This past week was a great weekend for Cougar volleyball. We posted a win on Thursday night as we beat a tough Notre Dame team in three. We then traveled to Cincinnati on Saturday to play a tri-match with Kentucky State and Cincinnati Christian. We came out on top winning both games in three. This week is a HUGE week for us. Tomorrow we travel to Malone to play Geneva to qualify for the NCCAA National Tournament. Following tomorrow’s game, we are set to play Walsh on Thursday in hopes to finish second in the conference and host the AMC Tournament next weekend (November 13-14). I encourage all you fans to check out the awesome promotional video my roommate, Michelle, made for the event. She did an amazing job on it! I speak for all the girls when I say we would love for you all to be there Thursday to cheer us on and be our seventh man!

Our last junior is Jackie Paul Albrecht. Yes, that is her middle name and, yes, that is also our coach’s first name. Jackie is a middle hitter from Lexington, Ohio. She wears jersey number 3. Jackie is an amazing volleyball player. Her many awards do not do her justice. Not only can she pound the ball, but she is also very intelligent and knows when to switch up her game and worry about placement instead of power. Jackie plays all the way around during the game, which most middles do not do, so that says a ton about her athletic ability. The aspect that most inspires me in Jackie is that she has overcome a major knee injury suffered in her senior year of high school to be one of the best players I have ever played with. What can I say? She makes my job look easy.

Outside of volleyball, Jackie is one of the coolest people I know. I mean, she is a pretty big deal that sometimes I don’t even know why she is friends with me. Jackie is a genuinely caring person who brings many, many laughs to our team. Her personality and sarcastic comments make each day an experience. I think the girls would agree with me when I say that Jackie is truly an asset to our team on and off the floor. It has truly been a blessing to be a teammate to Jackie throughout these past three years. I am excited for the rest of this season, and I know Jackie will do great things in not only her volleyball career but in life as well.