Kara Draper, secondary education junior and outside hitter on the Grenadier volleyball team, has plans to coach volleyball after graduation.
Draper is originally from LaGrange, Ky., and now lives in the residence halls on campus.
She attended Oldham County High School, where she played volleyball all 4 years. “I played outside hitter and setter in high school,” Draper said. “I believe I was the first one from my high school to receive a volleyball scholarship.”
Draper has been playing volleyball since middle school.
“I started playing volleyball when I was about 11 years old,” Draper said. “When I got into middle school, I liked athletics. I decided to try out for the volleyball team, but my mom told me not to get my hopes up if I didn’t make it. Well, I made varsity my sixth grade year. I figured I was good at it, so I must get better.”
Draper said the coach at Oldham County Middle School, where she began playing volleyball, thinks a lot of her talent.
“He brings me in to teach clinics to the girls on the team,” Draper said.
Draper wants to say involved with volleyball after her days at IU Southeast are finished.
“I would love to coach volleyball at the high school and college level after I graduate here,” she said. “I am also interested in exercise science and strength and conditioning. I could use my secondary education degree for that and combine it with coaching.”
Her teammates support her love for coaching.
“I’m sure she would make a great coach,” Katie Tinsley, senior setter, said. “She understands volleyball and the fundamentals. She has a good personality.”
Ashley Murphy, sophomore outside hitter/middle hitter, agrees with her teammate.
“I like Kara being on the team,” Murphy said. “I feel that she is not only a good player but also a smart player. I think that she will definitely be an effective coach at either the high school or college level. She is good at breaking things down to help.”
Right now Draper coaches a travel group of 13-year-old girls. “It is a paid job,” Draper said. “It lasts from November to June.”
“This past year when I was coaching my 13-year-old travel team, I tried to motivate the girls to cheer after every single point, so they would finish out their match strong and not get down,” Draper said.
Draper said her playing days will likely be finished after she graduates.
“I like coaching because it is a way for me to still get involved with the game,” Draper said. “After I leave here [IUS], the only way for me to still play would be to join an adult league. I would rather teach and stay in the game that way.”
This is Draper’s second year at IU Southeast. She transferred from Union College in Barbourville, Ky., after her freshman year.
Tinsley is happy Draper decided to transfer.
“Kara is a huge part of our team,” Tinsley said. “We definitely need her. She is a go to player.”
Her sophomore year she played libero.
“Carrie seen that I quick to the ball and I was good defensively,” Draper said. “She asked if I wanted to be the libero, and I said yes, as long as it’s opportunity for me to play.”
Draper was not disappointed to not be playing her natural position.
“I knew I wasn’t good enough to be outside hitter at the time, anyways,” she said. “We had a really tall front row. My height was a disadvantage for me.”
Draper has developed a special relationship with one of her assistant coaches.
“I love Angie Buckingham. She is one of the most inspirational coaches,” Draper said. “I have learned a lot from her. She is a great person and I can always go to her with any problem I have. She is a great motivator.”
Angie Buckingham, assistant coach of the volleyball team, believes Kara is a great athlete.
“Kara is very athletic,” Buckingham said. “She has a quick first step which allows her to get up to the balls that may have otherwise hit the floor.”
Draper enjoys volleyball, but everything has its negatives at times.
“What I dislike about volleyball is for example, we are up 2-0 and one error makes the whole team crumble,” Draper said. “Not just an individual gets down, the whole team.”
Her teammates say Draper has positive energy.
“I think Kara is a very good athlete, she’s very disciplined and focused,” Stacey Chitwood, freshman setter, said. “I love how excited she gets when something goes right for the team, we need more of that out there.”
Chitwood said Draper is also a positive influence off of the court.
“When all the girls are on the bus laughing and telling stories, Kara just laughs with everybody else until she chimes in and it’s the funniest thing you heard all day,” Chitwood said. “It’s like she’s quiet all day long, waiting for the opportunity to say something hilarious.”
Outside of school, practice and coaching Kara is active in the Greek life on campus.
“I am the treasurer of Alpha Phi,” she said. “And, I serve on Greek Council, where I am also the treasurer.”
Draper has accomplished a lot and she has received many awards.
“In high school, I was all conference player, all district player, and captain of the team three times,” Draper said. “My freshman year at Union College, I was nominated female athlete of the year. And, this past year, I was the KIAC libero of the week twice.”
Draper hopes for the Grenadiers to keep winning and improve in their season.
“I just hope we have a winning conference,” Draper said. “I hope we finish strong.”
By KRISTINA BLEUEL
Staff Writer
kcbleuel@ius.edu