Do not let her bright smile fool you - Ohio volleyball middle blocker Laura Hageman is a feared player in the Mid-American Conference.
With that fear, however, comes respect from coaches, opponents and teammates. This was evident at the conclusion of the 2002 season when Hageman was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division I All-Mideast Region first team, in addition to being the first Bobcat to garner MAC Player of the Year honors.
"I also think people wanted to go after me, and they were on me especially when I would run the slide, and I was always one to double block," Hageman said. "So, to some extent I was feared, but they were going after me as well."
The All-Region honor was the first awarded to an Ohio player in the program's history, and Hageman was the only MAC player to be placed on that list. Add one more award to that list - The Post Female Athlete of the Year.
Hageman was, by almost all accounts, the player who was called upon to produce a momentum gaining point or a defensive stop. She set a school record for single-season hitting percentage (.342) and currently stands second on Ohio's career blocking list.
She has been recognized within the MAC and even within the Midwest, but has yet to see national recognition for her abilities. Former Ohio volleyball coach Mike Lessinger said playing against nationally ranked teams will get Hageman's name into the minds of the AVCA voters.
"They have some great opponents next year, like Arizona State, and they've got some really well known national teams - that's where you make your name," Lessinger said. "Playing within the MAC, regionally you'll be known, but in order to breakout in a national situation, you've got to do it in those inter-conference matches."
When asked about her accomplishments, Hageman's smile showed again, and then she deferred to her teammates, especially setter Briana Adamovsky, as a big reason for the success.
"Briana is a phenomenal setter, just tremendous," Hageman said. "I wouldn't get the kill if she didn't give me the set. Going back to Katie (Smith) and (Erin) Fiene with the pass and the whole team. If I didn't have them then I couldn't do some of the things I do well. It goes back to their skills and mine meshing together."
Adamovsky said Hageman is easy to play with because of her fire and her constant focus.
"Well, Laura is one of those players that is there all the time and wants the ball at game point," Adamovsky said. "I feel that she has this drive to win and when we're on the court, we both just have that same kind of aggressive play. We just click."
But just because Hageman had the best statistically composite season in Ohio volleyball history does not mean there is time for her to rest. She already has started on an off-season workout regimen designed to work on her jumping ability, and she said that blocking was one of the areas needing the most improvement.
"I think my blocking is kind of lacking, so I want to do some jumping exercises," Hageman said. "Basically, the best thing to do is just play."
Ohio coach Geoff Carlston, who has been with the team for only three months, immediately saw Hageman's tenacity and motivation and named her the 2003 team captain.
"She hates to lose, and in a lot of ways, you can't train that," Carlston said. "It's great for the incoming freshmen to see that because she reflects the mentality we're trying get on the court."
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Laurie Duffy
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Ohio's Laura Hageman and Ashley Elliott block a spike against Marshall.
