After playing setter in high school, Rachel Profit planned on competing with fellow freshman Bethany Springer for the Terrapin volleyball team’s starting libero position in preseason camp.

However, during the preseason, plans changed.

An injury to junior starting setter Tedi Doucet opened the door for both freshmen to start – Springer at libero and Profit at her natural setter position, where she earned Gatorade Player of the Year and The Washington Post DC All-Extra Player of the Year honors in high school.

“I liked it, I set in high school It’s not like I’ve never done it before,” Profit said. “I’m pretty comfortable with it. I have just had to adjust to my teammates and how they hit.”

Profit will split time at setter with sophomore Hayley Hanson while learning the college game. Head coach Janice Kruger said she was impressed with Profit’s work ethic and her quick adjustment to the higher level of play.

“She is quick as lightning. She has a great touch on the ball, she’s a great listener and works hard,” Kruger said. “She can deliver a hittable ball. Her improvement happens every day. I’m pleased at how she’s accepted this role change.”

According to Kruger, Doucet suffered a stress fracture during the Terps’ preseason tournament in Cincinnati.

“Her foot was starting to bother her a little bit before Cincinnati,” Kruger said. “There was no indication that there was anything big. After the VCU tournament we knew it was a stress fracture. It should take five weeks time. She is about a week in.”

Last season, Doucet finished second on the team with 466 assists while playing in 28 of the team’s 31 matches. Kruger said the team will miss the steady hand Doucet provided from the setter position.

“I felt in the spring she understood the system. I felt she really started to get what we were doing offensively,” Kruger said. “Her freshman year she was part of an ACC championship. This is her third year and that game experience in the ACC [will be missed]. She gave us the flexibility to run a 5-1 offense and a 6-2. Tedi gave us a different look; now we are pretty much sewn into a 6-2.”

Although the team will miss Doucet, junior outside hitter Mary Beth Brown said she expects Profit will perform well in Doucet’s absence.

“Rachel has stepped in well in making connections with our hitters to make the transition as seamless as possible,” Brown said.

Along with a new setter as the ACC season starts, the Terps have another freshman starter in libero Bethany Springer. With Profit moving to setter, Springer stepped into the libero role after a preseason competition with Profit.

“We are roommates and actually while we were competing, we completely supported each other, we both helped each other, we wanted to get better and keep playing the best we could play,” said Profit. “It was fun, we are best friends.”

During the Hilton Garden Inn Greenbelt Invitational over the previous weekend, which marked the Terps’ final nonconference games, both Springer and Profit got extensive playing time in their new positions. Springer started while Profit split time in her platoon with Hanson.

Kruger said Profit had already made noticeable improvements since her move back to her natural setter position.

“I felt Rachel Profit made some progress,” said Kruger. “She was settled in and appeared more comfortable with her connection to the middles. We recruited her to play libero [in the] back row; now she is having to set because of the injury to Tedi.”

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