It must make someone feel good knowing they have done something no one else has been able to do before. Imagine being the first person in your school’s history to go to Division I in your specific sport?

That is not an imagination, but a reality for Trinity Lutheran’s Laura Roeder who is on her way to Indiana University Indianapolis (IUI) to play volleyball.

“I wanted to stay close to home,” Roeder said. “When I visited with the players and coaches, I really enjoyed them and the atmosphere there.”

Roeder is in uncharted territory and the senior spoke about that feeling of getting to play volleyball at the highest level in collegiate athletics.

“I am honored to be able to do so, “she said. “I’m so thankful to my coaches and the people who have given me these opportunities.”

The Trinity libero is planning to major in business, speaking on what she enjoyed most about her future home and volleyball program.

“I enjoyed the way Coach (Andrew Kroger) conducted his practices, and how close the girls on the team functioned as a group,” she said.

Roeder has 1,867 career digs at this moment. She ranked eighth in the state last year with 584 digs, fifth in 2022 with 607, which tied the single season record for digs in a season at Trinity Lutheran. Roeder has been selected all-state, all-district, all-county and all-area, some of them multiple times throughout her varsity career.

Roeder’s coaches and parents have an idea of why she is so successful in volleyball. Her work ethic and determination would be a few themes to describe it.

“Laura is very driven to excel at her position,” Trinity Head Coach Janet VanLiew said. “She has an incredible love and passion for the game that pushes her to work very hard, always striving to excel.”

The senior does not just play volleyball, she also plays basketball and softball for the Cougars.

Roeder’s Club Volleyball Coach Sammie Pottschmidt also spoke about her successful qualities.

Pottschmidt has coached the Cougar Volleyball Club team.

“After getting to know her and coaching her over the last two years, I can say she epitomizes the qualities a libero should embody,” Pottschmidt said. “She is a vocal leader who challenges her teammates to level up their play. She takes charge of the back row. I never had to question whether she would bring her best to practice or a tournament.”

The best athletes spend so much time watching game film and putting in extra work to get any sort of advantage over any opponent they might face. Roeder is no different and is truly a ‘student of the game,’ according to her club coach.

“She strives to master each drill/skill and has a competitiveness about her that I respect as a coach and would have loved as a player,” Pottschmidt said. “She spends a lot of her free time when not in school or practicing studying her play after matches and scouting the upcoming teams. She does this in club and during her school season. She puts hours and hours into film. Success was inevitable for Laura because of the time, effort, and energy she puts into being the best she can be.”

Roeder has always been driven, even since her young days according to her parents.

“She’s been that way since the day she was born,” her father Brett said.

Laura and her mother Mindy both busted out laughing after Brett’s answer. Laura did mention that she thinks she got her determination from her mom.

A challenge has never steered Roeder away and she knows it will be one at the next level of volleyball. She spoke about some challenges between the transition from high school to college volleyball.

“The play between high school and college is definitely going to be faster,” Roeder said. “Also, I’ll have to take on a different role than I have now. I’ll come in as a freshman with girls above me, and I’ll have to work my way back up.”

Her parents were asked why Laura had been so successful on the court and in the classroom. She also a member of the National Honor Society and holds an unweighted GPA of 4.0

“Brett and I haven’t touched her homework, helped her study, or even needed to ask if she has studied since probably first or second grade.,” Roeder said.

Her mother said Laura came home from school on the very first day of third grade and was asked if she had any homework.

Laura responded with ‘I got this mom.’

From then on according to her parents, she’s never not had it under control.

“She just gets her stuff done,” Mindy added. “When it comes to volleyball, one of the reasons she’s successful on the court is because she’s not just a student in the classroom, she’s a student of the game. This girl watches so much film, she knows what opposing teams will do before they even take the court. She knows how to scout teams and their hitters and figure out what they are doing.”

Both parents are happy with Laura’s decision to go to become a Jaguar at IU Indianapolis.

“I think it’s a beautiful campus,” her father said. “It’s downtown, but it’s not packed. It’s a wide-open area and you don’t feel like you’re in downtown Indianapolis.”

“I’m excited to have her so close and for her to have a Division I volleyball experience,” her mother said. “She will also have the chance to be in the Kelly School of Business. I’m excited about the coach there, he’s newer to the program and has been very aggressive in his recruiting efforts. I think this will pay off for him.”

Mindy also wanted to thank the Cougar Volleyball Club and all the girls who have been involved throughout the years.

“The group of girls that Laura has been afforded to play with in the offseason are special,” Mindy said. “They really are a special group of girls that have the mindset hard to work really hard and are willing to put in extra work. Most of her club teammates will play at the next level, they’re just special. I don’t know what her future would look like without this excellent group of like-minded girls and their parents.”

Here is the list of girls that Laura has played high school club volleyball with from the area.

Brownstown Central: Jaydynn Yeadon, Sophie Wischmeier, Kinzee Dean

Trinity Lutheran: Addison Darlage, Carson Bowling

Seymour: Greer Henry, Madison Schrader

Jennings County: Addison Martin, Avynn Belding

Columbus North: Kennedy Horn

This coming club season the team will be adding Trinity’s Madison Keith and the libero from Batesville, Anya Richey.

Trinity is sitting at 18-6 on the season and is ranked number one in Class 1A.

Roeder, Carson Bowling, Madison Keith, Ava Blomenberg, and Addison Darlage are all impactful volleyball players for the Cougars.

They’re also the five seniors on this team, all who were on Trinity Lutheran’s 2021 state runner-up team and now looking to get back to that final game of the season.

Roeder also discussed her senior class at Trinity this season.

“I think we are all really driven and we’ve worked so hard to get to this point,” she said.

Coach VanLiew would agree with Roeder’s statement.

“Laura and this group of seniors are focused and driven,” she said. “They have a high volleyball IQ which allows them to play at a very high level.”

Roeder mentioned that she has enjoyed the atmosphere and that the fans at Trinity have made all her years at TLHS special.

“I’m very grateful to have had the best coaches throughout club, and school ball,” Roeder said. “Especially in high school, Janet (VanLiew), Sammie (Pottschmidt), Cortney (VanLiew), Dave (Newland), Faith (Wilder-Newland), Chelsey (Briner), Lindsey (Schepman), Toby (VanLiew), Ruthie (Bingham), and my mom have all helped me so much. I will be forever grateful for each of them.” My teammates through club and high school have helped make it fun for me and I’ve enjoyed being around them and I’m just so grateful for them helping me accomplish everything I’ve been able to do.”

Trinity is fresh off their Cougar Classic win over the weekend, which included a win against 3A Jennings County and a senior night victory against 3A Greensburg. The Cougars just defeated Class 3A Back-to-Back State Champions in Providence on Thursday night in five sets.

The girls will conclude their season with three more regular season games, three 4A schools and a season closing tournament at Columbus East.

Laura Roeder’s accolades

Most serve-receptions in a season (645)

Tied for most digs in a season (607)

All-state (2022)

All-district (2021, 2022)

All-county (2022, 2023)