Smooth Operator: Chiaka Ogbogu

COMPOSURE, WITH A CLASH OF COMPETITIVE DRIVE, IS THE KEY TO CHIAKA OGBOGU’S SUCCESS.

By Sara Beth Purdy

CHIAKA OGBOGU  has made her goals clear.

She refuses to settle for just one national championship title — she wants at least two. And she wants to start this season by adding to the one the Texas volleyball team claimed in Louisville last December.

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The freshman middle blocker from Coppell, Texas arrived to the 40 Acres with plenty of experience playing on a big stage. As a junior and senior, Ogbogu led the Coppell Cowgirls to back-to-back Texas 5A state championships.

“Those experiences prepared me for Texas,” Ogbogu said. “Winning the state titles fueled my competitive drive.”

That competitive spirit will fit right in with the Longhorns, a team known for its spirit and ferocity on the court.

“I like playing at Texas. I like that I’m learning from others,” Ogbogu said. “The expectations here are high. The upperclassmen made sure that we were aware of their standards, although there’s not a lot of pressure.”

As a senior, she was named the 2012 Gatorade Texas Volleyball Player of the Year and the 2012-13 Texas Girls Coaches Associate 4A-5A Player of the Year. She said that one of her most memorable accomplishments in high school was being recognized by Gatorade. Ogbogu was the first player from Coppell to win the award and the second in the last five years from the Dallas area.

Ogbogu is one of four newcomers at Texas. She joins setter Chloe Collins and outside hitter Pilar Victoria Lopez as the three incoming freshmen. Junior Tiffany Baker is also new to the team, after transferring from Tennessee this past January. Baker will redshirt after undergoing knee surgery in the offseason.

“This is a great class for our program and we’re thrilled with the quality of the young women we acquired,” head coach Jerritt Elliott said. “Each one of them has the ability to come in and compete.”

As a senior, Ogbogu posted 486 kills, 144 blocks and finished the season with a .555 hitting clip. She earned MaxPrep All-America honors as a senior and was named one of the 25 Underclassmen to Watch in 2012 by Volleyball Magazine/Rox.

Ogbogu stands at 6’2” but can touch close to 10 feet and seven inches. According to the Texas coaching staff, she has an impressive jumping ability and speed on the court. She’s expected to become a star blocker for the Longhorns.

“Chiaka will continue the program’s great tradition of middle blockers,” Elliott said after Ogbogu signed last May. “She’s a smooth athlete … with growth [she] has the potential to develop into one of the premier players in the nation.”

Through all of her accomplishments, she has tried to remain composed while on the court. In fact, Ogbogu credits her success to her calm and collected playing style. But remember to never judge a book by its cover — Ogbogu’s competitive drive continues to thrive while she’s on the court.

“I’m really competitive,” she explained, “but I try to stay composed so I don’t get frazzled.”

Ogbogu originally committed to play at the University of California at Berkley before switching her commitment to Texas. The Longhorns recruited her later in the process, although that didn’t matter in the end. She said that Texas attracted her because of its successful history and high profile volleyball program.

“Texas has always been a dream school for me,” Ogbogu said. “There was always just something pulling me to Austin.”

Over the summer, Ogbogu competed at the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships. Her team, Texas Advantage Volleyball (a club based out of North Texas) won gold and claimed the 18 Open division title. They went undefeated through the competition and defeated Sunshine 18 Westside, a club from California, for the title.

Since arriving on campus for fall training camp, Ogbogu has embraced the Longhorn culture and life in Austin. When she’s not practicing, at games or attending classes, her favorite thing to do is to stay at home and hang out with her friends. She prefers the close personal atmosphere of a casual night with loved ones.

And though she loves all that Austin and the 40 Acres have to offer, her favorite thing about the city is the local cuisine — with the exception of chocolate.

“I like to eat,” Ogbogu said. “I love all of the food choices available. I like how Austin has such a variety and there’s always something new to try.”

Winning another championship, however, is still her top priority while in Austin.

Ogbogu, along with the rest of the newcomers, will attempt to fill the shoes of senior utility player Sha’Dare McNeal, the only non-returning player from the Longhorns’ championship squad.

“Sha’Dare was a big piece to our team,” senior outside hitter Bailey Webster said. “But we have big new additions. We’re extremely excited.”

Longhorn fans will remain engaged while watching Ogbogu on the court this season — her competitiveness and drive to win titles is just what Texas fans want to see.

“There’s so much talent in the gym and the team is close,” Ogbogu said. “We’re looking for big things.”

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