Sloane Shoop
Sloane Shoop (sophomore) made four blocks against Willamette University during the Whittier – La Verne Invitational Sept. 11, leading the Occidental volleyball team to their fourth win of the season.
Shoop said she felt pleased about her blocks as a shorter hitter.
“I think it’s hard because of my height — I’m only 5’7 — to get blocks,” Shoop said. “That was my highest blocking game, which was fun.”
Shoop said her favorite thing about the team is that everyone has full confidence in each other’s abilities.
“Everyone loves each other, and we get along so well,” Shoop said. “That helps with the season and how we’re doing so far because everyone trusts each other.”
Shoop said she draws inspiration from her mother, a former volleyball player at Notre Dame, and is thankful for all the time they’ve spent together.
“She took me to every single club tournament and all the practices,” Shoop said. “When I was in high school [she] poured a lot of her energy into my skill and my game […] She’s my biggest supporter.”
Shoop said after her difficult debut season, she has been focused on her individual performance, while also helping the team be more successful.
“I want to have a higher hitting percentage than I did last year [and] also have more kills [and] more blocks overall,” Shoop said. “As a team, [we want to be] winning more [because] we only won five games last season.”
Emily Foster, head coach of the women’s volleyball team, said Shoop is a memorable player.
“[Shoop is] fast, fun and I’ll go with the alliteration and say fearless,” Foster said.
Foster said Shoop’s courageous approach during games has become one of her defining characteristics.
“She will always swing,” Foster said. “She will always go for it. And she’s really hard to stop in that way, because a lot of times people expect someone to do something soft or tip out.”
According to Foster, the attitudes that players bring into practice are reflected in their development.
“The games are fun too, but the practices are where you get to see players really improve,” Foster said. “I’m looking forward to seeing people improve throughout the season [and] hopefully we can reach our potential by the end.”
Middle blocker Abby Werbel (sophomore) said she counts on Shoop’s loyalty and her positive, energetic presence on the court.
“You always know if you look over to [Shoop], she’s going to have your back, and she’s going to be cheering for you,” Werbel said. “[Shoop has] the biggest smile on her face while she’s playing, and the best energy on the court. There’s no one else I’d rather cheer on the bench next to.”
Foster said Shoop consistently brings positive energy, recalling a game against Chapman University last year in particular.
“The first time we played Chapman at home, it wasn’t going well for one set,” Foster said. “[Shoop] just started screaming ‘happiness’ when something good would happen. We’d get a kill and she’d [say], ‘Come on, you guys, happiness!’”
Kent Ortiz
The men’s soccer team traveled to Ohio Sept. 11 to 13 to play two non-conference games against North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) opponents Denison University and Kenyon College. Midfielder Kent Ortiz (sophomore) scored both goals against Kenyon to secure a win for Occidental during the tournament game on Sept. 13.
Ortiz said he’s been playing soccer since he was 4 years old. According to Ortiz, he was happy to see his hard work pay off while also helping his team secure an important win.
“[The game] meant a lot to me, but it also meant a lot to the team, because it was a much-needed win to get us set in the right direction,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz said the team knew before the game that they had to perform well during the tournament to gain momentum.
“We knew that we had to bring the energy and get a win,” Ortiz said. “We expected it to be a hard-fought game with a lot of energy from both sides.”
Head coach Rod Lafaurie said Ortiz was able to rise to the occasion during the game against Kenyon College. According to Lafaurie, Ortiz performed well under pressure.
“When we needed somebody to step up in the moment, he really did, and he did a great job doing it,” Lafaurie said.
Lafaurie said Ortiz is a well-rounded person both on and off the field, highlighting his work ethic and intelligence.
“He’s smart. He works hard. He’s technical […] He’s got a good tool set for a good soccer player,” coach Lafaurie said.
Lafaurie said he has high expectations for the team this season, with the goal of competing for the championship.
“I want them to be the best version of what they can be,” Lafaurie said. “I do think we can win the regular season championship. I do think we can win the conference tournament, and I think we can win the national title.”
Ortiz said the team’s bond extends beyond the field, creating an environment where every player feels supported.
“[The team] really feels like a family,” Ortiz said. “We all care for each other. We all want what’s best, and we all collectively have the same goal.”
Contact Olivia Adams at oadams@oxy.edu
