Photo courtesy of Dylan Davies/Maryland Athletics
Eva Rohrbach, a sophomore middle blocker on the Maryland volleyball team closed out her season with 68 total digs, 248 points, and averaged an impressive 2.32 points per set. In the team’s last win against Rutgers on Nov. 29 Rohrbach made huge defensive strides with eight blocks, her highest since Nov. 7.
Rohrbach is proving herself as a leading defensive player for Maryland, however, her success doesn’t come without recognizing the inspiration she has received from her family of female athletes. One of Rohrbach’s biggest role models she said, has been her mom, Michelle Rohrbach, who played basketball at San Diego State University
“She was a stud,” Rohrbach said. “Growing up, my dad would just brag about her all the time, and I wanted to be just like that.”
While Rohrbach never felt any pressure from her parents to play at the collegiate level, seeing her mom’s success inspired Rohrbach to want the same fate for her sports career. Growing up she wanted to be just like her mom, the dream was to get a scholarship and get recruited to play at a school that she loved.
After attending the inductee ceremony and watching her mom join the San Diego State University Hall of Fame, Rohrbach’s perspective on sports changed forever.
“It just really opened my eyes on what sports could do in your life and what I wanted to be when I grew up,” Rohrbach said
At a young age, Rohrbach thought that following in her mom’s footsteps meant playing basketball at that competitive level. However, when it came down to choosing her sport Rohrbach knew that her love sided with volleyball.
Rohrbach grew up playing beach volleyball in her hometown, San Diego and passed the ball back and forth with her older sister Isabelle.
“I wanted to play because I wanted to be just like my older sister,” Rohrbach said.
Rohrbach quickly followed in her older sister’s footsteps, joining her first club team at age 12, and eventually working her way up to play for her high school team, La Costa Canyon. When Rohrbach joined La Costa Canyon her freshman year she reunited with her sister, a junior on the team at the time.
Playing for the next two years together in high school allowed the sisters to grow closer than ever before, Rohrbach said. After moments of competitiveness growing up, playing on the same team together allowed Rohrbach to learn so much from her sister both on and off the court.
“She showed me how to work hard and bring competitiveness to the table,” said Rohrbach. “I’m thankful for that.”
With female athletes influencing Rohrbach’s career every step of the way, Rohrbach now gives back to the female youth volleyball community as a volunteer coach.
Rohrbach has spent the past two years coaching volleyball clinics at the University of Maryland during July ranging from sleep-away camps to day clinics. She has mentored groups of aspiring female volleyball players, whether young girls just starting or high school players looking to be recruited.
“It’s awesome to be able to be a part of these girl’s volleyball experience,” Rohrbach said. “I think we have a great opportunity to set examples for the young females.”
Through her volunteer coaching, Rohrbach strives to inspire young athletes and reflects the same support she has received from the female athletes in her life. Even from the other side of the country in California, her mom and sister still make it out to Rohrbach’s games when they can.
