2007
A defensive specialist, Laura joined the Panthers as a walk-on after playing on the EIU women’s club volleyball squad • Annually named to the Dean’s List • Has been bumped up to senior status this season and will soon enjoy an early graduation from EIU • Member of National Student Speech Language Hearing Association • Also a member of Phi Alpha Eta and Mortar Board • Saw action in ten contests • Most of her playing time came off the bench, as server and ball control • Had an impressive season finale performance versus Austin Peay by tallying 19 total digs • Also had a perfect service reception average of 1.000, off of 17 passes, in that same match • Finished the season as one of the most efficient servers on the squad, behind 87 total attempts, she earned one ace and had only three service errors, for a .966 average
HIGH SCHOOL
Prep volleyball letterwinner for coach Curt Pinley at William Fremd HS • Captured the MVP award by an unanimous vote following her sophomore season as the defensive specialist
PERSONAL
Two members of her family also have collegiate athletic experience, with Sue Muszalski (Fogarty) and Ed Harney members of the DePaul volleyball/softball and Northwestern football squads, respectively
GETTING TO KNOW LAURA
My major at EIU ... Communication disorders and sciences
Daughter of ... Joe & Sue Welsh
I was born on ... August 29, 1988
My nickname ... ‘Lo’
Why I chose to come to EIU ... Because of the small class sizes and overall size of the campus in general
Other sports I enjoy ... Bowling
My favorite food dish ... Cheese potato casserole
In my spare time I enjoy ... Scrapbooking and fishing
My favorite tv shows ... ‘Lost’ and ‘Survivor’
Biggest influence on my sports career ... My parents, because they have supported me and given me so many opportunities to succeed
Most exotic place I’ve visited ... Hawai’i
An EIU professor whose class I have enjoyed ... Dr. Carl Dell in Communication disorders and sciences
My favorite quote (from James Michener): “Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries”
COACH BENNETT SAYS
“Laura has been a great addition to our team from the very beginning... she works extremely hard in her role as a passer and defender to get better ever day... she has become a leader for our team both on and off the court, is an exceptional teammate and has earned the respect of everyone in the Panther volleyball program.”
