Shelly Draeger – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 1, 2000
A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Shelly Draeger is the first student-athlete from the state of Wisconsin to play women’s volleyball for the Scarlet and Gray. She has a “homecoming,” of sorts, this weekend as the Buckeyes have home matches against Northwestern Friday and Wisconsin Sunday. Actually, it will be the fourth “homecoming” and one she is looking forward to.
“I am definitely looking forward to it. We are going to go get them. We have got to beat them again,” Draeger said.
Draeger and her teammates have won two of the last three matches with Wisconsin, all going the distance, in five games. In Draeger’s freshman year, Ohio State won at Wisconsin while the Badgers were victorious in Columbus. Earlier this season, OSU trailed 0-2 in Madison but staged a comeback to win in five games. That sets up Sunday’s return match.
Draeger has been improving her game and wants to continue to get better.
“I have come in early and worked a little harder,” Draeger said. “We are getting a lot more digs because we have a better block. It is a lot easier to dig the ball. We are setting up a better block and then we can dig around it better.”
The jump serve has been one of her most potent weapons. Draeger ranks third on the team with 24 ace serves.
“For the first couple of games, I try to keep my serve in and see how it feels. If I feel I can go a little harder, I’ll go a little harder,” Draeger said. “My serve can keep people off balance. If they pass it higher, their offense can’t run as smoothly.”
She also feels that her energy and play can help the team.
“I need to provide energy on the court,” Draeger said. “When someone does something well on the court, I go up to them and be like ‘Way to go’. If things are not going well, I say something like ‘Pick it up’. I need to help with my talk and my play.”
Draeger could see volleyball in her future after college, but her education is very important.
“When I am done, I want to have a master’s degree in education and teach fourth-and fifth-grade,” she said. “I hope to do some coaching.”
“I could see myself going to Europe to play if the opportunity came up,” Draeger said. “It would be nice to hang out, have some fun and see the world.”
Two things she enjoys outside of college and athletics is Scooby Doo and ceramics.
“I always watched him (Scooby Doo) when I was little. I would watch the reruns. It was just pure entertainment.”
Ceramics allows her to create something from nothing.
“I have done pots off the wheel and a sculpture of a head in high school,” she said. “I would like to continue. If I can’t take classes here, then I’ll do it when I am done with school.”
Whatever her future plans may be, her mindset right now is preparing for her classes, both academic and athletic. The athletic side will be a team effort.
“If we can, we want to go undefeated in this last part of the season, she said. “I think we have to focus a little more and have better practices. “
