Moon Township, Pa. – For
Corinne Moser, life is a juggling act. Always has been.
Probably always will be.
"I go after what I want," Moser said. "It's just the way I am."
This former two-sport athlete/dual major at
Robert Morris University currently works in the financial department for the United States federal government. It is a significant and challenging endeavor, yet she still finds time to attend graduate school at Virginia Tech for her MBA while also participating in a variety of recreational sports leagues.
Her philosophy: Don't stop.
"I just do it, and I don't think much about it," Moser said. "I couldn't tell you what drives me. I think it's how my parents raised me. I like to keep active."
A former volleyball star and high jumper for the RMU track & field team from 2007-10, Moser worked briefly for Travelers Insurance in Pittsburgh before taking the job with the federal government. She resides in McLean, Va., and spends much of her time in Washington, D.C.
Although she is not at liberty to discuss her job in detail, she allowed that she manages and tracks government finances. It is a fitting role for an intelligent young woman who graduated from RMU with a 3.88 grade-point average as a finance and accounting major.
"This isn't what I thought I would get into," said Moser, who made the Dean's List every semester at RMU, despite playing two sports and working three days a week. "I was looking to get into a financial investing and advising role, but this opportunity came my way. It's not that sexy of a job, but it's what I do."
Robert Morris volleyball coach
Dale Starr, who only coached Moser in her senior season, said he saw something special immediately in the way she approached athletics and academics. She was regimented, organized and always prepared.
A self-motivated individual, he said.
"Any time you see a two-sport athlete at the Division I level, you know that kid will be successful in whatever field they choose because of the work ethic," Starr said. "It's about their dedication and time-management skills. Those things are essential. She had all the traits of someone who would succeed."
Despite coming to Robert Morris on a partial track scholarship after a stellar career as a high jumper at Meyersdale (Pa.) High School, Moser eventually made a name for herself on the volleyball court. A walk-on as a freshman, she evolved to the point where she was awarded a volleyball scholarship after her sophomore year.
She did not disappoint.
In her final two seasons, she amassed a team-best 826 digs at libero, a defensive specialty position. A four-year letterwinner, Moser played in 107 matches en route to 895 digs, including a career-high 416 as a senior, and 27 service aces.
She saved her best for the Northeast Conference Tournament in her final year. The big moment came in a semifinal against six-time defending champion LIU Brooklyn, which had defeated the Colonials in the same round a year earlier.
In the fifth and final set, a shot appeared to be far out of Moser's reach. But in dramatic fashion, she went to the floor, extended her body, stretched an arm, and miraculously sent a perfect pass to her setter.
It led to four consecutive points by the Colonials and changed the complexion of the match. Call it a Moser Moment.
"She turned the momentum for us and it led us to victory," said Starr, whose team lost in the NEC final to top-seeded Sacred Heart. "That play showed her sheer determination and embodied what kind of athlete and person she is. It was a crucial play in a crucial moment in a crucial game. That was what Corinne gave to this program every single day."
Moser concedes that her track career did not mirror her volleyball success -- she finished in the top-8 at the NEC Championships in the high jump once in four years -- but it provided indelible memories.
"We got to travel to some awesome places and compete against the top schools," she said. "We would go to Wake Forest or Duke or Pitt. It was nice to compete with athletes of that caliber."
Moser said she is not certain where the road will lead her in the next five to 10 years. She would like to be married with a family, and, perhaps, make a return to the Pittsburgh area.
One thing she knows for sure is that her time at Robert Morris will continue to impact her life.
"I had such a great experience there," said Moser, who called a volleyball match at national power Penn State, where most of her family went to college, one of her top athletic moments. "I chose Robert Morris because it offered me a chance to play two sports at the Division I level, and I knew I would get a great education while being close to home. I met some of my best friends while playing volleyball, Amanda (Graham) Rivett and Hannah Veith. It was just a great place for me."
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