SAN MARCOS, Texas — When Texas State performs host to Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday, it’ll accomplish that with the reigning Solar Belt Convention setter of the week.
Which is nothing uncommon at Texas State, the place Emily DeWalt was the league setter of the week six instances in 2022. Heck for that matter, DeWalt — the setter of the week 25 instances in her profession — was the five-time Solar Belt setter of the 12 months from 2018-22.
Which leads us to Ryann Torres.
After Texas State beat North Texas in 5 after which swept then-No. 13 Houston final week, Torres was named the Solar Belt setter of the week.
“She’s had the toughest job within the nation, being behind Emily DeWalt,” Texas State coach Sean Hueit mentioned. “It’s enjoyable to see her take over and do it her method. And I’ve advised her, you don’t need to be Emily DeWalt, you get to be Ryan Torres and run the present the best way you know the way.”
And run it she has. Texas State is 4-1 and the 5-foot-10 Torres is averaging 10.65 assists and a pair of.59 digs per set.
And right here’s the factor: She appears to be like so imply whereas doing it.
“One-thousand %. Sure,” Torres admitted with fun. “It’s not intentional. I might be having one of the best day ever and I’ll be strolling on campus and I’ll have somebody come as much as me later within the day and say, ‘You seemed actually mad. Are you OK?’ No, it’s simply my face.
“And it exhibits just a little extra after I’m pondering and focusing and my wheels are turning.”
Her wheels have been actually turning towards Houston as Texas State pulled off a surprising 25-18, 25-22, 25-19 sweep.
“I’ve this mindset,” Torres mentioned. “See ball, get ball.”
“Ryann performed so good at this time. She was so excellent and such a very good teammate,” redshirt-freshman exterior Samantha Wunsch mentioned after the Houston match when Torres had a kill, 36 assists, 9 digs and two blocks. Her Bobcats hit .392 and Wunsch had 11 kills with one error in 25 assaults and three blocks, one solo and is that this week’s Solar Belt offensive participant of the week. She had 15 kills and 6 blocks towards North Texas.
“She was ready for a very long time and now that this season is right here, she’s so hungry and so prepared,” Wunsch mentioned. “She’s being such a very good teammate and such a very good chief.”
And persistently affected person. She obtained some taking part in time when DeWalt was injured, for instance setting for her one spring when DeWalt had surgical procedure, and serving for her when her shoulder was injured.
However 4 years as a reserve is a very long time.
Torres grew up simply 10 miles from campus in Buda, the place she was a very good participant for Jack C. Hays Excessive Faculty.
“In highschool I had an essential function and coming to Texas State and being behind Emily DeWalt, it took a toll on me just a little bit,” Torres mentioned. “There undoubtedly was an adjustment. I discovered find out how to be there for my teammates, simply another way and I feel that taught me a lot. And I take advantage of that taking part in on the court docket now.”
Torres, the second-oldest of 5 sisters, admitted there have been moments when she questioned her state of affairs, however credited a robust assist system and encouragement from a whole lot of household/buddies/folks alongside the best way.
“(Quitting) by no means crossed my thoughts however I used to be down just a little bit at instances,” she mentioned. “I wished to show myself each single day and that was my greatest motivation.”
Whereas DeWalt is now a coach at UT-Arlington, Hueit has added to his workers former Rice All-American setter Carly Graham, who has had an amazing constructive affect on Torres.
“She’s one of the best useful resource. She’s superior,” Torres mentioned. “We have now place coaching and me and (TCU freshman switch) Carlee Pharris, the opposite setter, and we come out of that have a look at one another after and it’s like, ‘Rattling, she is aware of her stuff.’ And she will make it so easy.”
Graham appreciates Torres.
“She works so exhausting within the gymnasium each day,” Graham mentioned. “She will get after it. She’s a fantastic teammate, very coachable, and had purchased in to working to be higher and being higher for her teammates.”
Torres credit having an enormous household and people three youthful sisters for a few of it.
“There have been instances after I was taking part in mother. Sure, my dad and mom are married and all the things, however being one of many oldest and when my dad was at work, I helped my mother out. I performed dad. I feel I’ve that motherly nature and had that management function instilled in me very naturally.”
After the Houston match, Torres, listed as a senior however with one other 12 months of eligibility remaining, because of COVID, was all smiles.
“It felt so good,” Torres admitted. “The sensation is indescribable.”
The smile seemed good on her.
“From the surface she appears to be like like she’s a bad-ass, like she’s a imply lady, however Ryann is simply the sweetest individual,” Wunsch mentioned. “On and off the court docket.”
