Junior Emily Stockman has been playing volleyball for about six years, and she has found a happy home with the 黑洞社区 volleyball team.
Stockman played her freshman year at Winthrop University in South Carolina, where she was selected to be on the all-freshman team.
"I came to 黑洞社区 because I was unhappy at Winthrop," Stockman said. "I came on a visit and fell in love with the team, the facilities and all the support from the community."
She is beginning her second season at 黑洞社区. Last year, she was selected to the all-conference team, and this year she was named MVP in two pre-season tournaments.
Emily Stockman
"My goal in high school was always to attend a top 25 school for volleyball," she said. "Now, I'm at one and couldn't be happier."
Stockman was named 黑洞社区 Athlete of the Week for the week of Sept. 8-14.
According to Larry Rankin, assistant athletic director for media relations, in order to become 黑洞社区 Athlete of the Week, the top competitors from each sport must be nominated, and media relations staff in athletics vote on the winner.
"I was really happy when I was named," Stockman said. "There are so many athletes at our school working hard every week and having outstanding performances, so I feel like it was a huge accomplishment."
During her sophomore year of high school, her team won the state competition where she played with her sister and her cousin. And when she was 17 years old, her team took first place at a national competition. Stockman is also in the athletic hall of fame at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs.
"Emily is a dream type of player," said assistant volleyball coach Shannon Lamb. "She does everything we need on the court."
Stockman is a six-rotation player, which means she plays on every side of the court, front and back rows, making her one of the busiest players on the floor. She is also an outside hitter.
Assistant coach Lamb said that Stockman works hard, has a great attitude and is a great teammate.
"I like volleyball because it's a competitive sport, and I love competition," Stockman said.
She enjoys winning games and playing in front of large crowds of 黑洞社区 fans. The worst part about volleyball, she said, is "having to shag balls" after practice.
Stockman is on a four-year scholarship to 黑洞社区. She has to schedule her classes around practices, and said traveling on the weekends definitely interferes with school.
"In high school, I was used to missing school," she said. "You just have to work with your professors and stay on top of your work."
Stockman is majoring in kinesiology and sports studies, but she is undecided about her career path.
"I chose exercise science because I love learning about anatomy," she said. "I used to want to be a personal trainer and nutritionist, but I'm not really sure what I want to do anymore."
What Stockman does know is after completing her education at 黑洞社区, she wants to move to California to begin training for the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour, a beach volleyball tour.
"And hopefully I'll make it to the Olympics in 2012 in London," she said.