After being moved around a bit for the team's convenience, former Pioneer standout Christina Measom has settled in at middle blocker for the Cougars and has been very productive in the young season.

"Christina is pretty invaluable; she's one of our best utility players," said BYU women's volleyball head coach Shay Goulding. "I mean that differently than the way it usually sounds. She has great versatility.

"She could be one of our best outsides, she's definitely great in the middle, and she's also good on the right side," the coach continued. "We pulled out a very successful second half of the season last year after some player moves involving her."

Now a junior, Measom started the 2008 season on the right side but was moved to the outside spot for the final 11 matches of the year, a stretch in which the Cougars won half of their MWC contests.

With senior middle Rachel Dyer now graduated, however, the six-foot-tall Measom had a chance to move to the spot that Goulding said suits her best.

"She's very dynamic in the middle," the coach explained. "She gets up so quick and she's really shining there and showing leadership for our team.

"Her hitting efficiency has gone up," she said. "She thrives in the high tempo of that middle spot; it's one of the things she does best."

Measom has started all 48 games for BYU this season, is second on the team in kills with 105 and blocks with 41, and is also second in hitting percentage among the starters at .269.

"She's a competitor who wants to see her team succeed," Goulding said. "She's matured a lot in many ways on the court and in the classroom.

"She's more focused as a student now and is taking tougher classes," the coach said. Measom is currently majoring in exercise science, which could lead to a possible future in physical therapy, PA school or a similar health field.

"She's a great asset to our program," Goulding added. "Putting her in the middle allows her to shine. Her added maturity is showing up in other ways too that benefit our program.

"She's become a student of the game and is always watching film," the coach said. "She has come to understand it's up to her to become a better player."

• Beky Beaton can be reached at bbeaton@heraldextra.com.