Journeys are not linear, but rather filled with twists and turns until the final destination. For some, their journey ends at the University of Rhode Island.
For Rhody volleyball’s fifth-year defensive specialist Edie Lamoreaux, her journey did not begin in the northeast, but rather an environment quite different. One of the newest Rams lived her entire life in the south before making the trek up north for her final year of collegiate eligibility.
Lamoreaux grew up in New Braunfels, Texas, a town located just over 30 miles northeast of San Antonio, where she lived with her parents and two siblings. Despite her accustomization to southern hospitality, after high school Lamoreaux wanted to move on from the way of life she knew.
“When I graduated high school, my goal was to go to the north, and specifically the northeast,” Lamoreaux said. “I really wanted to come to New England.”
Lamoreaux investigated her northern options, considering New York University and Boston College. However, she decided to call Division II Flagler University located in St. Augustine, Florida, her next home.
In her time at Flagler, Lamoreaux had a successful career as a Saint, playing four seasons in crimson and gold. Lamoreuax amassed 1,364 digs, a top-10 ranking all time at the university, leading the Saints in digs in each of her final three seasons.
“[I] ended up in Florida, probably damn near the exact opposite but I love [New England],” Lamoreaux said. “I feel like I was supposed to end up here in a way, at some point.”
In terms of defensive performance, Lamoreaux’s play hasn’t missed a step in her transition. Her 152 digs rank second on the team and her 2.14 digs per set sits just .75 digs out of the top-10 rankings in the Atlantic 10.
“What’s cool about her is even if she’s in the wrong spot, everyone in the gym thinks the ball is going to fall and she somehow gets a hand on it,” Rhode Island Head Coach Ryan Sullivan said. “You can’t really coach that.”
Luckily for Sullivan, Lamoreaux came into a situation where she was in a new place, with new people and a new culture and took it in stride.
“From day one, she got along with everybody else,” Sullivan said. “She’s an upperclassman, sometimes it’s hard when you’re coming into a new place to create those interpersonal relationships, but I’ve never felt that about her.”
Rhode Island is also a very young team, who’s youth has contributed heavily to their newfound success. A full 50% of the Rams’ roster are second-years or younger, and seven of those eight underclassmen have a top-five statistical ranking on the team in some aspect.
When a program is building, like Rhode Island is, youth has to be prioritized to ensure future success along with current triumphs, a concept which is not favorable towards veterans like Lamoreaux.
“She’s been in and out of the lineup and she hasn’t said anything to me about it,” Sullivan said. “She’s always a ‘yes coach, whatever you need’ kind of [player] and I can’t stress how much I appreciate that.”
Lamoreuax has still played a lot of volleyball this season, with her 71 sets ranking in the top-five for the entire team. However, for the most veteran Ram on the roster, playing time is far from her concern.
“I love being on the court and I love playing, but I love being able to provide for the team more and I value that more,” Lamoreaux said. “I’m here for however they need me and however this new and very opportunistic program needs me.”
Lamoreaux will continue to put the team first when the Rams host Saint Louis University this week, with match one of the two-match set set to be played on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. The squads will also clash Friday night at 6 p.m., and that match can be streamed on ESPN+.