Devyn Cross, returning to Arizona for her sophomore season, led the team in 2016 in blocks with 0.88 per set, block solos with 18, block assists with 86, and total blocks with 114. Last year she had a strong hitting percentage at .275 and for 16 matches, she led the team in blocks.

In the 2017 season thus far, Cross has a total of 32 kills and 27 blocks. Cross already has 22 block assists, 5 block solos and has 0.95 blocks per set to lead off her sophomore season. 

ArizonaWildcats.com sat down with Cross to talk about her position on and off the court and how she balances school and volleyball.

Do you feel that being a sophomore has impacted your spot on the team compared to being a freshman both on and off the court?

"I think that now that I'm a sophomore, I have a better understanding of the game and more confidence. My freshman year I was really nervous and intimidated, but now I feel more capable of what I'm doing."

Do you find it hard to get into an offensive position because your team counts on you for defense to put up a solid block?

"My whole thing is that blocking is what I do, it's scary to me sometimes like 'oh man I have to do this right' and your mind is always racing cause you're trying to do one thing perfect and one thing after the next. And sometime you mess up and you think 'oh man, I let the whole team down.'"

Were you always trained as a middle blocker, or did you spend time as an outside hitter or opposite?

"Originally I was always a middle blocker and I currently am still middle blocker, but actually this past spring I was trained as an opposite and an outside, so I'm kind of everything now."

Do you talk with your back row often about defense? Do you have blocking strategies for specific teams?

"Within the scouting reports that we get before each team, our coaches have a playbook that has specific blocking defenses or block calls. Our block calls also help our defense in what type of defense they're going to run: v right, v right, I formation or red defense so it's really important to know the blocking calls for us and for them so we all know each other's parts."

How do you balance your commitment to the team and your obligation to school?

"It's mostly just a lot of study hall. In class, my focus is on school and homework but when I go to volleyball, I have to switch to volleyball and focus on that."