BRADFORD — Tabitha Walker knew she was walking into a good situation.

She made it great.

The Butler graduate and Pitt-Bradford freshman volleyball setter helped lead her team to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championship match last season.

Walker was named the school's Female Rookie of the Year for her achievements.

“I was just hoping to start this year,” Walker said. “I was thrilled to be in the lineup, just to play.”

The Rookie of the Year Award covers all female athletic teams at Pitt-Bradford. The university has seven NCAA Division III women's teams.

“Tabitha had a lot to do with us getting as far as we did,” Panthers coach Tom Roof said. “We had five all-stars coming back. The only question we had was who was going to set for them.”

The answer was Walker and Gabby Barnes, a junior and transfer from Slippery Rock University.

Roof employed a 62 formation that included two setters.

“Tabitha placed among the best in the conference in numerous categories, and that was against teams that use only one setter,” Roof said. “She had half the opportunities to compile statistics that all of the others had.

“In my opinion, she was the best setter in our league.”

As it was, Walker was named third team All-AMCC.

The Panthers finished the season 18-13 overall, 8-2 in AMCC play. Pitt-Bradford dropped the league title match to Penn State Behrend in three sets.

“Behrend is our biggest rival,” Walker said. “That was the other school I was considering. I feel like I made the right choice for me.

“When I came up here to visit the team, most of the players were seniors and juniors. There weren't many sophomores or incoming freshmen, but they included everybody in everything they did. I was impressed by that.”

Walker is majoring in environmental science with a minor in biology. She is carrying a 3.5 grade point average.

She led the team with 558 assists and 5.37 assists per set. Both figures were sixth in the conference. She also led the Panthers with 40 service aces and was fourth on the team with 236 digs.

“She was quick to grasp our offense and became a true leader on the court,” Roof said.

Butler High School coach Meghan Lucas isn't surprised by Walker's sudden success on the college court.

“Tabitha set for us for three years and she played club at Pitt Elite,” Lucas said. “In our section, we played against the top-level kids all the time. She is of that caliber.

“She is a very strong, confident setter.”

Roof anticipates more success for Walker down the road.

“Everything is pointing toward her having a tremendous career here,” he said. “Tabitha is into the game. She's only going to get better. The way she stepped right into the setter's role and got everybody involved in our offense right away was impressive.”

Walker — and the team — have sights set on an AMCC championship.

“We came close last year and most of our top players were juniors,” she said. “They're all coming back. I'm confident next season will be our year.

“Winning this Rookie of the Year award has caused me to have expectations for myself. Someday, I'd love to be Athlete of the Year. I guess that's my goal now.”