When the Harvard women’s volleyball team travels to Dartmouth this Friday, sophomore Katherine Kocurek may recall some unpleasant memories. Last time Kocurek played in Hanover, New Hampshire, she tore her meniscus and sprained the LCL in her knee after diving into the bench for a stray ball.

Kocurek, an enthusiastic 5-foot-11-inch libero, takes pride in sacrificing her body for her team. Unfortunately, one of Kocurek’s greatest strengths, her hustle, turned into a weakness as she was forced to sit out seven matches last season due to injury.

“Having to sit out and watch was one of the most painful things,” Kocurek said. “All you want to do is play. Everyone on our team is here for the love of the game.”

Kocurek’s determination to be on the floor has generated much of her success. This season, the sophomore leads the team with 5.02 digs per game after leading the team as a freshman with 4.44 digs per game. Kocurek was an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention pick in 2006 and won the “Best Digger Award” in this year’s American Volleyball Tournament.

“Katherine’s our most consistent passer and highest digger,” said volleyball head coach Jennifer Weiss. “She plays with a lot of personality, and she’s a great player.”

Weiss, in her fifteenth year at the helm of the women’s volleyball program, first met Kocurek when the standout libero was a junior at Kingwood High School in Kingwood, Texas.

“She sat in my office and said, ‘I love Harvard. I love everything about it. I want to get my degree,’” Weiss remembers of Kocurek’s first unofficial visit.

Kocurek’s energy and optimism has helped her become a leader and playmaker on the Crimson.

Other than her attitude, the sophomore’s greatest attribute may be her athleticism.

“I’ve played every single position,” Kocurek said. “I started out as a setter, moved to middle, and then played outside. Then in my junior year of high school I started playing libero.”

As a libero, Kocurek’s job is to cover the entire backcourt and serve as the primary defensive specialist. Kocurek is willing to sacrifice offensive glory and her wellbeing to keep the ball alive and pass for her teammates.

“I am the lead defensive specialist and I pass first and foremost,” the sophomore said. “I want to be there for my teammates.”

Kocurek’s team spirit shows both on the court and in her speech.

“I want to win the Ivies,” she said of her goal this season. “We have such a great team and a lot of potential.”

Individually, Kocurek would like to keep her digs above the six per game mark. She is currently averaging 5.10 per game, but during the 2007 American Volleyball Tournament she averaged 6.0 digs per game, totaling 84 digs overall. Kocurek also totaled six aces in four tournament games.

Kocurek and the Harvard squad have posted a record of 5-7 this season as they look to improve on last year’s 11-14 mark. The Crimson came out strong in 2007 with two straight victories to start the season. Over the last week, however, Harvard has dropped some tournament matches and a league match to Dartmouth.

“The last weekend was rough,” said Kocurek. “But it’s necessary to sort out your kinks. When you play teams that really challenge you, you learn what you need to work on.”

After four games last weekend, the Crimson has the entire week to prepare before heading to Dartmouth on Friday to avenge their previous loss. It is Kocurek’s first time back to Hanover since her injury.

“[The injury] has taught me to take advantage of every moment,” said Kocurek. “I always want to be out on the floor.”

Kocurek will look to take advantage of those moments this Friday against Dartmouth as a win will bring the Crimson back to a .500 record in the Ivies.