For Sarah Rose, adjusting to life as a freshman at Marquette University has been a matter of figuring out how to balance study and sports.
The former York High School volleyball standout, who tallied 2,605 assists and 865 digs in a stellar four-year career that included being named an AVCA All-American nominee and selections to the All-Conference and All-Area teams, says the transition to collegiate life has a definite learning curve.
Making a splash as a September 2015 Tribune Athlete of the Month, Rose headed to the Milwaukee campus in July to get a head start with some summer credits and to figure out how to balance the demands of volleyball while being away from home for the first time.
“I had to get used to another level of homework and academic expectations. Working out and practicing in the summer helped me get used to the demands of my sport and to learn how to manage my time for volleyball, school and myself,” says Rose. “The older girls on my team gave me a lot of advice and help throughout the summer.”
The Elmhurst native is on a volleyball scholarship, but says there is no added pressure to impress coaches or teammates. “I work hard every day to be on the top of my game. All of my teammates came here with a high level of volleyball experience and are ready to play, so that we are always competitive in practice and in competition,” she says. “There isn’t any added pressure on me because I am just playing the game I love and having fun doing it.”
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Rose credits her tight-knit family and some excellent coaches for helping her hone a game that brought her high school and club teams great success and ultimately brought her to the attention of Marquette University, in one of the top volleyball conferences.
“I had a few club coaches that really influenced me and helped me learn the game and develop my skills to be able to play at the next level. They helped me learn to see the court in different ways and use that to my advantage,” says Rose. “They believed in my abilities and felt I could make a positive impact at the college level and on the Marquette team.”
While she spends a lot of time with her Marquette volleyball family, Rose says her siblings were a very important part of her development by instilling a competitive attitude and a love for sports. She says their experiences from college sports were extremely valuable.
“My family has been extremely supportive, getting me to practices, games and tournaments since I was very young. They have been in the stands at almost every match I have played throughout the years,” Rose says. “They helped shape me into who I am today because they pushed me to always work hard to be my best self.”
As for being away from home, Rose says it has really made her realize how important her family is to her. “My family is pretty close, which I always knew, but I completely realized it once I left for school. I talk to my parents and siblings all the time. I realize how much we all care about each other, and I know they support me in all that I do.”