Kaup headed to Syracuse (02/27/04)

FORT RECOVERY — At this time next year, Joscie Kaup will be looking at a blanket of white — snow as far as the eye can see. If she ever gives herself a break from working hard for the Orange, that is.

Kaup, Fort Recovery’s standout senior athlete, signed a national letter of intent Thursday to play volleyball for the Syracuse Orangemen next season.

The ridiculous amount of snow — Syracuse, N.Y., averages 115 inches per year compared to about 30 for Fort Recovery — did not seem to be a factor in her decision.

“I chose Syracuse because it has a good communication school,” said Kaup, who wants to enter the broadcasting field. “I looked on the Internet for a top communication school, and their Newhouse program was one of the top in the nation.”

She had been looking at Notre Dame, where her brother Jon is a pre-med student, when she discovered the Syracuse communication program.

It happened that the Fighting Irish were hosting the Orangemen that weekend. So, Kaup and her parents, Jerry and Lorri Kaup, made the trip to South Bend.

Tapes were given to both coaches, Syracuse came calling, and the rest is history. She’s heading to upstate New York for the great communication program and the opportunity to play volleyball at the Division I level in the Big East.

Kaup will be just the second Fort Recovery athlete to play volleyball in Division I. The other was Renee Fiely, who walked on at the University of Dayton.

“I’m really excited for Joscie,” said Fort Recovery athletics director Barb Sautbine. “She’s such a neat kid, and she works hard at everything she does. I have a lot of respect for Joscie. She’s such a great all-around kid.”

The Syracuse volleyball team has garnered three 20-win seasons in coach Jing Pu’s eight years, and went 17-16 last season. But, with 12 hitters under scholarship, Pu needs a defensive player.

That’s where Kaup comes in.

The senior who led Fort Recovery with 169 digs in 21 matches this season will have a chance to earn a spot on the court right away.

“It’s exciting because I know I have an opportunity and I have a chance, and it’s a good experience,” said Kaup. “So, I’m hoping that when I get there I can show them what I’m made of and what I can do and I can impress them. That’s my goal.”

Her sister Jackie, who has coached her for the last two seasons, said she expects it will be Joscie’s brain which will set her apart.

“One of the best things about her is attitude and her mind,” said Jackie, who played collegiate volleyball at Ohio Northern University. “She knows the game inside and out. I think that’s going to bring her to that next level. It’ll almost make her even when she walks in the door with some of those girls who have played college ball for a couple years. She can catch on to things so quickly and just adapt to the game and adapt to her surroundings.”

Joscie has shown off her talents at Fort Recovery, playing every role available to her on the volleyball court.

In addition to her team-high dig total, she led the Indians to a 14-7 record with 329 assists and 124 service points. She also was second on the team with 118 kills and added 57 blocks.

She has been the leader of the girls basketball team — now 15-6 — this year with highs of 16.7 points per game and 58 steals. She has tied a school record for 3-pointers in a single season with 39.

Kaup also hit a team-best .522 last season for the Fort Recovery softball team, which set a school record for wins by finishing 15-8.

With the Orangemen, it’ll be all about volleyball. And more specifically, all about serving and defense.

“This summer will be focused a lot on agility,” said Jackie. “It will just be total defense. She’s not going to set the ball, she’s not going to hit the ball very much. She’s going to serve and play defense, and that’s it.

“It’s going to be much more individualized when it comes to an aspect of the game. Where she’s played so many parts of the game all her life, it’s going to be interesting to see how she makes that transition.”

Joscie is ready for the challenge.

“I want my sister to work me to death so I can be fast,” she said. “I want to have quicker feet, because it’ll be a fast-paced game.”

Both Jackie and Sautbine agreed they thought Joscie was torn between the big-time atmosphere of Syracuse and the closer-to-home familiarity of Ohio Northern.

But, said Jackie, every year their mom makes them write down goals. Since she was 12, playing Division I volleyball has been on the list for Joscie.

Now she’s going to get her chance.[[In-content Ad]]