Leah “Ashley” Rosenbaum, National Player of the Week

Titan middle blocker Leah Rosenbaum put up some silly numbers over the weekend. I unfortunately did not get to see the Illinois Wesleyan matches, although I have seen Rosenbaum dominate many, many times. But I have never seen anything quite like what she did last weekend. It’s one thing to get stats against the Superiors and Lawrences of the D-III world. It’s another to destroy the No. 4 team in the nation, especially since everyone in the gym knows Leah is getting the ball.

Check out these stat lines from the weekend: Vs. No. 4 Emory (3 games): 15 kills, 1 error, 20 attempts, 2 block assists Vs. Hope (4 games): 18 K, 3 E, 40 ATT, 5 BA Vs. Millikin (3 games): 13 K, 0 E, 21 ATT, 3 BA Vs. Ill. Wesleyan (5 games): 15 K, 5 E, 38 ATT, 6 BA, 2 solo blocks

Now, I don’t want to take too much credit for her play, but I think I may have motivated her a bit a couple of weeks ago. Here’s how.

Immediately following an interview with Titan assistant coach Ashley Fischer during a practice, I was running through Fischer’s quotes in my head and putting away my gear. When I stood up to go out into the hallway, I had my head down. I lifted my head just in time to see Leah, who was entering the gym after chasing down a volleyball in the hallway. Wanting to congratulate Leah on the team’s record-setting consecutive games streak I said, “Congratulations, Ashley.” As soon as “congratulations” left my lips, I knew I was in trouble because I had Ashley on my brain. The time it took for “Ashley” to enter the atmosphere seemed like an eternity. I was forming an apology in my brain before I said “Ash.”

Leah stopped in her tracks, squinted at me and said, “Leah.” I stammered and apologized in the best way I know how, but the damage had been done. I had disrespected one of the best D-III players in the country. And I did it to her face on her own turf. Oopers!

Sorry about that, Emory. I took what was merely a first-team AVCA All-American and turned her into a world-beater because my mouth didn’t work properly.

I’m kidding of course. She has always been dominant. This past weekend, Leah just redefined what dominant means.

If I did not get it right for whatever reason that one time, I’ll get it right now.  She’s Leah Rosenbaum, national player of the week.

-Ricky (Ashley) Nelson