NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – During the intersection of the volleyball and basketball seasons, junior Morgan Roessler starts her day at 8:45 a.m. She shoves some cereal into her mouth and brushes her teeth before she is out the door for her 9:30 a.m. class. When class concludes at 10:45 a.m., she dashes home to do some homework and grab a bite to eat before heading to the gym for individual 1-on-1 basketball workouts until 1:45 p.m. Then it is back to class at 2 p.m.
 
Her day continues with volleyball practice at 3:30 p.m., followed by lifts with head strength & conditioning coach Gary Gall.
 
Just when she thinks her day is over, Roessler returns to the Hawk Center for basketball practice, which runs until about 8:30 p.m. She finally returns to her off-campus home to make dinner, shower and do homework until exhaustion from the day's activities sends her to sleep in the early morning hours of the following day.
 
For Roessler, this is the norm.
 
Since the moment she decided to come to the State University of New York at New Paltz, Roessler had intended on being a two-sport athlete. She knew she wanted to go to a school that had great basketball and volleyball programs, in addition to a respected academic program.
 
When head women's basketball coach Jamie Seward reached out to her and invited her on an official overnight visit, Roessler was sold on New Paltz.
 
"I knew I was going to New Paltz after I stayed overnight with one of the basketball girls," said Roessler. "My experience was amazing."
 
Upon making the decision to come to New Paltz, head women's volleyball coach Matt Giufre caught wind and contacted Roessler as well. Although she was primarily a basketball recruit, Roessler picked up volleyball her junior year of high school.
 
After seeing her play in a volleyball tournament in Peekskill, Giufre was impressed with her talent and immediately started the paperwork for the official visit process for his team.
 
Giufre recalls telling himself: "This girl is an amazing athlete and a pretty darn good player for being so new. I better not mess this up."
 
Roessler came to volleyball preseason in the fall of 2013 and instantly made a difference in hitting and blocking at the net. Standing 6 feet tall at the net, Roessler recorded 287 kills and128 blocks in her first season alone and has remained a dominant presence on the court.
 
However, through all her success in volleyball, Roessler felt empty.
 
At the midpoint of her freshman year, she received her midterm evaluations, and her grades were not where she, Giufre or Seward felt they should be. After agreeing that she is here for an education first, it was decided that Roessler would only participate in volleyball.
 
Upon entering her junior year and maintaining her grades, Roessler made a power move; she decided it was time to return to basketball.
 
"After playing intramural basketball in the girls' and co-rec leagues for two years, I realized how much I missed playing basketball competitively and playing a physical sport," said Roessler.
 
Seward and his staff welcomed Roessler with open arms. The two had remained in contact throughout her time at New Paltz, and he was delighted when she told him she wanted to join the team.
 
Although Giufre was hesitant at the idea at first, after several discussions with Roessler, he realized this would be a great opportunity for her, and knew she was mature enough to handle school and being a two-sport athlete.
 
Seward is very excited to finally add Roessler to his roster and foresees her as a key player on offense and defense due to her high basketball IQ.
 
"Her size, athleticism and versatility make her a great asset as a coach because you can utilize her in so many different ways, using so many different combinations of people," said Seward.
 
He also emphasizes the fact that because Roessler is a cultured student-athlete, she can bring her experience to his team.
 
As far as what Roessler thinks of the whole thing, she is just having fun and attempting to live out her childhood aspirations to be a college basketball coach or play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).