After an impressive weekend in which the volleyball team took two out of three matches and improved their overall record to 14-4, freshman Rachel Schroff was named the NESCAC volleyball player of the week. In the three-game stretch over October 9-10, Schroff recorded eight kills and seven blocks in a 3-0 win over Middlebury College and an additional eleven kills against Williams College. Connecticut College also defeated Hamilton College in another 3-0 sweep.
Schroff leads the NESCAC in hitting percentage with a .369 hitting percentage and is a major reason why Conn, ranked fourth in the NESCAC, leads the league in that category. The College Voice interviewed Rachel this week to get the lowdown on her introduction to the sport and how her first year on the volleyball team is going.
VOICE: How long have you been playing volleyball?
SCHROFF: I have been playing volleyball since I was ten years old.
VOICE: What drew you to Connecticut College?
SCHROFF: Josh Edmed the head volleyball coach contacted me. I had never heard of Conn but was interested in going to the East Coast, so I looked into it. I stayed overnight with one of the girls on the team and really liked the school and the volleyball program. I actually ended up applying ED 1.
VOICE: What are your short and long terms goals at Conn, both academically and athletically?
SCHROFF: Athletically, I hope to continue to improve each year and ultimately make it to the NESCAC finals. Academically, I am thinking of majoring in psychology and would love to work with children. I also want to travel abroad my junior year.
VOICE: Who are your biggest role models in the sport of volleyball?
SCHROFF: My mom is a big role model for me. She has always been there to support and encourage me. She also played volleyball in college, so it has always been a dream of mine to follow in her footsteps.
VOICE: When you are not playing volleyball, what are your other interests?
SCHROFF: Being outdoors, hanging out with friends.
VOICE: What is the most important thing you’ve learned from playing volleyball?
SCHROFF: Teamwork. There is no star in volleyball, everyone has to work together and every person on the team is vital for success.
VOICE: What is the best thing about being on the team so far?
SCHROFF: My teammates. We are like a family; everyone is really supportive and encouraging. It is a great group of girls and we all get along really well, which I think shows on the court.
VOICE: What has been your biggest accomplishment so far in your volleyball career?
SCHROFF: My biggest accomplishment is receiving athlete of the year from my high school for my four years playing volleyball. It was an honor and an unexpected surprise.
The volleyball team recorded another 3-0 home win on October 13 against Eastern Connecticut State University. The team will then travel to Trinity College on October 16-17 to square off against both Amherst College and Trinity College before returning home on October 22 for a match against Salve Regina.
Congratulations again to Rachel and good luck to the volleyball team as they continue their great season and begin looking ahead to postseason play.
