This is where Purdue redshirt sophomore Emily Rastovski always wanted to be.
The 2021 Morgan Township graduate is on a Division I program’s roster, fulfilling the aspirations she had since she started playing volleyball.
“It’s my childhood dream coming true,” she said.
But there’s a caveat. Rastovski had surgery three weeks ago.
“It takes so much self-control every day not to just throw myself in at a practice,” she said. “They won’t let me, but I’m still sitting there, just itching to get out there.”
That eagerness hit a new high Sunday, when the Boilermakers traveled to Northwest Indiana and played Wisconsin at Lake Central as part of their spring exhibition schedule.
The Badgers won the match 18-25, 25-15, 25-13, 25-20 as Rastovski, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, watched from the bench in street clothes. Both she and Purdue coach Dave Shondell declined to offer specifics about the surgery. Shondell said Rastovski “had something that needed to be taken care of, and we took care of it.”
Rastovski said she expects to be cleared for full activity within the next month and anticipates no lingering issues when Purdue gathers in the summer for its preseason. But that offered her little solace on Sunday.
“It kind of sucks, I’m not going to lie,” she said. “I loved the opportunity to come here and have all of these people I know around, but I was still glad to see my teammates out there showing what they can do.”
Rastovski’s disappointment also stemmed from losing playing time and an opportunity for a larger role for the Boilermakers.
“She was really going to be out there this spring because we graduated about five players that were in front of her a bit,” Shondell said. “It’s too bad that she didn’t get this chance, but she’s a very positive individual who doesn’t let things bother her. She’ll work really hard over the summer and be right in the mix next year.”
Rastovski played in just eight matches in the fall, totaling eight kills and two blocks. But she intends to increase all those statistics next season — especially the number of matches played.
“I’m taking it day by day,” she said. “I’m still training every day to get stronger and also trying to stay in a good place mentally so that when I come back in the fall, it’s go time and I can take that spot.”
Rastovski’s use of the word “take” is indicative of her determination too.
“Nothing is handed to us,” she said.
Subtle hints like that offer insight into the intangibles that have Shondell believing Rastovski will make a strong case for playing time.
“There will be a competition, but she’s a good athlete and such a good teammate,” Shondell said. “I don’t think anybody’s going to outwork her.”
That work ethic follows Rastovski home from West Lafayette, according to her father, Dave.
“She’s come home from school, and on the first day back she’ll be at the YMCA,” he said. “Then she’ll come back sore because of how hard she worked there. It’s like, maybe take a couple of days off? But she never does.”
College volleyball takes up a lot more of a player’s time than high school volleyball does, Rastovski noted. But that’s exactly what she wants.
“The workload is insane,” she said with a laugh. “Every day revolves around volleyball. You’ll have class for an hour or two, and then for the next six hours I’m at the gym.”
“But I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she added.
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
