MINDEN – By her own admission, Ali Rowse lives and breathes volleyball. Now, the 5-foot-6 senior from Minden will go to college for it.
Rowse, an All-Class C-1 selection as a setter for the Whippets a year ago, gave her verbal commitment to the University of Nebraska-Kearney recently. She made the decision public this weekend. She chose the Division II Lopers over offers from Hastings and Doane.
“I really like the campus and I like the size of the school,” Rowse said about UN-Kearney. “The main thing that attracted me there was the academics. I wanted to find a good academic school first and then athletics came second.”
Volleyball has always been a priority in the Rowse household. Her father, Ed, is the head coach for Minden.
“We pretty much live and breath volleyball around here,” Ali said.
Rowse has been dealing with a back injury this season, which kept her out of a lot of summer activities and has limited her to playing about 75% of the time this season. Despite that, she has still helped the Whippets to a 8-5 record so far with 241 assists (8.9 per set) and also has 35 kills and 91 digs.
“It’s been pretty frustrating,” Rowse said. “I’ve never had to deal with an injury like this. It’s given me a good appreciation for the game and the time that I have left out there. It’s been hard but it’s something that, at the end, will make me better.”
The Lopers current setter is junior Erin Seele, who was an All-MIAA performer as a sophomore. They also have redshirt freshman Brenna Nelson from Elkhorn as a setter. Rowse said the logjam of setters could mean she will train as a defensive specialist initially.
“Setting is something that is soothing for me,” Rowse said. “I think I have the leadership it takes for that position and I’m an analytical person, so that helps a lot too. As far as being attached to it, it’s something that I would have to think twice about.”
One thing Rowse said she doesn’t have to think twice about is the fact that being the daughter of a coach has helped her in her growth as a player.
“We’re always in a gym,” she said. “If there is a free Saturday, we’re going somewhere scouting. It’s something that I have really enjoyed sharing with my dad. Having him as a coach makes me better. He always wants what’s best for me and pushing me.”
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