By Carmine Vetrano
Taking a look at the CCSU’s Volleyball roster, one can see that the coaching staff did not stay home to recruit players.
There is a big stretch going across the U.S. under the “hometown” title on the roster sheet, which ranges from Connecticut all the way to California.
One volleyball player who made the trip to the east coast is freshman Emily Cochran.
She hails from the mid-west and is one of eight current CCSU volleyball players from outside the New England area. Cochran is from Adel, Iowa, which is home to approximately 3,500 people.
Cochran, born and raised on a farm, was recruited out of high school to come play here in New Britain.
While at Adel-DeSoto-Minburn high school, Cochran was honored by being selected to the Iowa All-State Third team. Also during her senior year, Cochran was named team MVP and also the teams beat offensive player.
Her junior year brought her an All-District First Team award as well as All-Conference.
But why come to the east coast to play volleyball?
“Well, I got recruited here to play volleyball, I came and visited and I loved the feel of it,” Cochran said. “I have always wanted to travel and it was an amazing opportunity. I was looking at closer colleges, but this was my favorite, though. The team and coaches felt like such a family.”
Cochran felt the adjustment of making the leap across the Mississippi River at the age of 18.
“It has been a big change for me. I was born and raised on a farm, and basically just the small town feel has [undergone] a change,” Cochran said.
“Where I come from everyone knew everyone so it’s a change, but mainly just missing my family and friends back home. I have not seen them in over three months and it has been very hard for me.”
However, it did not take Cochran long to fit in on the volleyball team and call Detrick Gymnasium her new home. Cochran has been a force on the volleyball team and she is only a rookie. She has played in the 28 of 29 matches for CCSU and has helped the team clinch a NEC tournament berth.
Cochran, who helped CCSU pull off a 2-0 weekend this past weekend, led the team in digs and kills last Friday against NEC rival, the Sacred Heart Pioneers.
That game was arguably the biggest win so far for the Blue Devils this season having NEC seeding implications.
“Sacred Heart was a huge win for our team,” Cochran stated. “The last time we had played them we did not perform as we wished, so this was a little revenge. We have not beaten them in a while and they are an extremely aggressive team. We prepared for them a lot and we knew where they were going to hit so we shut them down at the net and in the back court.”
The volleyball team now sits at 10-3 in NEC play and 16-13 overall. And Cochran feels that the team’s performance and coaching staff’s management skills, everything seems to be fitting in place.
“Right now our team is playing extremely well together, as we should at this time of the year, but we know how each other play and we all work really well together as a team,” Cochran added. “The coaching staff is very knowledgeable and they know how to coach us girls. They know how each of the girls likes to be coached. They sit down with us and are good with communicating with us.”
The big win last Friday hasn’t been the only thing this outside hitter/ defensive specialist, has been able to cheer about.
For the third straight time Cochran has been named the NEC rookie of the week. She is the third Blue Devil to gain the honor three times. Fellow teammates Amanda Bayer received the award five times in 2007 and Jamie Baumert took home four in 2006.
“No,” Cochran said. “I didn’t think I would get NEC awards [this early].”
With three years left of the same potential, Cochran is looking at years’ worth awards to come.
