Competition forces you to do your best. That's definitely the case for the defensive specialists for Aggie volleyball, as Amy Nettles, Gabby Litwin and Amy Houser return for A&M this season. The competition between the three close-knit friends brings a smile to the face of Laurie Corbelli, who enters her 25th season at the helm of the program in 2017.
"Nothing can beat the kind of competition these three give each other," Corbelli remarked. "It's very rewarding as a coach to see the support, wanting each other to get better and just keeping the competition really healthy. As players, I think they understand how helpful it is. They've formed a bond, and I think they've really learned from each other."
While Nettles, Litwin and Houser may not need any extra motivation, Corbelli says the competition between the three should be all the motivation needed this year.
"Our depth, especially at that position, is wonderful," noted Corbelli. "That is going to make our team better, because they know the others are really good. If things aren't clicking, they know that making a change isn't going to be hard. I don't think they need it, but the competition between them can always be a great motivating factor for them."
Nettles has been a key defensive presence for the Aggies since 2014. The San Antonio native earned back-to-back Best Defensive Player team awards in 2014 and 2015. She was the starting libero for every match over the past two seasons. Nettles' 1,113 career digs ranks 15th in A&M history.
Coach Corbelli speaks highly of Nettles, especially when it comes to the senior's personal growth during her time at Texas A&M. The head coach has seen a leader emerge over the past few seasons.
"Amy wants to lead the charge, and that's the impression I get when watching her compete and address the team now," said Corbelli. "It's wonderful because the girls want Nettles to get in their faces and bring that attitude and leadership. I give her full reign. You go, and if someone isn't following you, then they're going to get left behind. I endorse everything she says to the team and does with the team."
Having the trust of her coach is something Nettles doesn't take for granted.
"Coach believes in me, and I don't want to let her down," said Nettles. "I have her trust and my teammates' trust, and that makes me feel supported and respected. My teammates know that I want the best for this team."
Support and respect from her team has been especially helpful over the past few months, as it's been a summer full of highs and lows for Nettles. There was the excitement of earning a scholarship that she worked so hard for. There was the pain of losing her father, Tripp, who passed away in July after a battle with Leukemia. Corbelli says that Nettles has handled it all with poise, strength and toughness, and her team has been behind her every step of the way.
"I don't know if I've ever experienced anything like the love I've received from my teammates," Nettles admitted. "They are so supportive and loving. They came to my dad's funeral, which was really awesome. They had classes and other things going on, but they still came. It meant so much to me and my family."
Despite a difficult summer, Nettles can't hide her excitement for the upcoming volleyball season. A big part of that excitement is due to the friendship and daily competition she has with Litwin and Houser.
Litwin, another senior on this year's team, appeared in 44 matches for the Aggies over the past two seasons. She totaled 139 digs in 2015 and then made 10 starts at defensive specialist in 2016.
"Gabby is a great passer and digger," commented Corbelli. "She's strong at both, is very willing to sacrifice her body and has a lot of range. She has improved greatly each year."
Litwin transferred to Texas A&M following a year at Mississippi State. The senior from Allen is happy with her decision to come to Aggieland.
"My time at Texas A&M has been amazing," stated Litwin. "Laurie, John and Trevor are great coaches, and gaining knowledge from two Olympians has been awesome."
Litwin also spoke to the importance of the healthy competition between the defensive specialists.
"All of us are here to win and work," Litwin explained. "We respect each other and get along great. We understand that we have to be mentally and physically tough in our position. We just want to get better and push each other."
Amy Houser also returns in 2017, looking to build on a sophomore season that saw her appear in 28 matches for the Aggies. Houser, who totaled 58 digs as a freshman in 2015, contributed 168 digs in the 2017 campaign.
"Houser has a great feel for passing," Corbelli said. "She's played more on the right side of the floor, but we've moved her around some. She's a great competitor and someone that continues to get better each year."
The junior from Houston echoed the thoughts of her teammates on the day-to-day competition.
"It's been awesome for me to be surrounded by people who are pushing me every single day," Houser remarked. "It's not just a competition. It's a friendship. We're pushing each other and making it hard for each other, but we also support each other and want each other to be at their best."
The defensive depth is there for the Aggies in 2017. While the trio won't be on the floor all the time, the performance of all three will be vital this year for the Aggies, who rely heavily on balance of attack and being in system. Corbelli spoke to the high expectations she has for the trio.
"They're all going to contribute a lot," finished Corbelli. "The most important part of the game is first contact on serves or attacks, and that's going to come from one of those three most of the time. It's impossible to put a value on that contact, because it sets up your success. When we're in system because of good first contact, it's fun to watch and play. Those three set the tone for us in that area. All three of them are leaders. They all want the responsibility, so they have it. They'll be held to that accountability and standard all year long."