Cooper Digs Opportunity To Start As Freshman For DWU

Her freshman year at Dakota Wesleyan University couldn’t have started much better for Mallory Cooper.

Like most freshman, Cooper, a 2016 Clearwater-Orchard graduate and Daughter of Mark and Cathy Cooper, came in simply just hoping to make varsity. Instead, she became a key player on one of the best teams in the school’s recent history. 

“I didn't expect to start at all,” she said. “I was honestly just hoping to work hard enough to make varsity, but I didn't see myself having much varsity time.”

Cooper played a key role as the defensive specialist for a Tigers squad that finished with a winning record for the first time since 1992. She was one of just two freshmen to see time in more than 100 sets and she finished fourth on the team in digs with 251. She missed just three sets all season after learning she would be starting in the team’s first action of the year.

“We were playing at a tournament in Omaha and coach told me I was going to start the next set,” she explained. “I was really nervous, but I was super excited to be given an opportunity. I couldn't believe it.”

Cooper noted that she saw many highlights for the team throughout the year, as can be expected when you finish as well as any DWU team since 1992. Seeing the success of her teammates was a high point for her as well as being voted player of the week by her teammates. 

The strong season did not come without struggles for Cooper and the Tigers, however.

“We lost to Concordia in five sets, and if we would have beat them, then we would have made playoffs. That was probably the most difficult loss to handle,” she recalled. “We then had another opportunity when we played Briar Cliff, and we lost which meant we wouldn't make playoffs.”

Cooper’s success as a freshman may have been a surprise to her, but it wasn’t to the Clearwater-Orchard fans who saw her put down more than 450 kills and bring up more than 500 digs in her high school career. 

Going into the offseason, she knows that there are many things she can continue to improve on.

“Off-season is always the time to get better,” she Cooper said. “I'll be working a lot on my defense as well quickness. We've already started lifting and conditioning again. I’m excited to become a stronger player this offseason.”

With seven seniors leaving the team, four of whom started alongside Cooper this season, she knows it is now her turn to step up and be a leader as well.

“They were the best leaders a team could ask for. Coach has already encouraged me to not be afraid to be very vocal and be a leader in practice even though I'm just a freshman. We're going to be a very young team, so a lot of us will have to step and be leaders.”

Being two hours away from home can be difficult as a freshman, but Cooper said she is very appreciative of all the support she has had from back home and it has helped make the college transition easier.

“I had so many people from the community come watch me,” she said. “It was seriously so awesome how many people came to my games. I'm beyond proud to be from such a loving and supportive community as Orchard.”