WALTHAM — Bentley University women’s volleyball coach Joey Pacis was on to Lauren McCloskey, then a Salem High star middle hitter, about half-dozen years ago.
“We knew about her, fall of her senior year,” said Coach Pacis. “We checked her out, liked her a lot. Saw her at the [Salem Boys & Girls Club], where her parents coach. We ended up getting a commitment from another player at same position. It happens. We lost track of her a little bit.”
McCloskey ended up at Stonehill University, where she was one of the better players on a program struggling early on after moving to Div. 1 two years ago (3-27 and 3-29).
Graduating last May with an extra COVID season in her pocket, guess who came calling again?
“We faced her [in 2021] and she kept getting better and stronger,” said Pacis. “Lauren is a great athlete with a heavy arm. We needed experience at the middle blocker. She was perfect for us.”
Ditto for McCloskey, who got a two-for-one special, joining one of the best Div. 2 volleyball programs and one of the top business schools – she’s getting an MBA in marketing – in New England.
Talk about a fitting like a glove, the transition for Bentley and McCloskey has been seamless.
“I felt like a freshman, at 22 years old, when I first got here,” said McCloskey. “It was exciting. And now, I can’t explain how much fun I’ve had here.”
Bentley won the Northeast Regional finals last weekend, ending Northeast-10 rival AIC’s 20-match winning streak, 3-2. Included in that streak was two wins over Bentley.
And McCloskey is almost half-way toward her degree.
“The business school is what I was looking for, a high academic program,” she said.
“And, oh my god, [winning on Saturday] was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my volleyball career,” said McCloskey. “It was the biggest game I’ve ever competed in. And to have family and friends there … it was awesome.”
McCloskey, who is “only” 5-foot-10, which is two or three inches shorter than most middle hitters/blockers at this level, was second on Bentley in blocks and fourth in kills.
“There is a maturity about her, having already graduated and playing four years, two at the Division One level,” said Pacis. “She lives off campus [in Watertown]. She’s given us everything we needed.”
Speaking of “Wow!” moments, Pacis said she had arguably her most impactful play of her grad season in the regional semifinal against Adelphi University, which also beat Bentley in the regular season.
“It was early in the match, the first ten points or so, and she rips this quick set-up that hit the blocker’s head,” said Pacis. “That set the tone for the rest of the match. It’s the kind of power she has.”
McCloskey, who started playing volleyball after watching her older sister Nicole play, admitted that “kill” was a memorable one.
“You never want to hurt someone or give them a concussion,” she said. “I guess that was an aggressive moment for me.”
McCloskey, Bentley & Co. left for Souix Falls, South Dakota on Tuesday afternoon, prepping for their NCAA Div. 2 quarterfinals against No. 1 ranked and undefeated Ferris State, at 34-0, a perennial NCAA tourney team that hasn’t been this far since 2014.
“Not a bad one year rental for us,” joked Coach Pacis. “Honestly, it’s been great for everyone. She got a great place to get her MBA and we got what we needed, a very good middle blocker and veteran. I’m just glad we finally got her here at Bentley.”