CSU Monterey Bay Athletics

2013 – CSUMB: Rachel Cookus anchored the back row for the second consecutive season in 2013, leading CSUMB with 479 digs as a junior, good for the No. 3 spot on the Otter single–season list…she’ll enter her junior season needing 48 digs to become the fifth Otter ever to top 1,000 career digs…at her current pace, she’ll break the all–time CSUMB record of 1,377 digs set by Katie Bos (2006–09) by mid–November…notched double figures in digs in 25 of 28 matches, reaching 20+ digs 11 times…had more than 20 digs in four consecutive matches from Oct. 12–25…matched her season high of 28 digs twice within a week in wins at Humboldt State (Nov. 2) and vs. Cal State L.A. (Nov. 9)…served 23 aces, matching her career high with four in a win at Cal State East Bay (Oct. 1).

2012 – CSUMB: Rachel stepped into the starting libero spot on opening day as a freshman and proved well–worthy of the role…finished with 473 digs, good for No. 3 on the Otters single season list…reached double figures in digs 23 times, including the final 11 and 16 of the last 17 matches…reached 20 or more digs seven times, including a season–high 32 in the season finale vs. UC San Diego (Nov. 17)…those 32 digs rank No. 5 on the CSUMB list for a five–set match and No. 7 overall…served 22 aces including a season–high four vs. San Francisco State (Oct. 19)…first (and only) career kill came in a win over Academy of Art (Sept. 8) at the Route 92 Tournament.

High School: Rachel led Thousand Oaks High School to Marmonte League championships in 2009, ’10 and ’11…the final two were undefeated seasons…named 2010 Player of the Year by the Ventura Star–News…three–time Marmonte League co–MVP…shared the 2011 title with high school and Otter teammate Summer Esseff…two–time L.A. Daily News All–Area first team selection…played club volleyball for LAVA under the direction of three–time U.S. Olympian Jeff Stork.

Personal: Rachel is majoring in liberal studies…is the daughter of Steve and Robin Cookus…has two younger brothers: Case and Wade.