When most athletes look to improve in the offseason, they hit the weight room or get in extra reps for their given sport.
This summer, Batavia’s Amanda Otten decided on a different direction.
She went to the beach.
Well, not technically the beach, but the 6-foot-4 senior setter/right-side hitter started beach volleyball training in club with Team One in Aurora.
She’s already seeing results two weeks into the season.
“It’s a lot of quickness and agility, and it helped with my vertical,” Otten said. “That definitely helped me a lot. Their beach training is one of the best in the country.
“They’ve helped so many girls become better athletes overall.”
Otten has seen the biggest boost come on the defensive end for Batavia (7-6).
“It’s hard to play defense even when you’re my height (5-6), but it’s very hard when you’re 6-4,” Batavia coach McKenna Kelsay said. “That’s something she focused on more, being scrappier and being able to get to the floor.”
Otten credits the new training regimen for unlocking even more of her talent.
“Even a few weeks after I started, I was picking up balls I couldn’t get to before,” Otten said. “It was hard for me because there are things I wanted to do, but my body wouldn’t let me do it.
“I’m moving a lot better.”
It’s hard to believe Otten could add much more to her versatile skill set.
The four-year varsity starter leads the Bulldogs in every major category through 13 matches. She has 106 assists, 102 kills, 74 digs, 28 aces and 15 blocks, all team-best totals.
“Not only is she a unique player, but she’s such a unique kid,” Kelsay said. “Watching her grow from this tall, awkward freshman and she was still a force to where she is today has been so much fun.
“I think she’s gained confidence. She’s gained that belief in herself that she can do some really big things. She has been a weapon for us on both ends.”
Maintaining her versatility was something Otten said was a big part of her recruiting process. That’s how she came across Bowling Green.
After playing in a club tournament in Louisville, Bowling Green’s coaches showed interest. That led to an official visit, an offer and a commitment in July.
“I don’t think they know what I’m going to be yet,” Otten said of possible position. “I’m keeping that versatility. That’s one thing I wanted to keep in recruiting — both positions.
“I knew I could do it. That made it a little hard, but finding the right school, I’m stoked to go to Bowling Green.”
The commitment was a whirlwind.
“I visited the next weekend and I fell in love,” Otten said. “I committed the next day. Everything just fell into place. It really felt like a second home. It felt so right.”
While Batavia has experienced some ups and downs early in the season, Kelsay is happy the Bulldogs don’t have tournament scheduled for this weekend so they can catch their breath.
“I think we have a ton of potential,” Kelsay said. “We’re still trying to get it to happen at the same time. We have times where we see it all and it comes together, and then there are bits and pieces.
“We’re focused on coming together as a unit. We have the talent and the kids are playing hard.”
Otten is ready to lead the Bulldogs to down the path of consistency.
“I think we have a really special team because we have so many seniors,” Otten said. “It’s really different from any team I’ve been on before. I think we have so much potential.
“We’re struggling to put it together, but once we click, we can do some great things.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.