Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

People always say Saint Mary’s is the best four years of your life. For me, I honestly think it has been thus far. College has taught me to take advantage of opportunities given and not to be afraid to step outside of my comfort zone. Volleyball is a great example of why I am so glad to have learned those lessons.
    
I can remember my freshman year going with the hockey team to one of the volleyball matches. After watching, I knew I missed the sport badly. The hockey team at the time had made a deal with me that if Mackenzie Klimek talked to the track coach about doing pole vault in the spring that I would have to talk to the volleyball coaches about trying out in the fall. Little did I know later that day the track coach would come into the hockey locker room and talk to Kenz.  Right then, I knew I had no choice. I had 20 or so teammates who were pressuring me to e-mail the coaches. I knew they wouldn’t let up until I did. Later that night I sat in the basement of the library and had Mary DeBartolo send an email to Jenna Ness about me possibly wanting to play volleyball (I was too nervous to even watch her type it). Jenna responded right away saying I could meet with her and Coach Lester about coming to spring practice sometime that week. I went to the meeting, was nearly sick, but made it out in one piece. Next, was the first spring practice. I knew just two people, Jordan was one and she didn’t even talk to me in our Intro to Lit class, and Lex, who I only knew a little bit through friends and being together on the weekends. I hadn’t touched a volleyball since my high school season and these people had been playing all year. I thought I had been nervous about emailing Jenna, but this was definitely more intimidating. As spring season progressed I got to know the team and loved them more and more each day. I truly cannot imagine my time here at Saint Mary’s if I hadn’t made that deal with Mackenzie.
    
Looking back to middle school when I began playing volleyball, I vividly remember my dad telling me that if I wanted to play a sport in college he wanted me to play volleyball. I never really understood why he said that as we spent more time practicing and playing hockey and softball. For some reason, after all of these years it has still stuck in my head. That’s how I knew he would be so supportive of me joining the volleyball team without having told either of my parents until after my first day of spring season.  Either way both he and my mom would have been supportive, but knowing this really secured that.  Mom and dad, thank you for always supporting me in the choices I have made through my college career. Thank you for the good luck texts, good game messages, for watching online when you couldn’t attend, but more importantly thank you for coming to all of the games you had the chance to. I don’t think I can thank you two enough for always pushing me to be a better person and a better athlete (especially in the summer months when all I wanted to do was lay around). Thank you for all that you do and continue to do.
    
Stevie, Ellie, Ryleigh, and Cal: Well guys, here is a special thanks to you for putting up with my competitive ways when doing basically anything we would do together. Thank you for keeping track of what I’ve been doing while in season and occasionally coming to some of my games. I absolutely love it when you guys come even though I know mom or dad made you. El, a special thanks to you for setting a million balls in the summer for me (you’d think you would have hands of gold by now), and challenging me in everything we would do. Love you guys!!
    
Mackenzie, Mary, and McKenna: Thank you guys for basically forcing me to try-out for the volleyball team because without you guys there is no chance I would have.  I also want to thank you for always following up on the games, coming with signs, and just being some of my biggest supporters, you’ll never know how much it means to me. You guys really are the best.
    
Past and present hockey team: I also want to thank you guys for being big supporters of SMUVB. It is always so nice knowing that I have such a great support system and teammates. Ror and Linds especially, thanks for being awesome roommates and teammates. It means a lot knowing that I can look in the stands and see the roomies there no matter how much stuff you guys have going on. Coach and GMO, thank you for not kicking me off the hockey team when I came in to talk to you about playing volleyball. Thank you more though for keeping up with volleyball and encouraging and supporting me in it.
    
Dr. Mr. and Mrs. Sorvaag: I want to thank you for guiding me academically through my time here at Saint Mary’s, but even more than that thank you for getting to know your students outside of the classroom. The emails that were sent after games and seeing you two in the stands for both hockey and volleyball means so much. I just wanted to let you know it was greatly appreciated.
    
Donny, Toni, Jill, and the rest of the athletic office: It has been and still is a privilege to work up there with all of you.  Donny, thank you for all of the work you do for this volleyball program and for all of the athletic teams. Jill, even though I never spent much time in the training room, thank you for all that you do for the athletes on campus. I know our team is especially grateful for you! Toni, it is always such a fun surprise when I receive the special “GAMEDAY!” text or the “Good luck Macki, Macki” text. Also thank you for coming to so many of our games or watching them during important ceremonies. Thanks for everything!
    
Jenna Ness: A real special thanks to you for not sending me away and deleting the email I sent you my freshman year. Thank you for making my first few weeks of volleyball welcoming and less intimidating. Saint Mary’s misses you. I am very glad that we got to see you again not just once, but also potentially TWICE this season!
    
Coach: Even though I was no good at passing balls and that’s all we worked on in spring season, thanks for keeping me around. It has truly been a pleasure playing volleyball for you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play here at Saint Mary’s. I also very much appreciated your support when I was in hockey season, it was always nice to know you were keeping up with the team even though I wasn’t in volleyball season. Just a tip for your van driving skills, make sure to check your blind spots (especially for motorcycles) and keep it between the lines! Again, thank you for all the time you put in for this volleyball organization, and for all you have done for me over the years.
    
Jackie: I don’t think I have ever met an adult who has a bigger sweet tooth than you. I am very glad that you were chosen to be the assistant coach here at Saint Mary’s. You put in so much time for this team, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Your strong morals and values show me that I can stay true to myself. I want to thank you for all that you have taught me in these few years both about volleyball and about life.
    
Rhode: Thank you for all of the individual help over the years, especially for trying to teach me to block by roofing me and using it as an example. I enjoy just listening to you talk because nearly everything you say makes me either think or laugh. Thank you for all of your time put in with our team!
    
Previous Cardinals: Megan, Buns, and Lexi- thank you guys for making me feel welcome coming into volleyball. I wish I could have spent more time with all of you. Come visit more often, I miss you guys!
    
The team: It has been an honor playing with this group of talented, crazy, loving, sarcastic, goofy, hard-working, and fun group of people. Although I will miss playing volleyball, I will miss all of you so much more.
    
Fellow seniors: Al: I knew you were going to be one of my really good friends here the moment I met you at the summer camp. I am so glad you came to your senses and came to Saint Mary’s. Thanks for being my partner in basically everything, especially lifting when you would push me to be better. I am going to really miss being on the court with you. Em: You are so driven there is no way you will fail at anything you put your mind to. You have a knack for telling stories so don’t ever quit that, if the whole PA school thing doesn’t work out you could easily get a job in stand up comedy. I really am glad that I have gotten to know you over the years; you are a great friend and person! Jenna: Your love of volleyball is contagious and inspiring. The amount knowledge you have of the game is almost scary. I can’t wait to see where you go in life; you will change many athletes’ lives for the better. Thank you for not graduating and deciding to stay here another year! Jord: Oh man Jord. Remember when we were roommates? Those were the good ol’ days. Thanks for that by the way, for letting me come live with you even though you could have had a room to yourself. I am really glad we are “roomies” again this year, it has already been so much fun and I cant wait to see what the rest of the year has in store. You are really one of a kind and I love you for that! Kenz: I miss you Kenz. Sara and I recently decided you really aren’t as cool as you were at the start of the year, but its something you can work on. Thank you for being my education buddy, my first pepper partner, and for being one of my best friends here at school. I hope you get everything you want in the future because you deserve it. Lex: The only “volleyballer” I have known for all of freshman year to senior year. The amount of hard work you put into volleyball is motivating. Watching you play made me want to play and work just as hard. I think one of my favorite first memories of being with you is when McKenna introduced us at the bank; I think that is actually where our friendship began. There are so many other memories with you and all of them seem to be good memories. You are a true joy to be around and I will miss watching you fly around the court! Tay: TBT to freshman year when I met you and didn’t think you liked me. Now look at us, good friends and all! I know I can always count on you and any of your advice given for all of my questions. I am so glad we are neighbors this year so then we don’t have to walk all the way across campus to hang out. Can’t wait to see what this semester has left for us. I am expecting you to come back and visit as often as if you never graduated early.
    
The junior class of “M’s”: This next year will be here and gone before you know it. Grab a hold of it and enjoy. You three have been so fun to watch mature from when you first came to Saint Mary’s. It’s been a joy spending so much time together over the years. Molly, you were probably the only person who scared me on the team. Thank you for that little bit of adrenaline rush when you would come out of the game to hit the wall or floor and I never knew if my hands would still be connected to my arms after giving you a high five. Keep working as hard as you do. You’re awesome. Moe Moe T, I think you are my favorite person to have watched mature over these years. I have really enjoyed getting to know you because you are such a good person. I am very excited to see you kill it on the court next year! Good luck with everything! Maddie, You work so so so hard, and are such a sweet person. Keep working hard and enjoy it! Good luck next year, I can’t wait to see all of your success.
    
Sophomores: Cass, fellow right side buddy, this means you too. You all still seem like our little baby freshman still! Don’t grow up! I am really glad for the friendships we have made. Cass, thank you for pushing me and keeping a friendly competition between us. You’re going to do big things in the future; I can’t wait to hear about it! Sara, you might be one of the funniest people I know. Show off your 6-pack a little more and try to keep your roomie in line. Enjoy your time in volleyball, you only can play for a few more years! Britt, I didn’t even know you talked when you first came to school here. I was glad to find that you do every once in a while. Thanks for opening up this year and sharing your humor with me. I am really glad I got to play with you this year. Clare, I think you are one of the most genuine people I know. You work so hard, and it will pay off. I am really excited to see it happen! I will truly miss each one of you. I am very excited to keep up with you four and hear about all of the success you guys bring in the future.
    
All 45 of you freshmen: I am so glad that each of you decided to join our team this year, all of your different personalities added to this teams chemistry. Jordyn, keep working hard! You were a joy to get to know this year. Ciara, you are so sassy and it brought humor to our team. I can see how much you love the game; keep spreading that love to the team. Leah, you are very upbeat, hard working, and are about as quirky as your pinky finger. Good luck next year! Glo, my other right side buddy! You have a great personality and are a great addition to this team. Keep working as hard as you do, I am excited to watch you play in the future! B, thank you for sharing of your knowledge about cows with me this year. You are so funny and are so full of positive energy it is such a pleasure to be around. Keep being you B because you’re great! Bball Brandi, I can’t wait to see all that you do! You are a great athlete and it makes me very excited to watch you play basketball and possibly track. Keep doing what your doing. You’re a stud. Besides that you’re a pretty cool person too I guess. I hope all of you enjoy your next few years here at SMU. Try new things while you’re here, be spontaneous, don’t go home too often, stay out of trouble, and get the most out of your time here at Saint Mary’s because it will truly fly by.
    
Three years of playing for Saint Mary’s volleyball just hasn’t been enough. (Sorry coach, that doesn’t mean I’m coming back next year) I will forever cherish the time that I spent on the court with my teammates, and all of the time I spent here at Saint Mary’s. It has been some of the best experiences I have had. Thank you Saint Mary’s!