Mackenzie Hurlbert – General Assignments Reporter –
Owls volleyball wrapped up their season with record of 24-11. Star setter Kimberly Lachowicz ended her senior season with 1,249 assists, 271 digs, 69 kills and 38 aces. She was ranked first in assists, first in service aces, and fifth in digs.
“This season was absolutely a good way to end my career,” said Lachowicz. “We finished the season fourth in the conference and were eighth in the region. I think that’s the highest the program has finished in the conference and region.”
Lachowicz also mentioned how special it was to end the season with her other fellow senior players, Vanessa Sullivan and Syriah Celestine.
“ I ended the season with two girls who I started my career at Southern with,” said Lachowicz. “I couldn’t ask for two better girls to end the season and our career with.”
Lachowicz has been playing volleyball since the sixth grade, and she said she likes how much of a unifying force the sport is.
“Not one player can carry the team. It is always a team effort,” she said.
Teammate Sarah Beres, junior and middle blocker, outside hitter, described how Lachowicz is such a supportive team player. “Kimi had a huge presence on the court,” said Beres. “She always picks her teammates up when they’re down and always encouraging. She’s a great leader on and off the court.”
Beres also commended Lachowicz on such a successful career playing for the Owls.
“Kimi had a great season. She was named to the all-conference team and finished fourth in the conference in assists per set. She’s a great player and always puts 100% effort into everything she’s doing. Her hard work and dedication has made her one of the top setters in the conference.”
Lachowicz said her time with the Owls was a rewarding experience.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better experience playing for the Owls. I was fortunate enough to be a part of a lot of ‘firsts’ for the program,” said Lachowicz. “It’s exciting to know you were a part of program history and knowing the positive direction the program is continuing to go.”
Coach Lisa Barbaro commented on Lachowicz’s stellar performance over the years.
“Kimi has had tremendous career at SCSU. She currently holds the assist record, and is the best all around setter I have coached,” said Barbaro. “Kimi has had a major impact on improving our offensive categories. We have improved in total hitting attempts and kill percentage over the past four seasons. Kimi has also been a leader from the serving line, assisting our team on being one of the best in the conference.”
Lachowicz listed off some of her memorable highlights from over the four years of her career playing for the Southern Owls, which included: “Making it to the playoffs for the first time in program history, beating the top seed (New Haven), three playoff berths out of my four years, being ranked in the top eight of the region, and being a contender for a NCAA bid.”
Barbaro spoke about Lachowicz’s strengths on the floor.
“Kimi has very good court awareness, and is great competitor. Her volleyball knowledge has really helped our team improve. She has been a four year starter for us and has had a major impact on the success and growth of this volleyball team. We have now become a recognized program at the top of the northeast-10 conference, and at the regional level, Kimi has impacted this success greatly and will be missed,” said Barbaro.
Relinquishing her position as setter to the next player in line, Lachowicz, a psychology-mental health major, looks forward to graduate school.
“I plan to go on to grad school next fall to obtain a Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis with the intention of working with kids with emotional disorders and learning disabilities,” she said. When asked if she planned to coach, Lachowicz replied, “There may be coaching in my future but right now I am focusing on school.”
Beres addressed the fact that this was Lachowicz’s final season playing for the Owls.
“Kimi will definitely be missed next season both on and off the court. She has a great personality and always was able to make all of us laugh, but was able to be serious when she needed to be,” said Beres. “She’s a great player with a great attitude towards the game. She’s someone that all of us can look up to as players. She will definitely be missed.”
