Sometimes the most kismet moments in life come in the form of second chances.
LSU volleyball transfer sophomore Emilee Prochaska came from the University of Houston, but she didn’t play volleyball. Prochaska played softball at UH, and when she entered the transfer portal after her freshman year, LSU volleyball found its way into consideration.
“I wasn’t looking to play volleyball whatsoever,” Prochaska said. “I mean, it was a thought in the back of my mind. Honestly, my parents, my mom, really knew that I was always happy with volleyball and that I should try and play it, because she thought that’s what I wanted.”
So, Prochaska listened to her mom and reached out to the Tigers’ volleyball program. She said she fell in love with LSU’s campus when she visited and that the atmosphere was otherworldly.
Once Prochaska visited campus, she said she knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime and that her journey was supposed to happen this way. Everything came together for her at that moment, and she knew LSU was home.
LSU may have offered her a chance to transfer to play volleyball, but Prochaska said she didn’t keep up with her court skills while playing softball. She took a pretty significant break from the sport during her freshman year at UH.
“I didn’t do anything after my [high school] senior year of volleyball,” Prochaska said. “I thought that was over for me. So, my last volleyball game was in the fall of 2023… I hadn’t really touched a volleyball since.”
It’s evident that Prochaska never planned to play volleyball in college. She described volleyball as her “fun sport” growing up, and softball was her focus for recruitment. She began the recruiting process for softball at 13 years old, and she didn’t look back.
LSU and a few other schools were looking at her for volleyball during her initial recruiting process, but she knew that softball was it for her. She didn’t expect to be recruited for volleyball.
“I guess the season, maybe spring-ish, that the recruiting gate opens for volleyball, is when actually my coach told me, ‘Hey, people are looking at you,’” Prochaska said. “And I was like, ‘Oh, you’re funny. No, they’re not.’ It wasn’t supposed to end up that way.”
She said her dream as a little girl was to play in the Women’s College World Series, so despite the initial volleyball offer from LSU, she stuck with the softball route because she really liked the UH coaches.
But when she entered the transfer portal, she found herself wanting something different. For Prochaska, that meant pulling a complete 180 by looking at LSU, finding herself looking to play her “fun sport” full-time.
Prochaska stepped right back into volleyball like she’d never left, LSU middle blocker Jessica Jones said. Committing to LSU meant Prochaska would also get to experience the ups and downs of college athletics with one of her childhood best friends. It was only fitting since the reason Jones started playing in the first place was because of Prochaska, Jones said.
Prochaska and Jones played three sports together growing up: softball, volleyball and soccer. They grew up together in these sports, and even though they went to rival high schools, playing with and against each other has been a highlight of their relationship.
Jones said that Prochaska appeared to never miss a beat at practice when she first got to LSU.
“It’s not easy to take multiple years off from your sport, and then jump right back into it, especially at this level,” Jones said. “It’s not like she’s jumping into some easy volleyball… super impressive how fast she’s able to keep up with everyone and just kind of jump right back into it, like she kind of never left.”
Jones also said that it’s been nice having a friend from home at college. It can be lonely not having connections to home when at school, so she said having a hometown friend with her all the time has been heartwarming.
Prochaska and Jones are two of five former club volleyball friends who have stayed in contact since they aged out, and it has been nice for both of them.
“We can always go to each other for anything just because we’ve known each other for so long,” Jones said. “Now we get to go through, you know, the same amazing experience, whether it’s good or bad, and just experience all those challenges and successes together.”
Jones also said that it’s usually awkward between the team and any new transfers or freshmen, but Prochaska gelled great with the rest of the team. She said Prochaska has been able to be her true self and fits in well.
“We have a lot of big personalities on the team, so I feel like sometimes personalities can get suppressed a little bit,” Jones said. “This season, everyone’s kind of being their true selves, and Em’s fitting right into that.”
It’s turned into everything she thought she was committing to, Prochaska said. From the wonderful campus to the energy between the players, the decision to transfer and switch sports has all come together for her.
“LSU was the only school, volleyball-wise, that even gave me a chance for volleyball,” Prochaska said. “Honestly, it was my second chance. So I was like, I can’t say no to this opportunity if it still presents itself.”
