Thursday, January 22, 2015

Alumni Spotlight: Monica Brown


Name while at LHU: Monica Brown
High School: Omaha Central High School
Years played/attended LHU: 3/2010-13
Positions played: Defensive Specialist   
Degree/Major: Bachelor & Masters in Sport Administration     
Current Job: Head Volleyball Coach at Pennsylvania College of Technology
Current Hometown: Omaha, NE
Family: Colin and Joi Brown  Brother: Alex Brown

1.        Share with us a few of your fondest memories at Lock Haven.

My favorite memory by far at LHU was the game we played against Clarion at home during playoffs. They were previously conference champs and made it to the Elite 8, we went down the first two sets and then came back and won in 5! The entire field house was packed and every single person in the gym went crazy! I was injured at the time but I felt like I was in every play and couldn’t have been more proud of the team and what we overcame and accomplished in that game.

I have many other fond memories of Lock Haven but none compare to that game!


2.       What were your greatest accomplishments on and off the court at LHU?

My greatest on the court accomplishments at LHU was the game when we beat CalU. It had been a couple seasons since we had beaten them and they ended our season the previous year so we were out for revenge. We collectively beat them and it took every single one of us to take them down. Personally I felt accomplished because I was playing a pretty good game and then in the fourth set I collided with another player and my hand broke. The game was such an adrenaline rush that I was able to finish the last set of the game until we won! (Don’t feel bad Cody :-P)

My greatest accomplishment off the court at LHU was graduating on time. I attended a community college my first two years and not all my credits transferred in. Therefore I had to take summer classes and load up each semester with 18 credit hours just to stay on track but I was able to get through them all and graduate in 4 years!

3.       What did playing volleyball at Lock Haven enable you to accomplish?

First and foremost playing at Lock Haven enabled me to accomplish my life long goal of playing collegiate volleyball. It has also opened up the opportunity for me to become a college volleyball coach. I wasn’t sure what avenue of the sports world I wanted to be a part of but I’m so happy I went with coaching. I love coaching more than anything and I want to teach the game of volleyball along with developing athletes to becoming good people.

4.       What does being a part of the Lock Haven Volleyball family mean to you?

Being a part of the prestigious group of LHU volleyball alumni means the world to me. We all are very lucky to have had a very successful collegiate volleyball experience and that’s something that most programs alumni can’t say. I’m so proud to be a Bald Eagle and will always root for LHU!!

5.       Who are some of the people at LHU that you are most thankful for?

I am most thankful for my coaches and my professors. I loved my experience at Lock Haven from the classroom to the court! I still stay in touch with some of my professors and of course with my former coaches. I learned so many life lessons from these people and they all have made me a better person. I’m also very thankful that they have all helped me out professionally with anything I needed whether it was with graduate school, being a reference, or just friendly advice.

6.       What is the greatest lesson you learned being an athlete at Lock Haven?

The greatest lesson I learned is that life is short and to appreciate every day we have. Being a student-athlete was an amazing part of my life and I often wish I could go back and relive those days. I at times took my experience for granted because I didn’t know how much I’d miss it once it was over. Therefore, I’ve learned to not take any good thing for granted.

7.       What advice would you give to a senior student-athlete leaving LHU for the real world.

I would tell a senior student athlete to apply for any job that they are interested in because you never know what you will get a chance at. Make all your last times in college count and keep in contact with the important people in your life!

8.        What advice would you give to a freshman coming in to Lock Haven?


I would tell an incoming freshman not to take any day for granted, to play as hard and as much as possible and soak up as much information as possible. I would tell them that it’s over before you know it and that when you’re done you think back to the things you would do differently and what the important things really were. Trust your coach no matter what “you think is best” because there is a reason for the decisions they make. I would tell them to make good choices every day that they won’t look back and regret later on and above all just play for the love of the game!