Killing it

Olivia Rougeau has learned the key to success in college. All it takes is one power nap a day to keep her motor running.

The 2015 Milford High School graduate and three-sport star for the Spartans is only two months into her freshman year at the University of Hartford and she’s handling her hectic schedule like a well-trained senior.

"The transition is a really big one," Rougeau said of graduat­ing from high school to college. "I’ve already learned so much that’s made things easier than I anticipated.

"Free time is not my thing. Between track practice twice a week, lifting, my classes and volleyball I’m going non-stop. But I’m keeping up with every­thing. I manage it pretty well. The key might be my naps."

That’s a guaranteed 20-minute nap she sneaks in daily. She’ll sneak a second one in if the opportunity presents itself.

However, there isn’t normally a chance for that. ­

A typical Monday be­gins with 6:30 a.m. track practice, which runs until 7:30-8 a.m. From there, it’s an hour (8-9 a.m.) in the weight room for the vol­leyball team’s lifting ses­sion.

She has her first cluster of classes between 9:30 a.m. and 12:20 p.m. before getting her 20-minute nap in prior to volleyball prac­tice, which runs 12:45- 2:50 p.m. She’ll get some school work done, have supper and relax a bit be­fore finishing her day in classes from 5:45-8:45 p.m.

"I’m really happy," she said. "I didn’t think it would be this good – in the classroom and training."

On the court, she’s lit­erally killing it. Rougeau is fourth on the Hawks in kills with 112, averaging 1.44 per set over Hart­ford’s 20 matches.

She’s played in 78 sets of those matches, includ­ing six starts.

Rougeau has been strong defensively as well. The 5-foot-10 middle blocker and right side hit­ter has 13 blocks and 32 digs to her credit.

"My vertical has defi­nitely improved," she said. "What I’m getting out of my high jump train­ing is helping me elivate at the net. I wasn’t sure if I could, but I definitely wanted to come out and help contribute to the team right away."

Despite the program’s 5-15 overall record (2-5 America East Conference) Rougeau is certainly con­tributing on the volleyball court.

She’s also making strides during track prac­tice.

For the 2015 NHIAA Di­vision II indoor and out­door high jump and long jump champion, that’s saying a lot.

"I’ve already learned so much thanks to the coaching," Rougeau said. "My technique over the bar has improved and I’m clearing 5-2 1/2 on my first jump now."

She won her high school titles at 5-4, while also set­ting two records in the in­door 4×200 relay (1:45.57) and outdoor 4×100 relay (48.68) along with Amy Arena, Nicole McMorrow and Viankah Williams.

Things are a little dif­ferent down in Hartford. There’s more stress and less downtime, but it’s nothing Rougeau can’t handle with one 20-minute nap per day.