the ground was hard and rocky.

Outside of volleyball, the Columbia College community has helped Rotich adjust to her new country.

“Everyone is friendly,” Rotich said. “My professors, they are so friendly in class, they make me feel like I’m with my family members back at home.”