Elyse Chubb: Always A Consistent Threat For The Cougars
11/4/2011 2:50:00 PM | Volleyball
CHARLESTON, S.C. - In the last four years at the College of Charleston, senior middle blocker Elyse Chubb has heard her name called many times over the arena's public address system.
That is largely because she will end her career second all-time in hitting percentage, second all-time in total blocks and third all-time in blocks per game. She is also just 42 kills away from cracking the program's all-time Top 10 list and is one of 13 CofC players to make 1,000 kills in her career.
However, Sunday's match will be the last time her name is called at TD Arena as she concludes her career on Senior Day against Wofford.
That match is far from the end of her career, as she still has big plans for a weekend in November at the SoCon Championships in Birmingham, Ala., on Nov. 19-21.
"While my favorite memory here might have been winning the conference tournament in 2009," Chubb said. "The one I still feel and remember the most was losing in 2008. We thought we had won the match point, but there was a net violation and Furman won the next two points to beat us in five sets. That team had worked so hard and that moment stuck with me."
While Chubb has been a starter during all four years of her time at College of Charleston, perhaps no season presented more of a challenge than this final one, as the Cougars struggled to a 3-6 start.
"In years past, we have had strong leadership above us. Since I've been here, we've always had a winning atmosphere," Chubb said. "It's been challenging now in the leadership role, but we know the hard work that it takes to get there. Talking about hard work is much different than actually doing it. This season we've had some good wins and really tough losses. That's the ebb and flow of figuring out your team chemistry, and how we're going to work hard together."
However, despite the tumultuous start to the season, the Cougars are right where they want to be: battling for yet another regular season conference championship and playing for a number one seed in the conference tournament.
Chubb, with her 294 kills and team-best .312 hitting percentage, has had a lot to do with that success. Her high hitting percentage speaks to her consistency as a player, a quality that she's always held herself accountable for.
"I hold myself to a high standard of success, and it's become higher and higher over the years," Chubb said. "I'm going to try my best every time there is opportunity. At the end of the game, I want the ball. I love those pressure situations. Sometimes you win big and lose big, but I'm willing to take that risk because of my teammates. They are still going to support me and be there for me."
Working to find her place as a team leader on the floor isn't the only thing that Chubb has worked on this fall. She's also been balancing her life as a student-athlete with an eye to her future beyond College of Charleston.
"I've definitely tried to find a good balance between school, athletics and social life," Chubb said. "That's been a challenge for me, but also a goal. I want the freshman to find it sooner than I did. I want them to have fun and not always be wrapped up in the seriousness."
Originally from Peachtree City, Ga., Chubb has an interest in languages as she is minoring in Spanish and also learning French. She has traveled to Europe several times and is interested in international business.
"I love looking at architecture, especially in Paris and Venice," Chubb said. "I want to be fluent in Spanish and French eventually, and that would take really going over there and immersing myself. That's something I would love to do."
There is still time for Chubb to contemplate those future plans, though. Foremost is the last two weeks of the season as the Cougars battle for the regular season championship and a top seed in the tournament.
"Every year our goal is to win the SoCon tournament and head to the NCAA tourney," Chubb said. "This year it is definitely foremost on our minds."
Players Mentioned
