A player can have a positive influence without filling out the stat sheet; Redshirt senior middle blocker Chrystal McAlpin epitomizes this kind of impact for the Huskies.

McAlpin didn’t receive any playing time during her true freshman campaign because she redshirted. However, she said she did not want to allow the lack of play time to prevent her from being a positive influence on the team.

“I still wanted to be a factor and help out the team in any way possible, especially if it’s positive,” McAlpin said. “I can do that with my voice. I can be loud; we are going to heckle the other team, yell, be really loud and try to distract them to miss their serve. Also, when our team is doing well, you want to cheer and celebrate that and get the crowd, the team and the sideline hype, off and on the court. I always like to do that.”

McAlpin said her vocal power is a significant part of who she is on and off the court. She said she believes it is a prominent reason why Head Coach Ray Gooden recruited and brought her into the volleyball program.

“Back in high school and club, I think [Gooden] kind of noticed me because I was so loud on and off the court,” McAlpin said. “I am always cheering and trying to get the setter’s attention when I am up. That’s something that I have always been vocal about. I think it kind of goes back to my energy.”

McAlpin said the volleyball wisdom and knowledge she has collected since she joined the Huskies in 2014 has made her a more impactful leader. She said she still wanted to have the same kind of vocal impact, even after she had the opportunity to get on the court and play.

“As she understands [volleyball] more, it starts to make more sense,” Gooden said. “So, the things that come out of her mouth continue to make more sense. If she can not only be influential with her play, but also how she is able to help out with the group.”

She is constantly directing teammates where they need to be and helping them time blocks. Blocking is a strong suit of the Huskies, as they rank No. 5 in blocks per game in the Mid-American Conference, according to the MAC’s official website.

The Calumet Park native’s vocal presence is welcomed by her teammates because of how encouraging she is.

“[McAlpin] is very vocal and that is something we love about her,” senior outside hitter Autumn Martin said. “Sometimes, being too vocal can be a bad thing but for her it is a good thing because everyone can be down, and if someone is down, she will pick you up real quick. That is what we need on a team like this. She is going to find a way to make you feel better, and there is not ever a bad situation with her.”

McAlpin said she has her own individual goals she is looking to accomplish during her last season as a Huskie; most notably, leading the team in blocks. However, her biggest goals always come back to how she can help the team, especially with her voice.

“[I want to] have a positive impact with my voice,” McAlpin said. “I want to cheer everyone on. I want them to know I have happy, great and high-spirited energy no matter what.”