Call it confidence, swagger or whatever you like.
But every time Lauren Bledsoe steps onto the court, she's ready.
On a team full of underclassmen, the sophomore isn't afraid to show a little emotion.
"One of the things that we love about Lauren is the energy she brings to the match," UF coach Mary Wise said.
With every block, each kill and even the occasional scream, Bledsoe takes her team to another level of intensity.
Though she is not listed as a starter on most nights, about the only place you won't find her is on the bench.
Left, middle and right - if there is a hole to fill in the front row, coaches know who to turn to.
"Her versatility is invaluable to our team," Wise said.
It's an all-around athleticism that has been especially important this season.
With senior middle blocker Kelsey Bowers still struggling with a lingering back injury and junior Kristina Johnson seeing limited action due to soreness in her surgically-repaired knee, it has been Bledsoe who has shouldered the load in the middle for the Gators.
And, so far, her team hasn't missed a beat.
In UF's 3-1 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 25-18) win at Colorado last week, Bledsoe had the best game of her short career.
She shut down the Buffaloes at the net, leading the Gators with a team-high seven blocks.
But Bledsoe did more than just defend. She registered eight kills on just nine swings to finish with a career-best .899 hitting percentage.
"It's actually my favorite thing to play," Bledsoe said. "I guess middle just hits home with me."
When All-American Marcie Hampton suffered a career-ending Achilles tear during UF's final game of the 2007 season against Long Beach State, it was Bledsoe who carried the Gators to the win.
"When Marcie got hurt (Bledsoe) was the one who came in with her jump serve," Wise said.
While it has been defense that has helped the sophomore make a name for herself, she makes no secret about where her heart really lies.
"I love to kill the ball," she said.
Although she is needed most at the net right now, it may be her blistering serve that will be the biggest weapon for the Gators down the road.
Wise insists that her team cannot simply rely on its hitting and must find new ways to score points.
Having one of the hardest servers in the country doesn't seem like a bad place to start.
"During warm-ups, no one wants to be on the other side of the net when she's serving," Wise said.
Though Wise gives her the nod as the team's hardest server, Bledsoe points out that freshman Colleen Ward hits the ball with just as much aggression.
"In practice, we're always partners," she said. "It's fun to compete with someone who serves the ball just as tough if not tougher."
