Sean Kross
How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
SCPS junior Jorge Torruella's schedule re-defines the term "full-day."
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"I wake up at 4:30 and study for three hours," he said. "Volleyball takes up five to six hours, without including road trips. There's also class and my internship on Tuesday mornings and Fridays. As soon as I get home, I go to sleep."
Torruella has no problem keeping himself busy as a libero on the NYU men's volleyball team. He also interns in the marketing department of the New York Mets, and enjoys snowboarding in his free time.
"It's my favorite sport, even over volleyball," he said.
Torruella has always had packed days. He played basketball and volleyball during high school in Puerto Rico, then decided to continue with volleyball through college.
"My junior year, I started writing to coaches on the East Coast," he said. "One summer, I attended a volleyball camp at Penn State, where an NYU assistant coach set up a recruiting trip."
A week later, he got an e-mail from Violets head coach Jose Pina. Soon after, he decided to attend NYU.
"I love the fast pace of the city and want to stay here for the rest of my life," Torruella said.
It was also the beginning of a special connection with his coach.
"He's like my father here," he said. "We both come from Spanish-speaking countries, which gives us a special bond."
Pina agreed.
"It gives us both a good outlet," he said. "We understand each other in a way [the other players] don't."
Torruella also has a strong relationship with his teammates.
"Your teammates are your family while you're here," he said. "We do everything together. My college experience would have been incomplete without them."
He has not played in any matches for the Violets this season after making 16 appearances in his first two seasons. But Pina believes he still plays an integral role on the team.
"He has to do a good amount of work on the court, but he's improving," he said. "He's a great person off the court. He comes from a great family. He's very open. He's a pleasure to have around."
As a team, the Violets have struggled this year. They came into the season ranked fifth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III poll, but they have started the year 2-8.
Despite their struggles, Torruella believes the Violets can turn things around.
"We've been working hard on game techniques in practice," he said. "We have to get the losing mentality out of our heads."
Torruella is keeping an eye on his future as well. He enjoys his internship with the Mets, working in the research and community outreach departments.
He wants to get an internship over the summer related to his sports law concentration. His ultimate goal is to attend law school. Considering all he's able to manage already, it wouldn't be surprising to see him get there.
