Perkins helps CC volleyball continue 'magical' season

Colorado College’s Emily Perkins has accumulated many honors throughout her volleyball career, but she says her 35-4 Tigers making it to the Division III national tournament tops them all.

Perkins had 21 kills and 13 digs when the Tigers won a five-set NCAA regional over La Verne at Redlands, Calif., on Saturday, sending them to their first national championship, which will be played this week in Cleveland.

Not bad for the junior middle blocker from Plano, Texas, and the rest of the Tigers, who dedicated this season to Steve Durand, an assistant coach who died in April.

“We played for him,” Perkins said.

Durand would be proud.

“Our theme for this year is to make history,” Perkins said.

Their prophecy came true as the Tigers, who were seeded No. 1 in their regional, advanced further than ever before.

“It’s just magical. We actually achieved it,” Perkins said.

She leads the team in kills (442) and blocks (136 total) and is second in digs, with 426 (freshman Laura Goldsmith has 429). Perkins has been named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the week three times this year. She was also voted most outstanding player in the regional and was joined on the all-tournament team by Meredith Ballard. Goldsmith had the seventh most digs in a season by a Tiger, and Amy Schornack became the sixth Tiger to go past the 1,000 assists mark in a season.

“(Emily) is a player that makes good things happen,” coach Rick Swan said. “She works extremely hard.”

Perkins surprised herself with how far she’s come in the sport. In high school, many of her former teammates went on to play Division I volleyball and she didn’t get much front-row playing time. But she has since carved her own path and is happy with her decision to play for the Tigers.

“The program is great, the coaches are great and academically it’s great,” she said.

But when it comes time to face their first opponent, Washington University of St. Louis (31-4), on Thursday, it’s all about teamwork.

Perkins said that when her team was down 7-2 in the fifth and final set to La Verne, the players said “I love you” to each other, and she said that’s what helped spark their 15-9 win.

“We’re playing for each other,” Perkins said. “This team has gone through a lot. And I think that’s helped us on the court.”