Three-Sport Stubblefield a 'Powerful Hitter' for Clayton Volleyball Team

Specializing in one sport might be the choice of some student athletes. But junior Amelia Stubblefield prefers to compete year around in three different sports—volleyball, basketball, and track. Clayton’s volleyball team has struggled to a 4-12-3 overall record this fall, but Stubblefield leads her team in kills with 30 and aces with 22.

“I really think it’s my timing,” Stubblefield said on recording kills.

Clayton volleyball coach Liz Hickox calls Stubblefield a “powerful hitter” and consistent player. The outside hitter has also acquired a reputation as a leader.

“When she goes out there, she really commands,” Hickox said.   

Setter Nikki Tomova often passes the ball to Stubblefield. She calls Stubblefield “a really strong outside hitter.”

“What’s nice about her hits is that if it’s not a perfect pass, she can hit it up in the air and get it down really well,” Tomova said.

Although wins have been few and far between this season, Stubblefield and the rest of the team follow a plan to keep the positive energy flowing.

“We might be having a bad game, but we always have a way to try and keep the positive vibes going and push ourselves as hard as we can,” she said.

Clayton earned a 2-0 win over University City on Monday afternoon. Stubblefield felt her team’s positive mental attitude was a factor.

“We had a lot of positive energy today,” Stubblefield said. “And when someone would make a mistake, we still tried to push each other forward so we continue to improve.” 

The junior thinks her team has improved since the beginning of the season. She said the Greyhounds have learned to utilize their skills and “ignore the negative around them.” 

Stubblefield spent one year at the junior varsity level as a freshman before moving up to varsity last year.

“It wasn’t scary, it was just something I had to get used to,” she said about her sophomore season.

Stubblefield went out for the track team for the first time last year and  made her mark. She qualified for state in the discus and placed 13th.

“Finishing at 13th was fine with me,” she said. “Especially in being a first-year track athlete.”