Volleyball’s Crosbie was ‘Mrs. All-America’
Utah State’s Athletic Director Rance Pugmire calls senior Amy Crosbie “Mrs. All-America.” The Utah Statesman has named her Female Athlete of the Year. In Crosbie’s four years as outside hitter for the women’s volleyball team, she has broken many records and has formed many friendships.
In the 2000 season, Crosbie averaged 4.08 kills per match and had a .231 hitting percentage. She notched 43 service aces in the 2000 season alone, compared to the 55 she accumulated the previous three years. She holds the record for third most service aces in USU history with 98. Crosbie also sits atop the record books for most career kills in school history (1463).
Crosbie gained national attention throughout her career at USU. She was named to the Big West All-Freshman Team in 1997, the Big West All-Second Team in 1999 and the Big West All-Conference First Team in 2000. She was also named Big West player of the week and national player of the week in 2000.
“It was a big surprise to even be considered for that type of an award,” Crosbie said. “It was neat to get Utah State nationally recognized.”
Despite all the individual recognition, Crosbie gives most of the credit to her fellow Aggies. She said when one person receives an award, it reflects on the whole team.
“You don’t get those kinds of awards without your teammates,” she said.
Crosbie said the highlight of her volleyball career was advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“The team set [making an appearance in the Tournament] as a goal way back in August, and it’s been a dream of mine my whole career,” she said.
Sweeping Brigham Young University in three games this past season was another exciting time for Crosbie. She said since she and the players on the BYU team were able to watch each other develop into better volleyball players throughout the years, it was satisfying to defeat them in their senior year.
“To actually do [sweep the Cougars in three games] and to do it the way we did it, and with the crowd so into the game – it was really special,” Crosbie said.
The Visalia, Calif., native came to USU as a freshman in 1997. She immediately made a positive impact on the team, as she played in all 33 matches and recorded a team-high 996 hitting attempts during her first year as an Aggie.
Crosbie said the transition from high school to college was a difficult one, but her teammates helped her cope with the changes. The team as a whole experienced even more changes when, in 1999, Tom Peterson became the new head coach.
“It was a rough transition from high school to college,” Crosbie said. “I missed my family.”
Four other freshmen were on the team in 1997, but by the beginning of her senior year, only three of the original freshmen remained. Crosbie, Denae Mohlman and Melissa Schoepf became known as the “Big Three.” The three became a powerhouse for the team and hold the top spots for most kills in USU history.
“I think we have a special bond,” Crosbie said of Mohlman, Schoepf and herself.
Crosbie noted she has friends playing volleyball at other larger schools who do not enjoy the same camaraderie with their teammates as she does at USU. Crosbie said she enjoys the friendships she has made throughout the Athletic department.
“I’m going to miss everyone a ton,” she said.
Although Crosbie’s volleyball career at USU is over, she has one and one-half years of schooling left at Utah State. She is an elementary education major and will begin student teaching in the fall. Crosbie’s husband, USU quarterback Jeff Crosbie, will complete his education in two years.
“We just need to get Jeff through football and school and then we’ll decide where we need to go next,” Crosbie said.
Crosbie said she is not sure where she and Jeff will live once they graduate. She said she hopes to go back to California to be with her family, but also said she would enjoy staying in Cache Valley, where Jeff’s family lives.
“I can really call Logan home now,” she said.
Crosbie is, however, certain that she wants to remain active in volleyball. She has already been asked by local high schools to assist with their volleyball programs. This summer, Crosbie, along with Schoepf, will travel to Italy as part of a team comprised of other Division I women volleyball players. While in Europe, the team will compete against teams representing such countries as Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Italy.
In addition to volleyball, Crosbie gives of her time and talents to Aggie Ambassadors, an organization that performs community service such as reading to elementary students and visiting adult care facilities.
“She is a classy young woman,” Pugmire said. “I hope my [8-year-old daughter Jordyn] grows up to be just like her.”