“FREE!”
The crowd’s cheers echo through the Coliseum as the opposing team scurries around the court, only to send the volleyball floating simply over the net. With an excellent pass and set, there is the perfect opportunity for the middle hitter to kill it. With a slide hit, Morgan Bossler, first year Eagle, crushes the ball—and her opponents—winning the point.
As a latecomer to the sport at the age of 11, Bossler never guessed that her dedication and commitment would earn her the honor of being named Big South Player of the Week.
“I was surprised,” Bossler said. “I wasn’t expecting it, but it was a pleasant surprise.”
Having transferred to Winthrop this year, after completing two years at Iowa Western Community College, Bossler credits much of her success to her fellow teammates.
“I couldn’t do any of this without them,” Bossler said. “It’s a sign that the whole team is off to a good start.”
Being one of the two tallest girls in the program at 6-foot-3, Bosslers height definitely comes in handy for those tough plays. This season she leads the team in block assists with 23 and has the second most kills with 54. Her impressive skills make her the second highest scorer on the team, earning a total of 72.5 points at the team’s first six games.
When asked what helped her achieve this honor in the tournament, Bossler described how her teammates’ high percentage of passing and digging the ball “make it easier to run the middle,” thus giving her more chances for kills. Before the aggressive determination on the court, the team prepares with a meeting, a favorite activity for Bossler.
“We go over what we have learned about the other team. I like it because it refreshes my brain. I know what to look for when playing,” Bossler said.
Being named Assistant Coach in May 2018, Becca Acevedo is also a fairly new addition to Winthrop who witnesses Morgan’s energy and encouragement every day.
“Morgan Bossler has been an excellent addition to our team. We knew she would add depth to the middle position, but she has been more than that. She challenges her teammates in practice and is an intelligent player who knows when and how to score. We are excited to see her continue to develop and compete in conference play,” Acevedo said.
Majoring in exercise science, Bossler may decide to use her knowledge and experience with team sports to become a college coach herself, staying “in the world of volleyball.”
Overall this season, Bossler is looking forward to building on her Big South Player of the Week achievement by “starting strong in conference.” She and her teammates will use what they learned from past tournaments to help them be tough and ready to go with new strategies in their future games.
Photo: Gabby Gardner/ The Johnsonian
