Seniors Share Unbreakable Bond
November 29, 2019 | Volleyball
Saturday evening prior to the showdown with Washington State, the Huskies will honor four seniors who have left a lasting legacy on the program. Kara Bajema, Shayne McPherson, Avie Niece, and Cailin Onosko have helped Washington to 98 wins over the last four seasons, with a Pac-12 title in 2016 and two more runner-up finishes. They helped the Huskies make the Elite Eight in 2016 and the Sweet 16 in 2018 and will have the Huskies in the NCAA tournament again starting next week.
The four talked to GoHuskies.com about their bond with each other and what they will take away from their four years on the court.
Avie Niece
GoHuskies: What first impressions of the other three seniors do you remember and how did that relationship grow?
Avie Niece: I played with Shayne for a year my senior year so I got to know her pretty well and we clicked and became friends. We always played against Kara so we knew of Kara and we'd watched her play, but there's always that nervous, awkward energy. Once, me, Kara and Shayne all got together at a club tournament and went over and watched Cailin's court. We were so nice to each other (laughs). It was a little bit weird because we knew we were going to be friends but we didn't know each other yet. Then we all came for LEAP freshman year and within three days we were all best friends and it was cool just rooming together that preseason in Haggett, there was no wi-fi and the beds were right next to each other, and it brought us closer. We've lived together ever since.
GH: What about the group dynamic do you think makes you guys mesh so well?
AN: We are very open with each other so we either talk about our problems or we just get over it pretty quick. I think that's been the key to staying friends so close throughout these years. We definitely bond over volleyball and the toughness of it. We come home and have our "table talks" about volleyball for like an hour. That definitely keeps us close. We bond over other things, we like to be creative and eat our dinners together and watch TV. We're really lucky that we get along so well. It's rare to have a whole entire class stay together all four years, live together all four years, so I'm just happy to be a part of that group. We're already planning our trips together when we graduate.
GH: How has the relationship with the coaching staff evolved over the years?
AN: I think freshman year I just came in with my eyes wide open and was just open to all feedback because I didn't know how much I didn't know about volleyball when I first got here. I think I was just trying to be a sponge my first two years. After I started to understand the game better I guess I started to form more opinions and just see the game in a different way. Only being in for three rotations I get to see it from an outside perspective sometime. So my relationship with the coaches has become more open my last two years, more of a two-way interaction than just one-way.
GH: How do you think you've changed most as a player?
AN: I definitely think just communication has been my biggest change. The little skills here and there have definitely improved, but just being a leader and communicating with the people around me has been the biggest difference since freshman year. Freshman year I was just trying to get out of the way and do my own job, and cheer when we got a point, but now it's more about bringing people together and trying to connect our team, and talk about every little detail of the game with all my teammates. I only have so much of an impact with my physical performance, so trying to help everyone emotionally and with their jobs and assignments is kind of the role I've taken on and I'm proud of that.
GH: Did you set out to create that role for yourself this year?
AB: It kind of just fell into place as you develop and grow. Sometimes as a middle you don't get to touch the ball that often, so for me I think the biggest way that I can affect my team and the game is communication. I always think how can I help the two people next to me really well? And beyond that I just try to communicate with everyone on the court.
GH: Is there any advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman or to other freshmen coming in?
AN: I think just don't forget to have fun, it's just a game. Because it's always a grind but there were times where I felt myself slipping back into routine rather than enjoying every moment.
GH: What's been your favorite match so far during your career?
AN: Winning the Pac-12 our freshmen year against UCLA was a really fun one. Sophomore year we beat Stanford at home, that was a big game. Junior year I think Creighton was pretty exciting, beating them at their place to go to the Sweet 16. And definitely beating Stanford at their home this year, and Wisconsin two times, those were all three really good matches. So far those are my favorites, but hope to have more favorites soon.
GH: Was there any turning point in your career that you look back on as crucial to getting where you are now?
AN: Springs are always long six week breakthroughs, because you're not playing for a result anymore it's just solely about personal improvement and your improvement as a team. So I think all three of my springs were pretty big times for learning.
GH: What is something that you're especially proud of from your academic life?
AN: My capstone project this past summer with UW Athletics and the sustainability group is something I'm pretty proud of. We started this student-athlete sustainability group. It hasn't really grown too much yet but I'm proud to be part of the beginning of that and just hoping to make a difference in athletics.
GH: What do you hope is next for you in the near future and then down the road?
AN: I think I'm going to go play beach volleyball for a fifth year somewhere and I'll go play overseas for a year, maybe in Puerto Rico or Europe and just try that out, and then I'll figure it out from there!
Shayne McPherson
GoHuskies: What first impressions of the other three seniors do you remember and how did that relationship grow?
Shayne McPherson: We always joke about it because me, Kara and Avie played club together, and we'd play at tournaments and we all knew we were committed here. It would be very awkward at tournaments when we'd each be like "Hi … Hi" and nothing else would come out. Those moments are so funny because our relationship has built so much throughout the years. We're all very different people but we bond perfectly together. We've been roommates since freshman year in the dorms, which is crazy to think about, but we just can't get enough of each other.
GH: With Cailin being the only out of state player, and playing the same position as you, how did you and her form your friendship?
SM: I was a little bit nervous because we were the two liberos coming in and I thought it would be super competitive, in your face, but it was totally the opposite. We both helped each other grow and learn new things, especially freshman year, because we had no other libero to look up to in the upper classes. It has been amazing to play the same position as her.
GH: How has the relationship with the coaching staff evolved over the years?
SM: They just have so much knowledge about the game. Especially Keegan teaches us things outside of the court, to be good humans and what to do in the working world. So I just think my trust has built from their knowledge of the game as well as off the court stuff. Coming in people would say college is going to be really hard, student-athlete life is really difficult, and they were right it is difficult. But we have so many resources here and I didn't realize how many people help support student-athletes and make their experiences the best possible. I'm just really blessed to say there are dozens or hundreds of different people helping me individually and the whole student-athlete population.
GH: How would you say you've grown the most as a player?
SM: I was definitely really quiet and I'd say that's changed a lot on the court. The upperclassmen were like, 'Hey, you're in the libero position, you kind of need to talk a little more' so I've grown in that aspect. Communicating more and loudly on the court.
GH: Is there any advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman or to other freshmen coming in?
SM: To celebrate the little things is really important. Just being a student-athlete there are a lot of challenges: being busy, not being able to spend time with family and friends. So just celebrating the little things on and off the court is huge.
GH: What's been your favorite match so far during your career?
SM: I would say beating Stanford this year was super fun, just because it was early in our season where we were working on a ton of specific things and it all just flowed and that felt really good. We all played together and it was great.
GH: Is there any period you look back on as a major turning point for you?
SM: I would just say the people that I play with are so supportive and help me every which way. Especially being a freshman and that junior class, all of them helping me grow as a player and a person. Every game, every practice, they were always supportive and pushed me to be my best.
GH: What about your development as a player are you proudest of?
SM: I love helping others and I think that's kind of my calling in life. I would say my role is more of a supportive teammate, and I love having that role because I get to build on my relationships with teammates and support them in different ways that maybe other people can't, so I'm pretty proud of that.
GH: What is something that you're especially proud of from your academic life?
SM: I think I've been on the Dean's List four or five times. I'm pretty proud of that. I also took an event planning class last spring, and that was a really cool experience because I think I want to go into that field so it was great to get hands-on experience.
GH: What do you hope is next for you in the near future and then down the road?
SM: I am interested in event planning and operations, but I'd love to stay in the athletic world especially at the collegiate level. Helping athletes get the best experience possible is super important to me.
Kara Bajema
GoHuskies: What first impressions of the other three seniors do you remember and how did that relationship grow?
Kara Bajema: I played at Puget Sound so that was my first time meeting Shayne, and we were both like "hi, hi" and we didn't play on the same team but we both knew of each other. She was just so sweet. Avie my first encounter was at a club tournament and I just remember her in her flannel, and we were all just really awkward. With Cailin it was at a club tournament and I was like 'oh my goodness she's going to UW.' We were on different courts next to each other and afterwards we said hello and it was super cute but awkward. I remember our official visit, too, the upperclassmen saying we wouldn't talk. We were so shy, they were thinking 'this is going to be such a weird class.' But we got so close and flourished from there. After freshmen year we were like, 'Do we want to live together? Uh, duh!' Four years straight we lived together and we love each other. Each of us have had different experiences and none of us would have been able to get through it without the others. If we don't have our hour-long talks after each day of practice I think we'd all go crazy. There's no way you can go through college athletics without someone to talk to, and we all had three people.
GH: How has the relationship with the coaching staff evolved over the years?
KB: Freshman year you come in with an open mind where everything is new and everything is fresh and the coaches know everything. I was in communication with Tui a lot because I was middle freshman year. I was always in her office. Come sophomore year the relationships were a little strained because it was a difficult year for me in general but it allowed me to grow and it showed me the importance of communication with Keegan especially. The last two years, Jason came on the staff, and he's a pin hitter coach so we formed a really good relationship. Keegan and my relationship continued to grow from sophomore year in terms of how we wanted to go about helping lead this team. Every single year it's different and it's pretty unique and it will definitely help me in the long run.
GH: Is there any advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman or to other freshmen coming in?
KB: I just think as a senior you've been in so many different situations. As a freshman, don't be afraid to ask your upper peers about these situations. They've seen it all and probably know what they're talking about, so talking or just watching the things that they do when you're a freshman. Not to say that I didn't do that, but being a senior now I feel like that's such an important thing for freshmen to just keep paying attention to your upperclassmen and not be afraid to ask questions.
GH: What's been your favorite match so far during your career?
KB: This year has been pretty special because I think something our team has unique to this year is how everybody is so invested whether you're on the bench or on the court. Everybody just cares so deeply and that makes the games fun. Utah was the most fun because every set was so different and it came down to the fifth set and we never gave up. You go back and watch film and watch the bench and you see how invested they are, and on the court everyone cares so much for each other's successes and it's super cool. Playing at Wisconsin and getting that big win in front of 7,000 people was also a highlight. Playing high-level volleyball in that environment was pretty sick.
GH: Was there any turning point in your career that you look back on as crucial to getting where you are now?
KB: Every year has been so different. I could take the experiences of each year and say I've grown from that. The experiences, good or bad, are going to shape you in the long run. Looking back at certain moments, I can say they helped me for now, or this will help me for this situation in the future. I've definitely grown as a volleyball player, I've grown in my communication and leadership skills, my friendships have grown, how to talk with staff. You just learn a lot in college athletics.
GH: What about your development as a player are you proudest of?
KB: Freshman year being a middle and not really knowing what I was doing but just taking it head on and thinking if I mess up or look like a lunatic I don't really care. And being able to get on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team at a position I'd never played was pretty cool for me. Then after having such a frustrating sophomore year coming back stronger junior year and being an All-American was pretty cool.
GH: What is something that you're especially proud of from your academic life?
KB: I came into college not really knowing what I wanted to do, so I'm proud of finding a path that I was passionate about. I'm passionate about kids and I'm in an education major and I was able to get an internship this past year.
GH: What do you hope is next for you in the near future and then down the road?
KB: In the immediate future I want to just live as presently as possible in these last two quarters left and I just want to keep focusing on the friendships and relationships I've built. In the near future I am deciding whether or not to get my Master's in sports management, or a business admin sort of track and that will influence playing a fifth year of beach volleyball or going to play overseas. We'll see how long I play overseas. In the future I would love to work in athletics, whether it's the marketing admin side or coaching, I think I have a big passion for being a coach collegiately. And then I just want a little family!
Cailin Onosko
GoHuskies: What first impressions of the other three seniors do you remember and how did that relationship grow?
Cailin Onosko: Coming in we started LEAP, freshman summer school, and didn't really know each other. Kara and I were at a club tournament in Florida and we took the same flight back to U-Dub and we hadn't really spent much time together at all. But we immediately roomed together and started spending every single day together. Our relationship grew so fast and we've lived together ever since. It's crazy to go from four years ago not even knowing them to now them being in my life for the rest of my life.
GH: How has the relationship with the coaching staff evolved over the years?
CO: The relationship grew each year. Coming in as a freshman, everything is so new and you just learn so much. You believe and trust everything they're saying and try to implement everything, but as the years go on and you gain more experience you actually see what they are saying and how true it is and how knowledgeable they are. Now in my senior year everything they've been telling me since my freshman year, I just witness it so much more and see all their knowledge an how much they can predict the game. Then all the travel trips and all the time you spend off the court, the trust and the communication just gets better.
GH: Is there any advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman or to other freshmen coming in?
CO: For me I would say just to live in the moment. You can never predict the future. You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. We're given this amazing opportunity and just to enjoy every moment, the good days and bad days. It goes by so fast and you never know what's going to happen so just enjoy it all.
GH: What's been your favorite match so far during your career?
CO: Either this last Utah match that we played, because every point was an intense point, and the way the team fought back and everybody stepped up was just the coolest thing. How involved every person was in every moment was an amazing experience to be part of.
GH: In what ways do you feel you've grown most as a person?
CO: The person I was when I came into this and the person I am now is so different. How much I have learned to value relationships, and how much people help you grow and help push you and support you. Overall, in every aspect of my life I've grown because of the people I've been surrounded with. That's the coaching staff, the whole athletic department, and then all of my teammates have just pushed me and supported me in ways I never could have imagined.
GH: Was there any turning point in your career that you look back on as crucial to getting where you are now?
CO: One of the big turning points for me was junior year our first preseason match against San Diego at home. It was the first time I really played. I had had a difficult sophomore year personally and it really showed me that I could be a part of this team and I could play on the court. It made me realize how happy I was to be where I was.
GH: What about your development as a player are you proudest of?
CO: I would say what I was most proud of is being able to impact my teammates. Knowing that I was always there for them and helped them in ways besides volleyball, especially hearing things that the freshmen class says now about being on the bench and still being able to support the team and enjoy the moment even though you're not on the court.
GH: What is something that you're especially proud of from your academic life?
CO: Through all the challenges I've faced personally and athletically, being able to still challenge myself in the classroom with pushing myself to take harder classes and still succeed.
GH: What do you hope is next for you in the near future and then down the road?
CO: The immediate future, all I can think about is when we win the National Championship, just spending time with family. Really having time with them because it's been a crazy four years of busyness. Then five years from now I hope to be working in a field I'm passionate, being able to inspire people to push themselves, hopefully athletically. I want to work in some combination of business and athletics, and hopefully coaching on the side.
The four talked to GoHuskies.com about their bond with each other and what they will take away from their four years on the court.
Avie Niece
GoHuskies: What first impressions of the other three seniors do you remember and how did that relationship grow?
Avie Niece: I played with Shayne for a year my senior year so I got to know her pretty well and we clicked and became friends. We always played against Kara so we knew of Kara and we'd watched her play, but there's always that nervous, awkward energy. Once, me, Kara and Shayne all got together at a club tournament and went over and watched Cailin's court. We were so nice to each other (laughs). It was a little bit weird because we knew we were going to be friends but we didn't know each other yet. Then we all came for LEAP freshman year and within three days we were all best friends and it was cool just rooming together that preseason in Haggett, there was no wi-fi and the beds were right next to each other, and it brought us closer. We've lived together ever since.
GH: What about the group dynamic do you think makes you guys mesh so well?
AN: We are very open with each other so we either talk about our problems or we just get over it pretty quick. I think that's been the key to staying friends so close throughout these years. We definitely bond over volleyball and the toughness of it. We come home and have our "table talks" about volleyball for like an hour. That definitely keeps us close. We bond over other things, we like to be creative and eat our dinners together and watch TV. We're really lucky that we get along so well. It's rare to have a whole entire class stay together all four years, live together all four years, so I'm just happy to be a part of that group. We're already planning our trips together when we graduate.
GH: How has the relationship with the coaching staff evolved over the years?
AN: I think freshman year I just came in with my eyes wide open and was just open to all feedback because I didn't know how much I didn't know about volleyball when I first got here. I think I was just trying to be a sponge my first two years. After I started to understand the game better I guess I started to form more opinions and just see the game in a different way. Only being in for three rotations I get to see it from an outside perspective sometime. So my relationship with the coaches has become more open my last two years, more of a two-way interaction than just one-way.
GH: How do you think you've changed most as a player?
AN: I definitely think just communication has been my biggest change. The little skills here and there have definitely improved, but just being a leader and communicating with the people around me has been the biggest difference since freshman year. Freshman year I was just trying to get out of the way and do my own job, and cheer when we got a point, but now it's more about bringing people together and trying to connect our team, and talk about every little detail of the game with all my teammates. I only have so much of an impact with my physical performance, so trying to help everyone emotionally and with their jobs and assignments is kind of the role I've taken on and I'm proud of that.
GH: Did you set out to create that role for yourself this year?
AB: It kind of just fell into place as you develop and grow. Sometimes as a middle you don't get to touch the ball that often, so for me I think the biggest way that I can affect my team and the game is communication. I always think how can I help the two people next to me really well? And beyond that I just try to communicate with everyone on the court.
GH: Is there any advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman or to other freshmen coming in?
AN: I think just don't forget to have fun, it's just a game. Because it's always a grind but there were times where I felt myself slipping back into routine rather than enjoying every moment.
GH: What's been your favorite match so far during your career?
AN: Winning the Pac-12 our freshmen year against UCLA was a really fun one. Sophomore year we beat Stanford at home, that was a big game. Junior year I think Creighton was pretty exciting, beating them at their place to go to the Sweet 16. And definitely beating Stanford at their home this year, and Wisconsin two times, those were all three really good matches. So far those are my favorites, but hope to have more favorites soon.
GH: Was there any turning point in your career that you look back on as crucial to getting where you are now?
AN: Springs are always long six week breakthroughs, because you're not playing for a result anymore it's just solely about personal improvement and your improvement as a team. So I think all three of my springs were pretty big times for learning.
GH: What is something that you're especially proud of from your academic life?
AN: My capstone project this past summer with UW Athletics and the sustainability group is something I'm pretty proud of. We started this student-athlete sustainability group. It hasn't really grown too much yet but I'm proud to be part of the beginning of that and just hoping to make a difference in athletics.
GH: What do you hope is next for you in the near future and then down the road?
AN: I think I'm going to go play beach volleyball for a fifth year somewhere and I'll go play overseas for a year, maybe in Puerto Rico or Europe and just try that out, and then I'll figure it out from there!
Shayne McPherson
GoHuskies: What first impressions of the other three seniors do you remember and how did that relationship grow?
Shayne McPherson: We always joke about it because me, Kara and Avie played club together, and we'd play at tournaments and we all knew we were committed here. It would be very awkward at tournaments when we'd each be like "Hi … Hi" and nothing else would come out. Those moments are so funny because our relationship has built so much throughout the years. We're all very different people but we bond perfectly together. We've been roommates since freshman year in the dorms, which is crazy to think about, but we just can't get enough of each other.
GH: With Cailin being the only out of state player, and playing the same position as you, how did you and her form your friendship?
SM: I was a little bit nervous because we were the two liberos coming in and I thought it would be super competitive, in your face, but it was totally the opposite. We both helped each other grow and learn new things, especially freshman year, because we had no other libero to look up to in the upper classes. It has been amazing to play the same position as her.
GH: How has the relationship with the coaching staff evolved over the years?
SM: They just have so much knowledge about the game. Especially Keegan teaches us things outside of the court, to be good humans and what to do in the working world. So I just think my trust has built from their knowledge of the game as well as off the court stuff. Coming in people would say college is going to be really hard, student-athlete life is really difficult, and they were right it is difficult. But we have so many resources here and I didn't realize how many people help support student-athletes and make their experiences the best possible. I'm just really blessed to say there are dozens or hundreds of different people helping me individually and the whole student-athlete population.
GH: How would you say you've grown the most as a player?
SM: I was definitely really quiet and I'd say that's changed a lot on the court. The upperclassmen were like, 'Hey, you're in the libero position, you kind of need to talk a little more' so I've grown in that aspect. Communicating more and loudly on the court.
GH: Is there any advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman or to other freshmen coming in?
SM: To celebrate the little things is really important. Just being a student-athlete there are a lot of challenges: being busy, not being able to spend time with family and friends. So just celebrating the little things on and off the court is huge.
GH: What's been your favorite match so far during your career?
SM: I would say beating Stanford this year was super fun, just because it was early in our season where we were working on a ton of specific things and it all just flowed and that felt really good. We all played together and it was great.
GH: Is there any period you look back on as a major turning point for you?
SM: I would just say the people that I play with are so supportive and help me every which way. Especially being a freshman and that junior class, all of them helping me grow as a player and a person. Every game, every practice, they were always supportive and pushed me to be my best.
GH: What about your development as a player are you proudest of?
SM: I love helping others and I think that's kind of my calling in life. I would say my role is more of a supportive teammate, and I love having that role because I get to build on my relationships with teammates and support them in different ways that maybe other people can't, so I'm pretty proud of that.
GH: What is something that you're especially proud of from your academic life?
SM: I think I've been on the Dean's List four or five times. I'm pretty proud of that. I also took an event planning class last spring, and that was a really cool experience because I think I want to go into that field so it was great to get hands-on experience.
GH: What do you hope is next for you in the near future and then down the road?
SM: I am interested in event planning and operations, but I'd love to stay in the athletic world especially at the collegiate level. Helping athletes get the best experience possible is super important to me.
Kara Bajema
GoHuskies: What first impressions of the other three seniors do you remember and how did that relationship grow?
Kara Bajema: I played at Puget Sound so that was my first time meeting Shayne, and we were both like "hi, hi" and we didn't play on the same team but we both knew of each other. She was just so sweet. Avie my first encounter was at a club tournament and I just remember her in her flannel, and we were all just really awkward. With Cailin it was at a club tournament and I was like 'oh my goodness she's going to UW.' We were on different courts next to each other and afterwards we said hello and it was super cute but awkward. I remember our official visit, too, the upperclassmen saying we wouldn't talk. We were so shy, they were thinking 'this is going to be such a weird class.' But we got so close and flourished from there. After freshmen year we were like, 'Do we want to live together? Uh, duh!' Four years straight we lived together and we love each other. Each of us have had different experiences and none of us would have been able to get through it without the others. If we don't have our hour-long talks after each day of practice I think we'd all go crazy. There's no way you can go through college athletics without someone to talk to, and we all had three people.
GH: How has the relationship with the coaching staff evolved over the years?
KB: Freshman year you come in with an open mind where everything is new and everything is fresh and the coaches know everything. I was in communication with Tui a lot because I was middle freshman year. I was always in her office. Come sophomore year the relationships were a little strained because it was a difficult year for me in general but it allowed me to grow and it showed me the importance of communication with Keegan especially. The last two years, Jason came on the staff, and he's a pin hitter coach so we formed a really good relationship. Keegan and my relationship continued to grow from sophomore year in terms of how we wanted to go about helping lead this team. Every single year it's different and it's pretty unique and it will definitely help me in the long run.
GH: Is there any advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman or to other freshmen coming in?
KB: I just think as a senior you've been in so many different situations. As a freshman, don't be afraid to ask your upper peers about these situations. They've seen it all and probably know what they're talking about, so talking or just watching the things that they do when you're a freshman. Not to say that I didn't do that, but being a senior now I feel like that's such an important thing for freshmen to just keep paying attention to your upperclassmen and not be afraid to ask questions.
GH: What's been your favorite match so far during your career?
KB: This year has been pretty special because I think something our team has unique to this year is how everybody is so invested whether you're on the bench or on the court. Everybody just cares so deeply and that makes the games fun. Utah was the most fun because every set was so different and it came down to the fifth set and we never gave up. You go back and watch film and watch the bench and you see how invested they are, and on the court everyone cares so much for each other's successes and it's super cool. Playing at Wisconsin and getting that big win in front of 7,000 people was also a highlight. Playing high-level volleyball in that environment was pretty sick.
GH: Was there any turning point in your career that you look back on as crucial to getting where you are now?
KB: Every year has been so different. I could take the experiences of each year and say I've grown from that. The experiences, good or bad, are going to shape you in the long run. Looking back at certain moments, I can say they helped me for now, or this will help me for this situation in the future. I've definitely grown as a volleyball player, I've grown in my communication and leadership skills, my friendships have grown, how to talk with staff. You just learn a lot in college athletics.
GH: What about your development as a player are you proudest of?
KB: Freshman year being a middle and not really knowing what I was doing but just taking it head on and thinking if I mess up or look like a lunatic I don't really care. And being able to get on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team at a position I'd never played was pretty cool for me. Then after having such a frustrating sophomore year coming back stronger junior year and being an All-American was pretty cool.
GH: What is something that you're especially proud of from your academic life?
KB: I came into college not really knowing what I wanted to do, so I'm proud of finding a path that I was passionate about. I'm passionate about kids and I'm in an education major and I was able to get an internship this past year.
GH: What do you hope is next for you in the near future and then down the road?
KB: In the immediate future I want to just live as presently as possible in these last two quarters left and I just want to keep focusing on the friendships and relationships I've built. In the near future I am deciding whether or not to get my Master's in sports management, or a business admin sort of track and that will influence playing a fifth year of beach volleyball or going to play overseas. We'll see how long I play overseas. In the future I would love to work in athletics, whether it's the marketing admin side or coaching, I think I have a big passion for being a coach collegiately. And then I just want a little family!
Cailin Onosko
GoHuskies: What first impressions of the other three seniors do you remember and how did that relationship grow?
Cailin Onosko: Coming in we started LEAP, freshman summer school, and didn't really know each other. Kara and I were at a club tournament in Florida and we took the same flight back to U-Dub and we hadn't really spent much time together at all. But we immediately roomed together and started spending every single day together. Our relationship grew so fast and we've lived together ever since. It's crazy to go from four years ago not even knowing them to now them being in my life for the rest of my life.
GH: How has the relationship with the coaching staff evolved over the years?
CO: The relationship grew each year. Coming in as a freshman, everything is so new and you just learn so much. You believe and trust everything they're saying and try to implement everything, but as the years go on and you gain more experience you actually see what they are saying and how true it is and how knowledgeable they are. Now in my senior year everything they've been telling me since my freshman year, I just witness it so much more and see all their knowledge an how much they can predict the game. Then all the travel trips and all the time you spend off the court, the trust and the communication just gets better.
GH: Is there any advice you'd give to yourself as a freshman or to other freshmen coming in?
CO: For me I would say just to live in the moment. You can never predict the future. You don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. We're given this amazing opportunity and just to enjoy every moment, the good days and bad days. It goes by so fast and you never know what's going to happen so just enjoy it all.
GH: What's been your favorite match so far during your career?
CO: Either this last Utah match that we played, because every point was an intense point, and the way the team fought back and everybody stepped up was just the coolest thing. How involved every person was in every moment was an amazing experience to be part of.
GH: In what ways do you feel you've grown most as a person?
CO: The person I was when I came into this and the person I am now is so different. How much I have learned to value relationships, and how much people help you grow and help push you and support you. Overall, in every aspect of my life I've grown because of the people I've been surrounded with. That's the coaching staff, the whole athletic department, and then all of my teammates have just pushed me and supported me in ways I never could have imagined.
GH: Was there any turning point in your career that you look back on as crucial to getting where you are now?
CO: One of the big turning points for me was junior year our first preseason match against San Diego at home. It was the first time I really played. I had had a difficult sophomore year personally and it really showed me that I could be a part of this team and I could play on the court. It made me realize how happy I was to be where I was.
GH: What about your development as a player are you proudest of?
CO: I would say what I was most proud of is being able to impact my teammates. Knowing that I was always there for them and helped them in ways besides volleyball, especially hearing things that the freshmen class says now about being on the bench and still being able to support the team and enjoy the moment even though you're not on the court.
GH: What is something that you're especially proud of from your academic life?
CO: Through all the challenges I've faced personally and athletically, being able to still challenge myself in the classroom with pushing myself to take harder classes and still succeed.
GH: What do you hope is next for you in the near future and then down the road?
CO: The immediate future, all I can think about is when we win the National Championship, just spending time with family. Really having time with them because it's been a crazy four years of busyness. Then five years from now I hope to be working in a field I'm passionate, being able to inspire people to push themselves, hopefully athletically. I want to work in some combination of business and athletics, and hopefully coaching on the side.
Players Mentioned
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