Playing in the Hoosier State

2009 Warrior grad now at Indiana State

Ashley Owen prepares to serve the ball during a Del Norte volleyball game in 2008. The 2009 Warrior graduate is now playing for Indiana State. The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson

Although the 2009 Del Norte High graduate from Gasquet played three years on the Warrior varsity volleyball team, earning first team White Star conference honors as a junior and an honorable mention notice as a senior, she decided to just stick to her studies at Sacramento State University.

Eventually, the thought of playing again became too much to ignore.

“I missed it a lot,” she said.

Owen decided to transfer to American River College, a two-year junior college in Sacramento, and joined the volleyball team.

The 6-foot 3-inch outside hitter was named to the all-conference second team this past season and was named as a conference player of the week as the team earned a top eight ranking in Northern California. They finished the season 19-9 overall and 8-6 in conference play.

Her play at American River attracted the attention of Indiana State University, a division I school in Terre Haute, which offered her a volleyball scholarship.

Owen and the Sycamores open the season Friday against Chicago State at home starting at noon Indiana time and then play Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m that evening at the Quality Inn/ASICS Classic.

Former Del Norte Warrior Ashley Owen of Gasquet poses for a photo with her new volleyball team, the Indian State Sycamores. The squad opens the season at home on Friday against Chicago State. Photo courtesy of Indiana State University

Owen said her goal heading into this season is to learn all she can and “to help the team go far and do the best I can.”

She said her coaches are “happy with my work ethic and attitude.”

Owen, who was born and raised in Gasquet, said that it was hard at first knowing she would be a long distance away from friends and family.

“It was definitely hard to be so far away,” she said. “At first I wasn’t sure I was ready for it.”

Now, she is getting used to living halfway across the country. It helps that her new teammates have been welcoming, Owen said.

‘“They have been really friendly and nice to me,” she said.

It also has helped that her family has been supportive of her as she continues her college career in Indiana, Owen said.

“They are really happy for me,” she said.

Owen, who wore No. 9 with the Warriors, is wearing the same number at Indiana State.

Last season, the Sycamores finished 10-20 overall and 3-15 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The school of more than 11,000 students is known to many sports fans as the alma mater of NBA basketball legend Larry Bird.

It is a great feeling to be given a chance to play volleyball on the Division I level, Owen said.

“It feels really good,” she said. “A lot of people don’t get that opportunity.”

Owen, who will be a sophomore at Indiana State, said her experience playing at American River certainly prepared her.

“I loved it,” she said. “It definitely helped me become a better player.”

Owen is majoring in Kinesiology at Indiana State. She hopes to go on to graduate school and eventually become a physical therapist.

In a press release, Sycamore head volleyball coach Traci Dahl talked about her team.

“The girls have been working very hard in practice,” she said. “They are focused and have specific goals for the season.”

Indiana State has been picked to finish ninth in its conference this season.

“We have been able to bring in the type of athletes we need to bring our game up to the next level,” Dahl added. “They have worked hard and it is now time for them to show what they can do in the conference season. This year’s team is the best that I have had here and I expect that we will be in contention for a tournament spot at the end of the season.”