This weekend marked the final two
matches for five Cougar seniors: Chanda Goedken, Kristine Fisch, Sarah Kohler,
Kelsey Krcil and Sarah Jundt.
Did You Know?
1. USF's four-year players
have faced 73 different opponents during their collegiate careers.
2. Posted a perfect record
against Dakota Wesleyan (7-0), Mount Marty (6-0) and Waldorf College (5-0).
3. Swept Mount Marty in the
first round of the 2010 GPAC Tournament.
4. Notched back-to-back road
upsets of Winona State (2011, 2012).
5. Have traveled to several
states, including New York, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri
and Arkansas.
SENIOR MEMORIES: Chanda, Kelsey, Sarah, Sarah & Kristine each
took the time to reflect on their time with the USF volleyball program.
#6 Chanda Goedken (OH/5-11/SR/Farley, Iowa)
Q:
Talk about the last two years of your collegiate career; the transition from
the NAIA to the NCAA D-II.
A: It has been a true honor to play against the
top teams in the nation. In no other conference would we experience top
play night after night. Playing against such amazing teams automatically
makes us that much better. That competition combined with our discipline
that we learn in practice, has taken the USF volleyball team to a whole new
level within a short two years. This year we were able to have more home
games that allowed us to have more rest and focus a lot more both on our game
and on our homework as well. Last year was another story since we were on
the road one day and then on the road the next. However, the long bus
rides and multiple road trips only allowed us to get that much closer to the
rest of our teammates.
Q. One (or two) of your best memories from playing
volleyball at USF:
A: One of my favorite memories on the court was beating Winona
on their own floor both last year and this year. Making memories with
these amazing girls is another one of my highlights. My favorite night
was when we had our team retreat and went boating, played games, and just
simply enjoyed each other's company.
Q. What you'll take away from being a USF
student-athlete?
A: Being both an athlete and a
student is extremely difficult and it takes a lot of time, planning, and hard
work to do both. However, I wouldn't trade it for anything because I
gained so many new friendships and experienced the reward for playing in a
conference where competition is at its highest level.
Q. What will you miss the most?
A: I will miss the level of
competition the most and playing with a group of individuals who share the same
passion that I do. I will miss the team activities, inside jokes, tough
opponents, and the time spent dedicated to getting better.
#3 Kelsey
Krcil (DS/5-9/SR/Wagner, S.D.)
Q: Talk about the last two years of your collegiate career; the transition from
the NAIA to the NCAA D-II.
A: Junior year we took a lot of road trips, and
many were very far away. We all thought it was funny how we drove all the
way down to Louisiana, but flew to St. Louis, Missouri. We stayed
occupied on the bus trips watching movies and playing charades, which always
turned out to be an interesting game. Playing some of the greatest teams
in the country has been a great experience and only made us better and stronger
as a team. It is crazy to think that we played the five time reigning
champions, and that we are a part of such a great conference that has great and
fun volleyball.
Q. One (or two) of your best memories from
playing volleyball at USF:
A:
Some of the things that stick out in my mind are visiting wall drug and Mt.
Rushmore, Sarah Kohler's wonderful singing of the patriotic songs while we
visited Mt. Rushmore. It was also fun seeing the Gateway Arch and riding
all the way up to the top, even though Coach Andrea was really nervous of the
trip all the way up! I have had wonderful memories with my awesome teammates;
we always found a way to have fun even on the long bus trips that never seemed
to end. Our team retreat was also a great time, with many fun activities
that included many pranks such as, one of our teammates being kidnapped by the
other teammates, switching everyone's clothes into other people's bags, and
hiding some of the girls' swimming suits the night before we went to the beach.
Q. What you'll take away from being a USF
student-athlete?
A. Being a student athlete has taught me to be great at managing my time and
being responsible. Being a part of the USF volleyball program has also
taught me what it means to be completely committed to others, and be a better
leader.
Q. What will you miss the most?
A. I will definitely miss the sport, but most of
all I will meet the people on our team. I have made the best friendships
here and almost all of my best friends are on the USF volleyball team. I
know we will stay in touch, but it has been so great being a part of this team
with these girls. I will also miss the coaches, who have really advanced
our program already, in just two years. They have been great and
really pushed us each and everyday!
#7 Sarah Jundt (OH/5-11/SR/Rapid City, S.D.)
Q: Talk about the last two years of your
collegiate career; the transition from the NAIA to the NCAA D-II.
A: The team has
been on a unique journey for the last four years at the University of
Sioux Falls. Going from NAIA to D-II along with getting a new coach and having
many new changes, which were positive in the program. We have
experienced great memories and have traveled to many different states
getting to play great competition. I am grateful I was able to go to
New York sophomore year, and St. Louis last year and create memories with
my teammates. It as been an awesome experience going from NAIA to D-II and being
able to play the top nationally ranked teams this season. Our
conference has some great teams and I think some of the best in the
US. It was a great opportunity to play Concordia- St. Paul
and SMSU and I will always remember that we were able to compete with
the best teams in the nation including beating Winona last year and this year
in five.
Q. One (or two) of your best memories
from playing volleyball at USF:
A:
My best memories of volleyball at USF volleyball would have to
be the road trips and the off court relationships that were made.
Traveling 9,000 miles last year and during sophomore year going to
Kansas in a tiny van you really get goofy being on buses that long and you get
to know your teammates probably more than you want to-haha just kidding.
Another great memory is getting to play nationally ranked teams and beating
Winona this year but overall the road trips and the friendships that were
made throughout the last four years will continue to stay with me as I go into
a new phase of life after graduation.
Q.
What you'll take away from being a USF student-athlete?
A: I learned from being a
student-athlete the discipline and work ethic that is required to do well in
school while doing a sport. Being a nursing major and Spanish minor topped
with playing volleyball has allowed me to understand how much work is needed to
be successful. I hope to take away this discipline and work ethic into my
nursing career and throughout my life.
Q. What will you miss the most?
A:
I will miss my team the most. I met my three best friends through volleyball
and even though we have gone on this four-year journey together it will never
be the same now that we are all done playing the sport we love together. I will
also miss the strength and conditioning staff. Zach Mathers allowed me to
improve in my strength and speed the last two years and helped me build
character in his workouts this summer (hill nights and obstacle course).
#11 Sarah Kohler (MB/6-0/SR/Sioux Falls, S.D.)
Q: Talk about the last two years of your collegiate career;
the transition from the NAIA to the NCAA D-II.
A: While I think the past two years has been a tremendous experience, I also
think back to my first day as a Cougar, four years ago, and it is definitely safe
to say the personal and team growth that has been made in that short time is
extraordinary. I will NEVER forget the long bus trips that were endured, the
hours that were spent in the uncomfortable seats, but I will also never forget
the time that I spent with my team!
Q. One (or two) of your best memories from playing volleyball at USF (certain
match, road trips, etc., etc.)
A: Wall Drug and Mount Rushmore! I also enjoyed getting to know everyone during
our preseason retreat and our skits.
Q. What you'll take away from being a USF student-athlete?
A: Being a student-athlete I have learned time-management, and how to spread
out my time in the most efficient way. Hard-work and dedication are two
attributes I will take away as well; it is one thing to be a part of team in
high school, but the extra time and work spent in a collegiate sport shapes
your character. I think learning to be part of a team, and being part of such a
tight-knit team like ours has given my lifelong friendships that I will always
cherish.
Q. What will you miss the most?
A: I will tell you that I will NOT miss waking up at 6 a.m. to run with Coach Mathers,
but I will miss playing volleyball with my best friends.
#16 Kristine Fisch (MB/6-0/SR/Cheyenne, Wyo.)
Q: Talk about the last two years of your
collegiate career; the transition from the NAIA to the NCAA D-II.
A: When we were NAIA we knew a lot about our
conference and the teams in it and we knew exactly what to expect when we
played them. Last year and this year most of our schedule was full of teams
we had never seen before. It's been a blessing to be able to compete against
literally the best teams in the nation at the DII level. Over the past
four years the seniors have been all over the country together from New York to
St. Louis and we've been on the losing AND the winning end of some intense and
very close matches. It's been a dramatic transition, but it's been a lot of fun
and an amazing opportunity.
Q: One (or two) of your best memories from playing volleyball at USF (certain
match, road trips, etc., etc.)
A: My best memories include our road trips to St. Louis and going the Arch and
when the team went to Mt Rushmore together in Rapid City. Some matches I
will never forget are last year against Valley City State at home when we were
down 11-21 and out-scored them 14-0 to come back and win the match 25-21. That
was an awesome team effort and an amazing comeback. I'll also remember the
transitional tournament last year, when we beat William Jewel to claim 3rd
place in St. Louis. Beating Winona this year was very memorable for me not only
because we got a win from one a team sitting seven slots above us at No. 5 in
the conference, but also because I was given a yellow card from the up ref
while I was on the bench during that match. That was very memorable.
Q. What you'll take away from being a USF
student-athlete?
A: Being a USF student athlete I will take away
lifelong memories and friendships but mostly a life focus to work hard and be
relentless at everything I do.
Q. What will you miss the most?
A: Hands down I am going to miss my team more
than anything. This team has been my family and the center of my world for
last four years and although I know the other seniors and I have established
lifelong friendships, we'll never suit up and hit the court together again and
that's what I'm gonna miss. I'll miss battling on the court with these girls
every day. And of course I will miss 6 a.m. workouts, hill nights and tough
mudders with Zach Mathers (Not being sarcastic... Zach is hands down my
favorite coach I've had throughout my volleyball career...and he's not even a
volleyball coach).
