Jasmine Shum
Volleyball outside hitter Jasmine Shum (sophomore) earned SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Week honors after leading Occidental to a 2-0 week with wins over Caltech (3-0) Sept. 29 and Redlands (3-2) Oct. 3. Shum earned 30 kills across the two matches, including a season-high 20 against Redlands.
Shum said she views the SCIAC offensive Athlete of the Week recognition as a testament to the hard work and dedication of both her coaches and her teammates.
“Even though this was just an award for me being an offensive player of the week, it truly reflects my team too,” Shum said. “It wouldn’t have happened without my team and coaches because they always push me to be better in practice.”
Shum said she approaches competitions by staying confident and playing freely, rather than focusing on individual recognition. She said her motivation comes from wanting to contribute to the team’s success.
“I just want to be the best I can be for my team,” Shum said. “If I truly bring my best self, we can compete, and we can achieve great things.”
According to volleyball head coach Emily Foster, Shum’s effectiveness as an outside hitter comes not only from her physical strength but also from her adaptability, which lets her attack from different positions on the court.
“A lot of teams will struggle to defend against the physical presence; [Shum] hits high and hard,” Foster said. “She can hit the back row, she can hit a two ball, she could hit from different positions as well.”
Foster said Shum’s improvement in receiving opposing serves is an often-overlooked aspect of the team’s performance.
“It’s not a glamorous part of the game,” Foster said. “A lot of people don’t want to work on passing, but she’s come a long way in that, and she’s one of the best serve receivers on the team.”
Foster said Shum has also shown leadership by taking responsibility during difficult moments in matches and stepping up when the team needs her most.
“She wants to set the ball when we are struggling [and] she wants to be the person to do swings in the big points,” Foster said.
Cooper Gersch
Men’s soccer center back Cooper Gersch (senior) earned SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Week after a 6-0 win over Caltech Sept. 30, in which he scored his second career goal and his first of the season. He then led a back line that held No. 21 Redlands to a 0-0 draw on Oct. 3.
Gersch said this recognition reflects not only his on-field performance but also his resilience throughout his college career, including two knee injuries and a transfer between schools.
“I’ve had two knee surgeries in college and I also transferred, so there’s been a lot of movement throughout my college career and a lot of challenges,” Gersch said. “It feels good to get back to a high level and be recognized for the hard work that I put in getting back healthy, training hard and getting ready for the season.”
Gersch said the SCIAC accolade was especially meaningful to him because coaches and teams across the conference acknowledged his performances beyond what his coach sees in daily practices. Gersch said that the award also reflected the team’s performance.
“It’s more so than anything about getting the recognition of what our team can do rather than a solely individual perspective on it,” Gersch said.
According to teammate Carlos Abram (junior), beyond Gersch’s performances defensively, his ability to anticipate opponents’ movements and spot opportunities on the field makes him a valuable presence on the team.
“[Gersch] is a smart player,” Abram said. “The way he uses his brain, he’s able to cover certain spots of the field or anticipate attacks [and] find the passes that other people can’t see.”
Assistant coach Sean Cameron said Gersch’s adaptability sets him apart from other defenders and helps him stay effective in difficult situations.
“Cooper has a nice balance of […] athleticism, his ability to win defensive duels and his composure,” Cameron said. “He’s more of a complete player.”
Cameron said Gersch’s leadership was noticeable during his injury recovery, when he continued to aid the team despite being unable to compete.
“Cooper had the presence of mind to overcome moments where he was sidelined, and still be a leader [and] impactful to the group,” Cameron said.
Abram said Gersch is a role model who consistently supports and guides his teammates.
“He’s been a real mentor to the guys on the team, off the field and on the field,” Abram said.“He cares more than anyone on the team.”
Contact Sophia Au at aus@oxy.edu
