2007
SMU Invitational All-Tournament Team • In the first match of her junior season she etched her name into the EIU record books after nailing 13 kills off 17 attempts, with zero errors, when the Panthers swept McNeese State at the SMU Invite • That .765 hitting mark placed her seventh all-time in the single-match category • Over the course of the year, she either tied and/or set new personal bests in a variety of statistical categories, including kills, total blocks and points • Pounded down ten-plus kills in 14 contests • Had double-digit kill performances in four consecutive matches in late August and early September • Her .317 (247-66-571) season hitting percentage led all Panthers • Ranked in the OVC Top Ten list for hitting percentage in league play (10th/.280)
2006
Played in 23 matches and 74 games • Tallied four blocks in back-to-back matches against national powers Northwestern and Arizona • Finished second on the team in blocks
2005
Played in four matches her freshman year • Came up big in a five-game win at TTU, tallying 10 kills, a .333 hitting percentage, two digs and two block assists
HIGH SCHOOL
Member of Northwest Illinois/No Limits and Fusion Satellite volleyball clubs • Named Freeport Journal Standard ‘Player of the Year’ and unanimous first team all-conference her senior year at Freeport Aquin HS • Earned five all-tournament selection honors and three varsity letters • Was a four-year track letterwinner after qualifying for the IHSA track & field meet in the high jump each spring, capturing fourth place her senior year • Set a school record with a leap of 5-5 • Four-time honor roll student
GETTING TO KNOW LAUREN
My major at EIU ... Physical therapy
Daughter of ... Mark & Karen Sopcic
I was born on ... November 13, 1986
My nicknames ... ‘Sop’ or ‘Slop’
An EIU athlete that I enjoy watching perform ... Mike Lewis, currently on the men’s soccer squad
My hidden talents ... I play the piano and am able to walk on my hands
Vehicle that I’m currently driving ... 1994 Buick LeSabre
My least favorite foods ... Peas and baked or refried beans
Name of my dog ... ‘Elleanore Rigby’, a half lab and half doberman mix
Biggest influence on my sports career ... My parents, because they have always supported me
A personal goal I am striving to achieve ... To attend graduate school
COACH BENNETT SAYS
“After leading our team in hitting percentage last year, we have high expectations for ‘Sop’ this season... as our most experienced hitter, we will rely on her to carry a great deal of the offensive load... she has been an exciting player to train and I look forward to seeing all of her hard work pay off this fall, both for herself individually, and for our team as well.”
