By: Media Services Intern Jorgan Staker
For Nevada volleyball seniors, the time spent here in Reno has been a lot of different things. There have been good times, bad times and everything in between. More often than not though, good experiences have defined the careers of these four young women.
This became apparent to me as I entered the locker room on a cold but sunny Friday afternoon. The girls, still clad in spandex and workout apparel, crowded around in the locker room that has become like a second home. Laughing and chatting with each other excitedly, the girls had no shortage of memories and stories, often finishing each other's sentences. They interrupted and teased each other, always in good fun, making it extremely apparent that these girls are like family to each other.
"We are around each other all the time-24/7," said Jessica Daum, an outside hitter from Fallon, Nevada. "We are like one big family, dysfunctional at times but very in tune with each other. We know when someone is upset or happy, what they like or don't like. It's something really special that you just can't quite explain unless you've been a part of it."
All of the girls agree that the bond they've made as a team has been the number one driving influence throughout their years of competition. Lindsay Baldwin, a middle hitter for the team says that the relationships she has made throughout the years has given her lifelong friendships that she will cherish.
"If for nothing else, playing college volleyball is worth it because I got to meet so many friends," she said. "I got close to everyone on my team, even though we came from totally different backgrounds."
While she never thought it would happen, Baldwin has developed relationships that are so close to her teammates that she even lives with two of them, Daum and junior right side Erin Garvey. While the three are different in just about every way possible, meeting each other while at Nevada had helped them to recognize commonalities and further appreciate the differences.
The other two seniors, Nicole Link and Kylie Harrington, also live together, inseparable since they came into the Nevada volleyball program as freshman. Both agree that four years is just the right amount of time to play a collegiate sport and are looking forward to having some free time after the volleyball season ends.
"This has been a really good experience," said Link, libero and team captain this year. "It's going to be weird after volleyball is over. It took up so much of our time so it will be nice to focus on other things and have a chance to rest our bodies."
When asked what they were going to do with their new-found free time, the two looked at each other and laughed.
"We are planning gardening after season is over," said Harrington with a smile. "We are have a spot picked out in our backyard and everything."
Link nodded in solemn approval. "We are going to plant pumpkins."
In addition, all four are looking forward to traveling and taking quick weekend trips back to their hometowns to see families and watch siblings compete in other sports.
"I am excited to watch my brother play basketball and support him in all his games," said Daum.
While the excitement for the future is definitely in forefront of the minds of these athletes, the past memories of playing are still not far off.
"My favorite memory was winning our two preseason tournaments this year," said Harrington. "It was a really big deal because we hadn't won that many tournaments in any of our careers and it was just so exciting."
She also says one of her fondest memories is being able to go back to Hawai'i and playing in front of her family, friends and neighbors.
"It was so fun to go play in Hawaii's arena because I grew up watching volleyball there," she said. "The stadium is always packed-people just love, appreciate and support good volleyball there."
Link's favorite volleyball memory also dealt with appreciative fans, but those from another country. She says that she like going to Argentina and experiencing another culture, but especially loved playing in the atmosphere that the Argentineans' provided.
"Their fans just loved volleyball," she said. "They would come to watch us play in these small, crowded gyms, with music blaring, barbequing food and being excited to see the teams compete. The places would be packed because everyone just loves the sport. Then afterwards, they would want us to take pictures, sign autographs and give them our hair ties or kneepads. It was just unreal and something I never would have dreamed of experiencing."
While Baldwin agrees that Argentina was a unique experience, she remembers when the team beat ranked Pepperdine her freshman year.
"It was one of the toughest teams that we have ever played and was one of the few times that every single person on our team has put their whole heart out there," she said. "It paid off and we shockingly came up with the win. It was just an amazing feeling."
These moments have been more than just about playing volleyball. The feelings of teamwork, camaraderie, hard work and learning have helped these memories be more than just wins or trips. Each of these moments and many more have helped these girls to learn and prepare for the future.
"I have learned so much about myself because of volleyball," said Daum. "I now know that I can do anything and handle any challenge that life throws at me."
