North Carolina State University Athletics
Cormier Leading The Way for Wolfpack Volleyball in 2015
7/29/2015 12:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. - In 2012, the NC State women's volleyball team did something that it had not done in the previous 25 years of the program - advance to the NCAA Tournament. Three years later only one player from that squad is listed on the 2015 Wolfpack roster, senior Morgan Cormier.
The Carlsbad, Calif., native has been charged with taking on a larger leadership role this season and is excited about the challenge. She and Tanna Aljoe are the lone seniors on the squad; however, Aljoe transferred into the program following the 2012 season from San Diego State.
"Since I'm the only one from the team when we went to the tournament in 2012, I feel like I can bring a lot of insight and experience on what we need to do to get back to that point, said Cormier. "Being a leader both on and off the court is one of my main goals for the year."
As a freshman in 2012, Cormier appeared in 22 of the 31 matches on the season and saw action in 63 sets. She finished the year with 99 kills, 39 blocks and 21 digs, and was named ACC Freshman of the Week once during her initial campaign with the Pack.
Primed to take on a much larger role for NC State in 2013, Cormier suffered a knee injury in preseason practice that would force her to miss the entire season with a torn ACL. After an intense rehab, she was ready to go for the 2014 season and made her presence felt by putting down 148 kills with 53 blocks, and starting 12 matches.
"It was tough for me to come back from my ACL injury but my athletic trainers, coaches and teammates were there to support me throughout the process to make it easier to be able to come back and play confidently again," Cormier added.
Heading into the 2015 campaign with the knee injury in her rearview, she is ready to contribute to the team's success in whatever way she is needed. The senior saw action last season as a middle blocker and also as a right side hitter and says that she's comfortable playing either position.
Cormier played right side as a freshman and returned to that position last season, following a couple personnel changes which allowed the spot to become available. She said that there was a spot that needed to be filled and she wanted to step up for her team.
As the most experienced player on the 2015 squad, she's looking forward to being that vocal leader and example for the younger players on the team. This year's roster has a lot of youth, with only four upperclassmen of the 15 players.
Despite having such a young squad, Cormier says that the voluntarily summer workouts and open gyms have been very competitive to make her excited about the start of the season.
"I'm really excited to get started," Cormier said. "We were able to put the fall behind us in the spring and we all have the mindset and focus that we want this year to be different. Some of the close matches that we lost last year, we want to make sure that we're able to finish those games this year. We have a really competitive group and everyone's been working really hard this summer, so I think it'll be a good fall for us."
As a freshman at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif., Cormier started to notice the influx of recruiting letters and decided to narrow her focus to volleyball, as she was also a standout basketball player. The Wolfpack joined her recruitment near the end of her sophomore year and then she visited the campus during her junior year of high school.
"I just fell in love with the campus and the coaches did a really good job of making me feel right at home on my visit," said Cormier. "The players were also a big part of it, as I could tell that there was a really tight bond within the program and I just got a really good vibe that this was the place for me so I committed and it has been an awesome decision."
When asked about her goals for the team this season, Cormier replied that they want to finish in the top third of the conference this season and get back to the NCAA Tournament. She recalls what a high point it was in her career to make the tournament as a freshman and wants other players on the team to have that experience.
Individually, the senior wants to be more of a consistent player and emerge as one of the go-to players on offense when the squad needs production. The squad lost some great hitters from last season's squad and Cormier wants to step up to fill that void.
Reflecting on her tenure in a Wolfpack uniform, Cormier says her experience has been challenging, especially returning from the ACL injury, but it has made her realize that she can overcome any challenge moving forward. As a student-athlete, she says it has been a really good experience.
Her love and passion for the sport have sparked her interest in coaching following graduation. She hopes to start with some local teams and then move up, but she's really interested in sharing her knowledge and love for the game with others. Cormier will graduate with a degree in business administration and will also have the opportunity to pursue jobs in that field if coaching doesn't work out as planned.
The Carlsbad, Calif., native has been charged with taking on a larger leadership role this season and is excited about the challenge. She and Tanna Aljoe are the lone seniors on the squad; however, Aljoe transferred into the program following the 2012 season from San Diego State.
"Since I'm the only one from the team when we went to the tournament in 2012, I feel like I can bring a lot of insight and experience on what we need to do to get back to that point, said Cormier. "Being a leader both on and off the court is one of my main goals for the year."
As a freshman in 2012, Cormier appeared in 22 of the 31 matches on the season and saw action in 63 sets. She finished the year with 99 kills, 39 blocks and 21 digs, and was named ACC Freshman of the Week once during her initial campaign with the Pack.
Primed to take on a much larger role for NC State in 2013, Cormier suffered a knee injury in preseason practice that would force her to miss the entire season with a torn ACL. After an intense rehab, she was ready to go for the 2014 season and made her presence felt by putting down 148 kills with 53 blocks, and starting 12 matches.
"It was tough for me to come back from my ACL injury but my athletic trainers, coaches and teammates were there to support me throughout the process to make it easier to be able to come back and play confidently again," Cormier added.
Heading into the 2015 campaign with the knee injury in her rearview, she is ready to contribute to the team's success in whatever way she is needed. The senior saw action last season as a middle blocker and also as a right side hitter and says that she's comfortable playing either position.
Cormier played right side as a freshman and returned to that position last season, following a couple personnel changes which allowed the spot to become available. She said that there was a spot that needed to be filled and she wanted to step up for her team.
As the most experienced player on the 2015 squad, she's looking forward to being that vocal leader and example for the younger players on the team. This year's roster has a lot of youth, with only four upperclassmen of the 15 players.
Despite having such a young squad, Cormier says that the voluntarily summer workouts and open gyms have been very competitive to make her excited about the start of the season.
"I'm really excited to get started," Cormier said. "We were able to put the fall behind us in the spring and we all have the mindset and focus that we want this year to be different. Some of the close matches that we lost last year, we want to make sure that we're able to finish those games this year. We have a really competitive group and everyone's been working really hard this summer, so I think it'll be a good fall for us."
As a freshman at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif., Cormier started to notice the influx of recruiting letters and decided to narrow her focus to volleyball, as she was also a standout basketball player. The Wolfpack joined her recruitment near the end of her sophomore year and then she visited the campus during her junior year of high school.
"I just fell in love with the campus and the coaches did a really good job of making me feel right at home on my visit," said Cormier. "The players were also a big part of it, as I could tell that there was a really tight bond within the program and I just got a really good vibe that this was the place for me so I committed and it has been an awesome decision."
When asked about her goals for the team this season, Cormier replied that they want to finish in the top third of the conference this season and get back to the NCAA Tournament. She recalls what a high point it was in her career to make the tournament as a freshman and wants other players on the team to have that experience.
Individually, the senior wants to be more of a consistent player and emerge as one of the go-to players on offense when the squad needs production. The squad lost some great hitters from last season's squad and Cormier wants to step up to fill that void.
Reflecting on her tenure in a Wolfpack uniform, Cormier says her experience has been challenging, especially returning from the ACL injury, but it has made her realize that she can overcome any challenge moving forward. As a student-athlete, she says it has been a really good experience.
Her love and passion for the sport have sparked her interest in coaching following graduation. She hopes to start with some local teams and then move up, but she's really interested in sharing her knowledge and love for the game with others. Cormier will graduate with a degree in business administration and will also have the opportunity to pursue jobs in that field if coaching doesn't work out as planned.
Players Mentioned
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