Women's Volleyball | 10/20/2014 2:21:00 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(article posted by Claire Norfleet, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Oct. 20, 2014 - Being one of the few who could serve the ball over the net in just the fifth grade, North Central College senior women's volleyball player Kedryn Orrison has been able to continue playing the game she loves while also pursuing her education in athletic training.

As a four-year starter for the Cardinals, Orrison currently ranks fifth in the program's history in blocks (255) and ninth in kills (745) and service aces (108) and earned Honorable Mention All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) honors in 2012. She has also been able to develop her communicative skills with a variety of players, allowing her to take on more of a leadership role.

"I really like to try to cheer and pump up my teammates on a one-on-one basis when I'm on the court," she said. "It's about finding out how to get each individual to work at their best, so that ultimately, the team can work at its best."

Orrison takes part in the Cardinal Athletic Training Students (CATS) program at North Central, taking on a number of different responsibilities, such as running physicals in the spring for any athletes that would like them. With about 30 students made up of sophomores through seniors, the tight-knit group is able to work with other athletic trainers and physical therapists to learn more about the field while also spreading the word about how exactly athletic training can be defined.
 
"The word 'trainer' is such a general term. It's important to make sure people don't just view us as water boys or water girls," she said. "We do a lot more than that such as prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of athletes."
           
As a three-sport athlete at Dunlap High School in Illinois competing in basketball, volleyball and track and field, she spent a lot of time injured in the athletic training room. She was able to shadow the head athletic trainer and learn a lot about how he evaluated and treated other athletes, which changed her previous hopes of one day becoming a veterinarian.
           
"He was great at explaining why an injury was hurting where it was, and the causes of it," she said. "I just found it so interesting and he recommended a summer athletic training camp at Northern Illinois University so I went and completely fell in love with it."
           
Over the summer, Orrison had the opportunity to intern with the Chicago Red Stars, a professional women's soccer team. There was a lot of hands-on work but she was rewarded by acting as the head athletic trainer for certain games.
           
"It was a lot of fun to work with them all summer. I learned a lot from my mentor and had a great time," she said.
           
Being involved in such a competitive field, Orrison is currently focusing on her short-term goals, which include completing her thesis for the athletic training honors program and sending out applications for graduate school. She hopes to attend the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill next fall to earn a master's degree in athletic training, but will not know for sure until February or March.
           
In the spring, however, Orrison will compete on the women's track and field team where she will throw discus and javelin.
           
Looking forward to a couple years after graduate school, she hopes to travel overseas and work with a professional soccer club in England. But for now, she will continue playing volleyball and broadening her experience within the athletic training field.
           
"It's rough and tiring sometimes, but most of the days I leave and I just know that I've picked the right profession for me," she said.

Orrison and the Cardinals (17-6, 1-3 CCIW) host 21st-ranked Millikin University on Tuesday. Action at Gregory Arena is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. Click HERE for links to live video coverage and in-game statistics.