Senior Libero Can Dig It
Nov 18, 2006 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 18, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - One of the best athletes to come through the University of Memphis isn't a football player, a basketball player or a baseball player. She is No.11, the senior libero on the Tiger volleyball team. Christen Clayton is not your typical volleyball player; she is history in the making.
On Friday nights, she is usually sliding across the gym floor in Elma Roane Fieldhouse on her knees entertaining the Blue Crew and other fans, skinning elbows for volleyballs, cheering on her teammates and keeping the peace between the referees and her coach. Clayton wears a different jersey than her five teammates because of her position of libero.
"The libero's job is the back row leader of the court," said Clayton. "You really run the defense and pass so that everybody else can do their job. You are kinda the first step when we hit and the last step when we play defense."
When the 2006 season began, Clayton was ranked 11th on the all-time career digs list for Memphis, with a total of 1,171. The record was set at 1,491 digs by Amie Hamilton in 2000. Her race for the title wasn't far from over, but now she can work on setting a new record.
 On September 29, 2006, Clayton became Memphis' all-time career digs leader  |
|
"It feels great to be in the history of the University of Memphis," said Clayton. "It is an honor to go here and play volleyball here, and I feel proud."
Clayton didn't take over the libero position until her junior year, when she was one of three Tigers to play in every game. During the 2005 season, she set the Memphis volleyball record with 466 season digs and led the team with a total of 50 service aces. Because of her outstanding performance, she was ranked sixth in Conference USA in service aces and ninth in digs. Currently, she is second in digs for Conference USA and has set a new Memphis record with 607 digs in 2006.
"Anytime you have players breaking records you know that your program has improved," said Jason Redd, media relations assistant and volleyball contact. "For Christen, it's big because she has been the full-time libero for just a year and a half. So to break the record means that she put up some big numbers over the last two seasons."
When Clayton first arrived to Memphis, she said she never thought she would make history. Over the years, she progressed and began to feel more comfortable with her position. Clayton excels not only athletically but academically as well. In 10 years, her goal is to be working in real estate, flipping houses and playing beach volleyball.
"Anytime you have a student-athlete that excels academically and then excels equally athletically, it puts your program in a different place," said Carrie Yerty, head coach of the Memphis volleyball team. "Every day she comes ready to play, whether it's on the court, in the classroom or out in the community."
During the early years, Clayton was a gymnast, with high hopes, but her gymnastics dreams came to an end when she suffered a back injury in the eighth grade that would end her gymnastics career. Gymnastics led to the pathway of volleyball. From then on Clayton played volleyball, not only for Clear Lake High School, but four years of club volleyball on the top travel team.
"I still like gymnastics, but volleyball is something that gave me a lot of opportunities for education, which was awesome," said Clayton.
Before the match, Clayton likes to get dolled up. Taking a shower, doing her hair and putting on make up are part of her pre-game rituals. The thought of being really "girly girl" helps to calm her down and get her motivated for competition. Once the game starts, Clayton is no longer that "girly girl," but more of a warrior on the battlefield.
"Christen is a leader and a very competitive one at that," said Redd. "She's the emotional leader on the team."
Out of all the schools in the country, the Houston native chose Memphis because of a personal influence. A friend from Texas attended Memphis and talked about how "awesome" it was, which forced her to take a look. When she came for a visit, she fell in love.
"I love it here," said Clayton. "I like Texas, but Memphis is an awesome place to go to school and I have really enjoyed it."
Clayton has made an impact on the University of Memphis volleyball team and has left her mark on the record books. This season, she was named Conference USA's Libero of the Year, as well as garnering Second Team All Conference honors. She won an MVP award and all-tournament honors and was named an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District 4 Third Team member. Fourteen times this year, she has had 20 or more digs in a match. Currently, she has set her career high at 32 digs in a match and is the fourth Tiger in history to record 30 digs in a match. Clayton is the heart of the Tiger defense.
 In her freshman year, Clayton played in all 36 matches and served as the libero for 128 of 135 games. |
|
As a sophomore, Clayton played in all 37 matches and 136 games, in which she alternated at the libero position. She placed 17th nationally in serving aces and finished fourth on the team in digs, with a total of 343.
"Over the years, she has become more of a leader and she has developed into a great libero," said Redd.
Before practice, Clayton is found singing "Ribbon Dancers," while her teammates perform along to the music or she is the one performing the first song that comes to her head. Laughter fills the gym as the team gathers around Clayton for a bit of entertainment and a few quick jokes. Not only is she a favorite among the coaches, but her teammates have taken a liking to her as well.
"CiCi is a dynamic, enthusiastic, spirited young woman," said Yerty. "She really just has an incredible amount of drive, academically and athletically."
Clayton is full of energy and is always looking to have a good time. When she isn't playing in the gym, she enjoys beach volleyball, running and in-line skating.
"You will often see her sliding on the floor and doing things to energize the team and fans," said Redd. "Like most team leaders, she is the one the team looks to to make the big play and more times than not she comes through."
She was born on January 27, 1985. Her biggest influences growing up were her parents. Clayton stated that they were always very supportive of her throughout all the athletic participation and in her life decisions. According to Clayton, her parents were "awesome" and very hard working individuals.
If Clayton had to use words to describer her personality, she would use interesting and confident. She describes herself as a different person and someone who is very outgoing and always looking to have a good time.
"I do not care what people think about me," said Clayton. "I am always having a good time, and not just with my friends but with everybody."
According to Redd, no one is more deserving of holding such an honor than Christen Clayton. She is the type of player who works hard in practice and allows it to carry over in the game. Both on and off the court, she is a leader. In the classroom, in the community and on the court, she serves as a role model.
"She is a great role model in terms of getting done what you need to have done to compete at an elite level," said Yerty.
Clayton doesn't ask for much when it comes to goals and aspirations for her life. Being happy is her ultimate goal. She hopes to be successful, safe and able to take risks. With the transition from playing volleyball to entering the real world, she hopes to move into that next phase of her life in a positive way.
"She already knows what she wants to do for the rest of her life," said Yerty. "You will probably see her in the million dollar club some time in the near future. She is just an incredible human being."
