Even with injury Hinz helps Syracuse volleyball team to win
It could have been a severe blow to Syracuse’s front row. Freshman middle blocker Samantha Hinz suffered a broken finger in Thursday’s practice, leaving the SU coaching staff unsure about whether or not she would be able to make an appearance in SU’s Big East opener the following night.
But Hinz fought through the pain two days later as Syracuse (13-5, 3-1) defeated Seton Hall (8-12, 2-2) 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Manley Field House. In only the third Big East game of her short career, Hinz played at a disadvantage, yet played a key role in SU’s victory over the Pirates.
Though the doctors cleared Hinz to play for Sunday’s match, she could have easily sat on the bench and continued to wait for her finger to heal. But Hinz wasn’t about to let her team down. She felt that she could contribute even with the injury.
‘The first time she played was in the pregame warm-ups,’ assistant coach Carol LaMarche said. ‘She’s tough. She didn’t say anything about it hurting, and she did really well.’
Hinz played in three of the four sets, posting seven kills. She added 14 attacks, one solo block and six block assists.
After losing a heartbreaking first set, Hinz entered in the second set and made an immediate impact. With the Orange tied at 20 and on the brink of falling behind 2-0, Hinz had a powerful block to give the Orange a one-point lead. Three points later, Hinz provided a kill to tie the contest, and later assisted senior outside hitter Annabelle Pellerin as she had two late kills that would give the Orange a 27-25 win.
‘Sam was the difference,’ LaMarche added. ‘She got in there, she got some blocks, she got two kills right away, and it helped.’
Pellerin complimented Hinz’s performance, adding nine kills and 20 attacks. The duo was dominant at the net, shifting their bodies in unison as they immobilized the taller Pirate blockers. The combination was deadly, causing Seton Hall to have to defend the power of Pellerin and Hinz in addition to senior outside hitter Kacie MacTavish and senior middle blocker Sarah Morton, the nation’s leader in blocks.
‘Sam is a really good closer on the block, and Annabelle just has a great block to compliment that,’ LaMarche said.
Pellerin likes the tenacity and grit that Hinz brings to the squad and believes that she can develop into something special. In addition to her very impressive stat sheet, Hinz was constantly pumping up her teammates and motivating them to keep the pressure on, an encouraging sign from a player who is only in her first season at the collegiate level.
And her constant improvement is certainly being noticed.
‘She’s going to be a major contributor,’ Pellerin said. ‘In the past few months she’s gotten a lot better, and if she keeps that up she’s going to be amazing for us.’
Hinz’s solid game Sunday also showed the Orange it has depth where it may not have expected. With Hinz playing very effectively, the Orange can mix and match her with junior middle blocker Hayley Todd, making it very difficult for opposing defenses to stop SU’s offensive attack.
And with a strong performance under her belt, it helps to ease the pain of a broken finger.
‘My block is a little smaller,’ Hinz said. But I don’t even feel it anymore.’
