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Cooke
(continued from page 33)
paid off. This season, Cooke’s frustrated
opposing hitters, too, leading North
Meck with 156 digs.
“The difference between this year and
last year is the improvement of her allround
game – especially on defense,”
said Skidmore. “She can read hitters
(where they are trying to hit the ball),
and that’s something you just can’t
teach.”
College coaches noticed Cooke’s
improvement, too.
On Sept. 22, Cooke made a commitment
to play at Wingate University, a
Division II school that competes in the
South Atlantic Conference. She chose
Wingate over Lafayette (Pa.) College
because of her familiarity with Bulldogs
coach Shelton Collier, the back-to-back
recipient of the SAC Coach of the Year
Award. During the offseason, Cooke
worked on her game with Collier at his
volleyball camps. His coaching style
matches her enthusiasm for the game,
she said
“I love the way he coaches,” said
Cooke. “He’s energetic and promotes a
positive atmosphere. His practices are
really high-paced.”
Even a possible position change didn’t
affect Cooke’s decision to commit to
Wingate. Cooke said Collier is considering
converting her into a setter next year.
Collier told North Meck’s top hitter she
has the hand-eye coordination to make
the transition after he watched her set
for her offseason club team. She did so
on a limited basis, but it was enough for
Collier to see her potential.
“Coach Collier has seen me set and
said I could be a highlevel
setter,” said
Cooke. “I’d rather
hit because it’s more
exciting, but at the
same time, a setter
has the most impact
on the court.”
Common ground
Even though Cooke
plays a sport different
from the one her
father coaches, they
still share a bond
built around athletics.
Maybe it was the
years Cooke spent
hanging around her
father’s baseball
practices. At the
time, she considered
Davidson’s baseball
players her big brothers.
But the years
spent near a baseball
dugout appear
to have given her a
Ali Cooke leads North Meck with 166 kills.
Sports
different perspective on volleyball than
most players. Through baseball-tinted
glasses, she and her father can see that
both games are actually quite similar.
“It’s weird, but every position I play
somehow relates to baseball,” said
Cooke. “The hitting motion of volleyball
and the throwing motion of baseball are
very similar.”
Her father agrees.
The eldest Cooke said he manages his
pitchers’ count the same way Skidmore
manages her hitters’ swings in practice
– both coaches are careful to prevent
overworking their players’ shoulders.
And when Cooke was battling shoulder
problems, the result of bicep tendonitis,
she could lean on her father for
advice. Her rehabilitation was similar to
her father’s pitchers’ therapy.
But more important, her father’s
involvement at Davidson has benefited
Cooke in more ways then one. She’s
always had access to a pick-up volleyball
game with older Wildcat volleyball
players, who took her under their wings
to show her how to play at the college
level.
She also spent time in the Davidson
weight room, picking up training tips.
Cooke and her dad have always shared
a bond centered around sports. Many
times, both could be found watching a
local American Legion baseball game
together or just talking about athletics
in general.
So does Cooke think her father’s profession
had an impact on her volleyball
career?
To Cooke, the answer is obvious.
“I think I do fit the stereotype of a
coach’s daughter,” she said. “We’re
wired athletically.” q
Chris Hunt/Herald photo
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