Ohio State Women’s Volleyball Feature Story – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/24/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2001
By D. C. Koehl, Ohio State Athletics Communications
Junior middle blocker Suzie Stiling has improved both as a student and a member of the Ohio State women’s volleyball squad. An Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and honored as an Academic All-Big Ten selection her sophomore year, Stiling is majoring in accounting. She also is one of the top players on the volleyball team averaging 4.16 kills per game, hitting .477 and averaging 1.48 digs per game.
Stiling, who ranked second in the Big Ten Conference in hitting percentage last week, sees herself with more responsibilities this season.
“As a junior, an upper classman, it is a bigger responsibility in a leadership role,” Stiling said. “Things are expected of me. As a sophomore, I surprised some people. Now my level of play has to increase because I am expected to play well and lead my team.”
Stiling has been a leader by example. She has improved her hitting percentage from .293 last season to .477. Her improvement has come from hard work.
“During the spring and summer Katie (Virtue) and I worked a lot (on plays) in front of her because last year my strong hit was my slide, and it still is my strong hit,” Stiling said. She noted they have worked on a number of other plays that have improved her overall performance.
Some of this training came from a trip to Italy, playing for the Volleyhut.Com team against a number of teams.
“Playing overseas was amazing,” Stiling said. “It was a different level of competition. We played teams that had girls that ranged from young teens to 23-24. Katie and I got more rep (repetitions), which is nice. But it was more the experience, then the improving of volleyball, because it was (played) outside. The wind took the ball, but it was fun.”
The trip to Italy was about playing volleyball, but it also provided an educational experience.
“Definitely, other then a couple of days on a cruise, I had never been out of the country,” Stiling said. “I was seeing a different lifestyle, which was just amazing to me. The streets of Italy were awesome. The little kids running around, looking up to you, having to sign their bodies, it was just an unbelievable experience and a lot of fun.”
Becoming a better player occurs in many different ways. One aspect is in the weight room where last season she was named to the Buckeye Power Club.
“Coach (Anthony) Glass chose players from each team, including Katie Virtue and myself,” Stiling said. “I think it was his way of patting us on the back and saying that we have done a good job in the weight room. Not necessary lifting the most weight, but pushing our teammates and ourselves in the weight room.”
The work in the weight room has benefited Stiling in her play.
“Definitely, just to move to block outside, I am a lot stronger in my legs,” Stiling said. “It has helped me be a better blocker.”
The academic side of college for Stiling revolves around her accounting major.
“My academics are going to be a lot more interesting because I have a lot more accounting based courses,” Stiling said. “I am going to be more involved with my major in the winter and spring. I am excited for that because I am very interested in my major. It is exciting to learn new things. I can get better at volleyball and get better with school at the same time.”
Stiling has her ledger book open on life after college.
“I am not sure right now,” Stiling said. “I don’t know what I want to do right out of college. I know I am going on to graduate school and I want to get my M.B.A. and sit for the C.P.A. exam. I want to be a businesswoman and be in the business world.”
Athletics has played a part in her discipline for academics.
“Playing for Coach Stone has made me a disciplined player and student,” Stiling said. “When we go out into the real world, I think we will be a lot better prepared to learn from our mistakes and not get down on ourselves for making mistakes.”
The Student Athletic Support Services (SASSO) and The Younkin Success Center also have helped the learning process for Stiling. The Center, for students and student-athletes alike, houses career services, counseling and consultation services, SASSO and the faculty and teaching assistant development office.
“I thing just the Younkin Center being built has helped so much,” Stiling said. “It is an amazing building. Last year I took advantage of their tutoring program for accounting. The accounting tutors helped me immensely. It was awesome. With (Dr.) Kate Riffee (Assistant A.D., SASSO) being our academic advisor, she really looks over our shoulders and makes sure we are doing well.”
The combination of academics and athletics has Stiling and the women’s volleyball team on the right track this season.
“Right now we are 8-0 in the preconference season and that was one of our goals and we reached it,” Stiling said. “I was real happy about that. I think that each day we learn new things and we are getting better. Our goal this season is to win the Big Ten Championship and with a lot of hard work in practice we can obtain that goal. We definitely have things to work on and build on because we see a lot of good things happening in the matches as far as team play.”
