Athlete of the Week: Kaitlyn Cochran leads Wildcats in kills, aces, assists

The Whitney Wildcats girls' volleyball team is one of the best squads in the Sac-Joaquin Section and is currently ranked in the Top 25 in California on MaxPreps. While the Lady Wildcats lost a five-set thriller to the Oak Ridge Trojans on Sept. 22, they are still 21-2 and have only lost 12 sets all season. They are led by the senior leadership of Jenna Kraft, who has 152 kills and is committed to California State University at Monterey Bay, and Kaitlyn Cochran, who is leading the team in kills, aces and assists. Cochran committed to Oregon State University in April and totaled 13 kills and 21 assists in the Sept. 22 loss to the Trojans. She is currently 20th in the section with 145 kills. Gold Country Media asked Cochran some questions and her answers follow. What is the best part about playing volleyball at Whitney High School? Cochran: "The best part about playing volleyball at Whitney High is definitely the coaches and my teammates. We also have great support from other athletes, which makes it really fun." How long have you been playing competitively and who/what is your biggest motivation? Cochran: "I've been playing since I was 11 years old and I just love to compete and be on a team where we see our hard work pay off. I think that's what keeps me motivated throughout the whole season." Did any of your family members play sports? Cochran: "Both of my parents were collegiate athletes and I have a lot of athletes on both sides of my family. My mom played Division I basketball and went on the pro Mini Tour for golf and my dad played volleyball in Canada at the University of Calgary." You totaled 12 kills against Folsom and played very well against Oak Ridge as well, despite the loss. What has contributed to your success on the attacking front so far this season? Cochran: "The other setter and I have worked really hard to connect on hitting and it's paying off. I really enjoy attacking and take it to my advantage since being a setter, you don't always have that opportunity. I just try to be as aggressive as possible on the attacking front and put balls away." You committed to Oregon State University in April. Do you feel already being committed to a Division I school provided an extra spark/motivation going into the season? Also, how relieving has it been to get the commitment out of the way prior to your senior year? Cochran: "Being committed is super exciting but high school volleyball is so fun playing with my friends that I was going to make it a great season with or without my commitment. It's really fun to already know where I'm headed this year, watch Oregon State University play and get to know the players, so overall, I feel super fortunate to already be committed. It allows me to really enjoy my senior year and not stress." Do you have a favorite professional athlete? Cochran: "My favorite pro athlete is Victoria Garrick, she was a libero at the University of Southern California and I grew up watching her. She's really just all about positivity and her story is super cool since she was initially a walk-on but became a starter and main player." Have you played other sports? Cochran: "Yes, I grew up playing a lot of sports like competitive soccer and basketball, but once I knew volleyball is what I wanted to do, I had to give those up to get to the next level." What are your biggest strengths as a setter and an opposite hitter? Cochran: "I would say my biggest strengths as a setter is understanding the game and being able to stay steady and focused through the entire game. I think staying calm also helps my teammates as some games can get pretty intense. As a hitter, I've focused on having good technique and different shots so I can always find a way to score. I also think I see the court pretty well, which is an advantage." What are your biggest goals for the season's remainder? Cochran: "For the rest of the season, obviously winning is always a goal but I want us to just play our best and have a great feeling about leaving high school, knowing I had a great time the entire season." What is your favorite class in high school and why? Cochran: "I really enjoy my athletic intern class because it allows me to develop lots of skills I will use in the real world and it also keeps me involved with all the athletics on campus." Who is your favorite musical artist/band? Cochran: "I really like country music so I enjoy most of the popular country artists like Morgan Wallen and Thomas Rhett." Favorite restaurant and favorite food? Cochran: "I love Kobe Teppanyaki & Sushi since it's a super fun environment and great food." Outside of school and playing volleyball, what do you like to do in your free time? Cochran: "In my free time, I love hanging out with friends and boating. I really enjoy wake surfing." Is there a particular job you'd like to have someday? Cochran: "I'm still not sure what I want to do after college and volleyball but maybe something within athletics." If you had advice for other local athletes, what would you tell them? Cochran: "Something I think younger athletes should keep in mind is to be coachable, enjoy the process and make lifelong friends."