Cox signs to play volleyball at HSU
FOUNTAIN LAKE — Following her standout senior season as outside hitter for the Fountain Lake Lady Cobras, Olivia Cox signed a national letter of intent Tuesday afternoon to play volleyball for Henderson State University.
While Cox had no issue making herself known on the court the past three years, as a freshman, head coach Tina Moore admitted that she “got some really good courtside seats.”
Moore recognized the talent that Cox had at a young age, moving her to the varsity squad as a freshman, but she said Cox did put in the necessary work on the court.
“She didn’t really understand the work ethic to bust it out,” Moore said. “She developed that the next year. She grew up, got mature, realized what her goals were and stepped it up.”
Starting to play club volleyball as a seventh-grader, Cox said reached the point that she wanted to quit playing as a freshman.
“I didn’t feel like I loved it anymore,” she said. “Sophomore year, something just clicked. I was in the newspaper all the time because of the amount of kills I had all the time. I just felt like I needed it in my life.”
Following her freshman year, she was able to improve to the level that she was named to the All-State volleyball team her last three years, and she finished her senior season with 233 service points, 36 aces, 332 kills, 242 digs and 38 blocks.
Moore admitted it was Cox’s determination that helped her rise to the level she has achieved.
“She set the goal in 10th grade that, ‘You know what, I think I can really do this,’” she said. “From that point on, she amazed me at how hard she worked towards it. She worked a full-time job since she was 16, played volleyball
and played club. … Once she set her mind to wanting to play at the next level, she just did it.”
Although Cox did not rise to the expectations of her coaches as a freshman, she grew into a strong leader for the Lady Cobras.
“During the state tournament, she was the rock on the floor,” said assistant coach Michaela Biehslich. “She was getting everyone in. She was our team leader.”
“She was really driven this year, and it showed on the court,” Moore agreed. “She really did a great job of bringing in our younger girls and making them feel part of the team. She’s come a long way.”
Cox made the decision several years ago that she wanted to play volleyball at Henderson.
“I’ve loved that school for a long time,” she said. “It was kind of one of my dreams to play there. When the offer came across the table, I couldn’t turn it down.”
The senior admitted one of the things she will miss about playing volleyball at Fountain Lake is Moore.
“(I’ll miss) her as a coach and how good she is and how she is with us,” she said. “(It’s) the way she coaches. She’s kind of the foundation behind all of it.”