Sophomore setter Lauren Stuckel jumps for the ball during Friday night’s volleyball match against Florida International. ALEX/SLITZ/HERALD

Though sophomore setter Lauren Stuckel’s biggest role is to provide assists to the team’s hitters, that hasn’t stopped her from getting some kills of her own.

Stuckel has increased her number of kills throughout the season by dumping the ball, a technique used to fake a set and hit the ball lightly over the net.

“It is important for your setter to also be capable of producing offense, and Lauren has improved that greatly over the course of the year,” Head Coach Travis Hudson said.

Stuckel, who is in her first year as the Lady Toppers’ starting setter, said her ability to get kills is still a work in progress.

“I have been working on it a lot,” she said. “Coach has been telling me all season I need to be more selfish.”

Stuckel said it’s hard for opposing defenses to guard against dumps because they don’t expect them since a setter’s main role is to acquire assists.

The Lady Toppers (22-8, 11-4 Sun Belt Conference) have to study their opponents’ defense to know when and where the best time to attempt dumps might be, Stuckel said.

“By looking at the scouting reports, we know the opposing team’s tendencies on defense, so I have a better idea of when to dump,” Stuckel said.

Hudson compared the technique to a pitcher’s pickoff move in baseball.

“You have to work hard on both of them, and they both involve catching the other team off guard,” Hudson said.

Stuckel had eight kills in Friday’s loss to Florida International (25-20, 21-25, 21-25, 23-25) and five kills in Saturday’s victory over Florida Atlantic (25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20). She was also able to tally more than 40 assists in both matches.

“She just does so much for us,” Hudson said. “She is a threat as a passer and now as a hitter.

Senior middle hitter Brittany Bowen said the team needs Stuckel to keep being more offensively-minded for the Lady Toppers to maintain success.

“She has done a great job of dumping,” Bowen said. “With her doing that, it takes a big load off of the rest of the hitters.”

Stuckel said her experience throughout the year has given her a better understanding of the timing of when to dump the ball.

“If I see two hands at the net, I know it’s not a good time to try it,” Stuckel said. “I will just pass it off to one of the hitters, who will hopefully get the job done.”

Former Lady Topper setter Julia Noe has worked with Stuckel on improving her offensive ability over the course of the season, Hudson said.

“Julia had amazing offensive ability as a setter, and it is great that she is passing it down to Stuckel,” he said.

Western will play its final two home matches of the season this weekend. The Lady Toppers face Troy at 7 p.m. on Friday and South Alabama at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Diddle Arena.