By JACOB COMP, Student Reporter
Northwestern volleyball’s Avery Osburg finished up her senior season campaign after transferring to Alva in 2019.
Osburg is a senior accounting major from Longview, Texas. She is set to graduate in December 2021.
Prior to coming to Northwestern, Osburg attended Seminole State College in Seminole. She served as the setter for the Trojans.
“I honestly had the best time of my life,” Osburg said. “I’d recommend going ju-co to anyone. But I think sports-wise, it helped me grow. I got to play my first two years, which you really don’t get the opportunity to do that at a four-year (university).”
At Seminole State, she played in 156 sets. She acquired 476 assists averaging 3.05 assists per set.
Osburg said her passion for volleyball began back in 6th grade, and she fell in love as soon as she started playing.
“I wanted to play in college,” Osburg said. “I just truly wasn’t ready to give it up. I was blessed to be able to continue my career.”
She said she did not start her career as a setter.
“I actually did not start setting until halfway through my senior year of high school,” Osburg said. “I was kind of thrown into it because we did not have one. I was a middle and outside hitter for most of my career.”
Osburg’s junior college competed against Northwestern in a summer scrimmage hosted by Oklahoma Baptist University, Osburg said.
She said Northwestern’s head volleyball coach, Fred Aubuchon, walked up to her and offered her on the spot after that match.
Osburg has played the role as the team’s No. 1 setter during the 2021 spring season. She has recorded 506 assists on the year. She averaged 9.04 assists per set and acquired 16 kills this season.
She had three kills and 51 assists through 16 sets in her 2019 season after being behind Kaitlyn Robinson, a member of the 2019 Lady Rangers’ roster.
“I just took this (past) spring and I stayed here over the summer and worked with coach,” Osburg said. “Obviously, the fall helps that we didn’t have a season. We just got to practice all fall so that was nice.”
SETTER OF THE WEEK
In the eighth week of the volleyball season, Osburg was named the Great American Conference setter of the week.
“I think that was kind of cool, just because with the season that we were having like only playing one game a week,” Osburg said. “It was kind of an honor getting that. I reached 500 assists this season, so it was kind of a big goal of mine.”
Osburg said she learned leadership through volleyball.
“One of the biggest things that I learned through volleyball is how to become a leader, especially this past year with the crazy season we had,” Osburg said.
Tarra Parks, a redshirt sophomore for the volleyball team and a roommate with Osburg, said Osburg brings the team together.
“Avery has charisma and a fun personality that helped us win and brought the team closer together,” Parks said.
Osburg said Northwestern has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She said that she would do it all over again if she could.
“I feel great about my decision of coming here,” Osburg said. “Not only because of volleyball, but because of the people I have met along the way. I have met people that will be in my life forever.”
