CLAIRE C. LAURENCE/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona sophomore volleyball player Meghan Cumpston, has proved through steady play and leadership this season that age doesn't always translate into success.

Maturity trumps experience for sophomore outside hitter Cumpston

The cliché says that the older you get, the wiser you become.

The UA volleyball team's sophomore outside hitter Meghan Cumpston is out to prove that isn't always the case.

Although she lacks the experience of many of her veteran teammates, Cumpston has demonstrated that she has the power and poise to make a difference in Arizona's injury-filled and inconsistent lineup.

In the Wildcat's three-game sweep over Oregon on Saturday, Cumpston notched 18 kills and eight digs. A day earlier, in the team's 3-1 victory against Oregon State, she was equally impressive, recording 15 kills and 10 digs.

"It doesn't matter if (Cumpston is) a sophomore," said junior outside hitter Kim Glass. "It doesn't matter what year you are, if you come in there you play like you're a senior, it benefits the team. We definitely wouldn't be doing as well without Meghan. She comes on and is such a strong presence. She goes out there and just plays the game. She doesn't get frazzled - I think that's what is really good for her is the confidence."

Cumpston has had her work cut out for her as her position has varied over the course of the season.

"(For) Meghan, this is the first time she's been in this role in this position," said UA head coach Dave Rubio of Cumpston's ability to play from both the right and left side of the net. "She's going to be a terrific player - she's already a really good

player. She still has a lot of things to learn. But she's made some great strides. She really can be a terrific addition for us."

"With my position, I'm just trying to be an all-around player - I'm just trying to pass well, trying to hit well (and) be a solid player all around the court," said Cumpston, a native of Red Bluff, Calif. "I think I'm really good at passing and my hitting will get better. I just have to be consistent and solid for our team.

"I have to be consistent with passing," she said as she noted areas she is improving on. "Passing can vary from day to da, and right now I'm trying to be consistent and working on that. Hitting (is challenging) because the ball is so low."

In addition to position changes, she has been playing through nausea, headaches and fatigue for most of the season. As a result, Cumpston did not travel with the team to the American Tournament in September and has yet to fully recover because she is still unable to take medicine since it would inhibit her performance and further sideline her.

"She's a full-time player, which is tough to find," Rubio added. "(She is) someone who is big and physical enough at the net to be able to block and attack and still be able to pass. And you can see that that's a tough combination. For her, it's getting a chance to do those kind of things at such a young age is terrific. You kind of nurture those people along."

Cumpston, who has her own pre-game ritual, ranks third on the team in kills (3.66) and digs (2.55) per game.

"I only listen to hard-core rock music to get me pumped up," she said, noting her current favorite band is Skindred.

But the 6-foot-1 Cumpston is known to dominate on the basketball court as well. In high school, she earned three varsity letters in both volleyball and basketball and also competed in track and field for two seasons.

"I love basketball," said Cumpston who was forced to quit her second sport due to a knee injury. "I really wanted to try and play basketball too. I was thinking hopefully I could play somewhere (collegiately) but I was on a traveling club team for volleyball."

Cumpston, a veterinary science major, is a woman of many hats. In addition to her athletic abilities, she also participated in 4-H for seven years, raising pigs and sheep.

"I really want to go to vet school," she said, noting the challenge of balancing athletics with academics. "It's so difficult because I play volleyball and my major is so tough but hopefully I get in. I want to work with exotic animals, like zoo animals."