Volleyball: Fuller impresses during her adjustment to UNC volleyball

After just three seasons at UNC-Greensboro, Branagan Fuller ranks fourth in school history in kills and third in kills per set.

Add those records to her numerous awards and honors, and Fuller is one of the best volleyball players in the school’s history.

But she brandishes new colors now. Fuller is spending her senior season on the North Carolina volleyball team. As the season continues, Fuller remains an integral part of the offensive game.

In UNC’s loss to Clemson on Saturday, Fuller led the team with 14 kills. It was her sixth game out of the last seven with double-digit kills.

“I feel like I’ve been starting the last couple matches well, but I just don’t feel like I’m finishing well,” Fuller said. “Obviously, it’s great to be in double digits, but I just feel there’s more that I can do.”

In the course of a few months, Fuller has had to adjust to new schemes and new teammates. But Fuller knew that when she transferred — just a few weeks before preseason started — it wasn’t going to be easy.

“It’s always hard coming into a situation when you don’t know anyone,” Fuller said. “Working with the team and meshing with the team was probably my hardest challenge, but it was worth it.”

Nevertheless, Fuller said she maintained confidence that she would be able to continue the high-caliber game that she displayed at UNC-Greensboro.

“I have a lot of faith in myself and my abilities,” Fuller said. “So I knew that if I could play my game, I’d be a solid part of the offense.”

Fuller has helped transition the UNC offense, which originally got most of its kills from its middle blockers, into a balanced scheme.

“From the beginning of the season we knew that it wasn’t going to be a balanced offense,” Fuller said. “We pushed everyone to think that it wasn’t just the middles that need to score, it wasn’t just the outside that needs to score, it needs to be everybody.”

At the individual level, Fuller said she feels there is no part of her game that should keep her satisfied.

“I always feel that I can improve at everything.” Fuller said. “I’m not like, ‘I’m so awesome at this or that.’ I feel like I can get better like everybody else. You can always do better.”



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