Chimes’ Athlete of the Week: Volleyball’s Brooke Watts

Finally healthy, Watts has become the x-factor in the Eagles’ last two wins.

Austin Green, Managing Editor • October 11, 2017

Caitlin Blackmon/THE CHIMES

After stumbling out of the gate in PacWest conference play, the Eagles have turned things around lately, going 3-1 in their last four games. Not coincidentally, those four games were the first time all season that sophomore outside hitter Brooke Watts was fully healthy. Watts sat out the first several games of the season with multiple injuries, forcing younger players such as freshman outside hitters Bekah Roth and Savannah Hilde to step up in her place. Although Roth and Hilde did an admirable job filling in, Watts’ return to the Eagles’ starting lineup has provided a pivotal spark. Her best game of the season came when the Eagles needed her most, leading the Eagles with 11 kills on a .350 hitting percentage against the Azusa Pacific University Cougars on Oct. 7. Watts had a knack for clutch moments, as two of those kills fueled comebacks when the Eagles trailed the Cougars in the first set and helped set the tone for an eventual Biola sweep. Watts continued her strong play two days later against Chaminade University, with 14 kills and two blocks to aid a hard-fought team victory. In his postgame interview on Oct. 7, head volleyball coach Aaron Seltzer expressed optimism about several other currently injured veterans returning to health soon. If they come back as strong as our latest Athlete of the Week, the Eagles have some very bright days ahead.

Last Two Games: 25 Kills, 2 blocks, .342 hitting percentage

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About the Contributor

Austin Green, Managing Editor

Austin Green is a junior journalism major who was first among his friends to predict that LeBron James would sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. When not focused on school or work, he enjoys watching sports, going to the beach or coffee shops, and hanging out with the guys on his dorm floor. [email protected] I laughed the first time I heard a former editor-in-chief use the line “once you join the Chimes, you never really leave.” Now in my third year here, it turns out the joke’s on me. After two years in the sports section, including last year as sports editor, I’m thrilled to be serving this year as managing editor to help build upon the legacy of such a great publication. My aspirations remain in sports journalism, but experience has deepened my love for dedicated local news reporting and its importance in communities. Much of my appreciation for that type of journalism came through working as a digital production intern for NBC Los Angeles last summer. There I helped cover stories such as the Trader Joe’s hostage crisis, the Cranston and Holy wildfires, and the Lakers’ overhaul of their iconic uniforms. I am so excited to help build this next chapter of the Chimes as we become a web-first publication with a deeper, dedicated focus on the communities in and around campus. I also contribute a print sports column, “Everything Eagles,” which provides a deeper look into Biola Athletics.

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Chimes’ Athlete of the Week: Volleyball’s Brooke Watts

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