3 | NEWS / SPORTS NEWS 33
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 | HILLTOPVIEWSONLINE.COM
Hurricane Ida causes catastrophic Emily Tran enters senior season with high damage to Louisiana, nearby states expectations for herself, teammates By SYDNEY TREAT
time resident of the city of New Orleans. Video chatting with her from Atlanta, GA. where she and her fiancée relocated just before the storm reached the Louisiana coast, Cochran described in detail the hurricane and how it compared to previous ones she experienced (including Hurricane Katrina in 2005). A big difference, according to Cochran, was in the billions of federal dollars in investments to the levee system which held and protected the city from flooding, and
ghanistan, climate-fueled fires and other crises vying for collective attention, Ida Hurricane Ida made landand the damage left in its fall on Aug. 29 as a Catwake quickly became a disegory 4 (130 to 156 mph tant memory. According to winds) storm with a surge Cochran, the coverage that of 12 to 16 feet, and winds Hurricane Ida received degusting as high as 172 picted a need for help but miles per hour. The storm did not convey a full unleft more than one million derstanding of the horror people without power and of being in the midst of a arrived on the 16th anninatural disaster. versary of the massive and “The news is covering destructive Hurricane Kathings in a dramatic way trina. Hurricane Ida was which is good for bringthe twelfth hurricane to hit ing assistance. It’s kind in an already busy hurricane of telling everybody, ‘We need help.’ But they’re still not really feeling it.” Cochran said. Compounding the already devastating state Louisiana is in, many are still suffering the consequences days after the storm. Louisiana is heavily dependent on tourism to support its economy, and until electricity, buildings and lives are restored, the state and its people will continue to COURTESY OF WIKICOMMONS suffer. Ida was ranked as a Category 4 Hurricane according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricanes in this category cause catastrophic damage to the regions hit. Financial resources such as the Hilltopper Help Line, Aunt Bertha, season. The storm made its the preparation by residents Emergency Aid Fund and way across the southern who had lived through the HOOF Fund are availU.S. and to the north- Hurricane Katrina. able to students impacted east, leaving more than 40 Another big difference by the disaster. people dead in New York between Hurricane Ida and before reaching the Atlantic previous storms is the atOcean. tention this storm got from Hilltop Views interviewed crisis-fatigued Americans. Katherine Cochran, a long- With COVID-19 , Af-
By SAGE WARE
lege is an unforgettable experience. Therefore, we felt it imperative we ask Tran about her favorite memory from her years on the Hilltop. “My sophomore year. I think it was one of the best years we played,” Tran said. The women’s volleyball team
are allowed, I know I’ll have a lot of nerves and will have to shake some of it out,” Tran said. With such strong goals and determination for excellence, it is only natural to have something or someone that inspires you. For Emily Tran, that’s
Whether it’s on the court or in the classroom, St. Edward’s student athletes are working hard towards their future. Emily Tran, senior setter for St. Edward’s women’s volleyball team is no different. In 2020, Tran was added to the Lone Star Conference All-Academic team. Originally from Eagan, MN, Tran has been a part of the Hilltop community for a little over three years. The time she has spent at SEU is filled with memorable moments which helped create the person she is today. Eager for the upcoming season, Tran expressed how the team has “high expectations, wants to go to conference.” Tran, like COURTESY OF SEU ATHLETICS many other athTran is currently majoring in Marketing and pursuing a minor in Psychology. As Tran prepares for graduation, the future seems bright for the young player. letes, is thrilled by the progressive shift towards a normal sports setting. As for how COVID-19 af- had recently been introduced her best friend and teammate: fected the way that she views to the Lone Star Conference Steffy Walls. her sport, Tran gained a new (LSC), which is connected “She is like the ultimate, elite perspective. “It made me a lot to the NCAA, and that same person,” Tran said, “Have you more grateful, especially be- year they won the trophy for ever met someone who can cause other university teams the LSC Division Champion- grind out everything? She incouldn’t play,” Tran said. ship. This victory was without spires me because I want to Last year brought a lot of a doubt the product of hard have the same positive attitude limitations but as more uni- work. “We had a tough pod and energy that she does.” versities are able to compete, and we came out on top,” Tran Along with inspiration from the team is motivated to do said. her peers, Tran is also lookwell and have “a solid year.” Tran compared her first two ing to the future. Her ideas Tran also mentioned the years of college volleyball to for post-graduation include challenges COVID brought her junior year when describ- studying for her masters, playto their team dynamic by em- ing the feeling of being on the ing another year of volleyball phasizing how tough it was to court. During her freshman with St. Edward’s or seeing bond as a team. However, with and sophomore year, Tran where her internship will take this year’s new rules, getting to described playing as “mostly her. know teammates is much eas- muscle memory.” Due to the “I definitely am going to be ier and their friendships are absence of fans, adjusting to playing volleyball, some way stronger than ever. people in the stands may be a somehow,” Tran said Most would agree that col- challenge. “When spectators
