Senior outside hitter Tori Mohesky is in her fourth year as a Panther.
In 2023, she was named to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshman Team for beach volleyball.
In this Q&A, Mohesky talks about her decision to come to Eastern, how she has adjusted to the new team and culture and what the funniest moment from her collegiate career has been so far.
Q: At what age did you start playing volleyball?
A: “So I’ve grown up with volleyball my whole life because of my sister, who’s three years older than me. She always played, so I was kind of always around it. I started playing probably around the age 10.”
Q: Have you always been an opposite/outside hitter?
A: “I’ve been an outside my whole life. I never played on the right until I got to college. So I’ve been kind of switching back and forth ever since, but yeah I’ve always been an outside.”
Q: What made you decide to come to Eastern to expand your volleyball career?
A: “I live in Breese, Illinois. It’s like an hour and forty minutes from here, so it’s very close to home, and throughout my four years here I’ve always had a lot of support at my games. So I think that the biggest factor is just being close to home, so that my family and friends that want to watch can come watch and support me. And then also the previous coach is from my area, so that was kind of like a connection automatically. So that’s another reason.
Q: How have you adjusted to the new coach/team this year?
A: “I can definitely say this is my best year by far. We have a lot of new girls. Probably over half the team is new, and the rest are seniors. So I’ve grown throughout my four years with these girls, and then taking in new people. Then same thing with the coach. It’s like a blank slate, a fresh start. Anything that has happened previously, you kind of can just forget about it. And then even with moving to new facilities, it’s literally again like a blank slate, like a fresh start. No past experiences can come into that, and it’s just really nice and refreshing.
Q: Do you like beach or indoor volleyball better? And why?
A: “So I never played beach before coming here, so I was really excited for the new experience because I’ve loved to watch it, but I never played it. It’s challenging, but it’s really fun. Honestly, I don’t know which one I like better because they’re very different, but I really enjoy beach volleyball.”
Q: What’s your favorite part about the EIU volleyball team?
A: “I think it’s the people that make it. Throughout my four years, this year especially, it’s just been kind of like family. We have a bond that you really can’t explain. They’re your sisters, you’re with them all the time, and you never really get tired of them even though you’re literally spending every minute together.”
Q:What’s your favorite moment from over the years?
A: “Definitely winning the conference my sophomore year. That was really cool because we got to go to the tournament, and we got to play at Purdue. So that was a really cool experience. A unique experience last semester in the beach conference tournament was when we played in like a torrential downpour, and we were all soaked. The balls were like five pounds. Like it was crazy, but we actually ended up winning our first conference tournament game in those conditions. So that was a very unique experience.”
Q: From freshman year, in what ways do you think you have grown? Volleyball wise and as a student?
A: “I think my confidence has grown. So coming from high school to college, no one can prepare you for that switch because everyone who’s here was an all-star in high school. They were like that go-to player. So you come into college expecting that, and then it’s not that at all. I would say you get humbled very quickly because everyone’s just as good, if not better. So kind of taking that and growing from it and not expecting to be better. You have to work for it and grow. I think just with that comes the work ethic and growing your own confidence throughout your years, and that’s what’s going to set you apart as a player.”
Q: What are your personal goals for this season?
A: “Honestly, our coach gave us a little workbook in a binder to fill out our goals and stuff. And so when I filled it out, it was in the summer and I was an outside, six rotation outside. So I was focusing on passing and my hitting percentage. And then I moved to the right and now I’m only in the back row. So my goals kind of fluctuate and now it’s not so much towards statistics. It’s kind of what I can bring to the team, like personality, energy wise, just whatever role I feel just to do it to the best of my ability. So that way we get the outcome as a team. No matter if I’m in the front, in the back, off the court, wherever, just kind of like doing the best that I can.”
Q: Who is your biggest role model that has influenced your game?
A: “I would say my sister. Growing up, I was always watching her and it’s kind of funny. She’s a little shorter. So she used to be outside when she was younger and then she went to setting and then she played defense. So I was always the hitter and she was always the defender, but now I’ve kind of switched to the right side and we’re kind of in similar roles. So it’s kind of funny to see how things end up so similar. But just growing up and watching her passion for the game. I always wanted to be like her. She was always that person that I could look up to. Like that’s what I want to do when I grow up.”
Q: Who or what motivates you to show up everyday and give your all in volleyball?
A: “I’d say my supporters are my motivation. Even in those times, my freshman, sophomore year, when I wasn’t getting the playing time, my family showed up to every game they could. They’ve just always been there for me, even outside of family, friends and even friends of friends. They show up just to watch me compete, and that gives me the drive to say “alright they came to watch, I need to give them something to watch”, and give them a reason to be here too.”
Q: Who is your volleyball GOAT?
A: “It’s kind of changed over the years. Just kind of at the time, who’s doing really well right now, I’d probably say Olivia Babcock is someone who I really look up to because she’s just insane, she’s unstoppable. Now that I’ve kind of transitioned more to the right side and played six rotations, I’ve never done that my whole life. Even when I started playing right, it was just the front row. I’ve never played right back ever. She just is crazy, and that’s what I want to be for my team.”
Q: What is the weirdest pre game ritual or superstition that you have?
A: “Probably, I always put my gear on, in the same order. So I have to put my right knee pad on first and then my left knee pad, but then I put on my left shoe and then my right shoe. So I always have to do it in a specific order. And then I always have an energy drink before games.”
Q: If you weren’t playing volleyball what sport would you have played?
A: “I would say probably softball. I was a pitcher and I really enjoyed that, but I never got to practice because I was always at volleyball instead. But when I played games, I really enjoyed softball a lot.”
Q: Who on the team would be your emergency contact?
A: “I would probably say Sylvia [Hasz]. Like I said, you have to be close with your beach partner and she’s my beach partner. So we have kind of a unique bond, a special bond. And she’s been here with me for four years, me, Sylvia, and Lili [Amettis] have all been here. And we kind of lived in the dorms together. So just kind of going through the whole college experience with her, I think that she would definitely be my go-to.”
Q: What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you in a game or practice?
A: “When I’m playing back row, like right back, I’m out of the passing rotation. So I’m just standing in the back and I have to run around. A few weeks ago at practice, they served it and I just got nailed with the ball because the passers just let it go. And so I was running and just got smack. If you hit the ball under the net, you owe the whole team donuts. That hasn’t happened to me yet, but quite a few people have. Those are some funny moments, especially the first time that it happened. The film was so funny because it happened and everyone started jumping up and down.”
Q: If you could have any superpower to enhance your athletic abilities, what would it be and why?
A: “I would say probably jumping super high. Whether that was flying or just super strength, just to jump high because then I can just hit over everyone and it doesn’t really matter. So our team’s kind of undersized. I’m one of the tallest, outside of Sydney. She’s like 6 ‘3″. And I’m only 5’11”.”
Q: Knowing everything that you know now, what would you tell your freshman self?
A: “Just trust the process, you’re going to have games that you’re on the bench or maybe the whole season. But you’re not always going to have the exact role that you desire. So just trusting the process because freshman, and sophomore year, I said, ‘man, I’m not getting playing time’. You kind of get that self doubt. ‘Am I really good enough? Do I belong here?’. At that Division I level, it’s hard, but just trusting the process. Because now I feel like I’m right where I belong, and I’m supposed to be here.”
Morgan Gillespie can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
