Volleyball Senior Blogs - University of Colorado Athletics

Senior Volleyball Blogs

Feb. 22, 2011:

It seems like it was yesterday that I was on my unofficial visit to CU as a junior in high school. Walking around the beautiful campus and getting to know my future teammates, I knew that this was the perfect place for me to thrive academically and athletically. I committed to play volleyball at CU soon after that visit, and I have never once regretted that choice. I love Colorado for everything it has to offer, from skiing, hiking and mountain biking, to the most beautiful sunsets I have every seen (as well as school and volleyball of coursenüè). I have had my fair share of ups and downs, but looking back at the last four years, I know that I have succeeded and reached more goals that I ever thought possible.

I have a few words of advice for my current teammates as well as all future CU volleyball players. Trust in yourself, your abilities, and your teammates. Take pride in your actions on and off the court and work hard to earn the respect and trust of everyone in your life. At the end of your career, there is no doubt that you will remember the amazing wins and the terrible losses. But even more than that, you will remember the bonds you create with your teammates. Together we struggle, cry, celebrate and truly work harder than we ever have in our lives. The thing I will miss most is the feeling of a deep bond within a team. When I was having a bad day at practice, I liked to look around me knowing that and my teammates and I are striving for the same goals. What you can accomplish together is greater than anything you can every do alone. Don't ever forget the most important thing: HAVE FUN!!

Right now, I am on track to graduate in May with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Although I love Colorado, my fianc+¬ and I are going to move back to our hometown of Flagstaff, Ariz. after graduation. I would like to get a job in the biomedical engineering field.

I am so lucky to have been given the opportunity to come play volleyball at CU. I have made friendships I know will last a lifetime, I have gained invaluable perspective on what success truly means, and I will always be a buff!

Thank you for everyone's support!

Rosie Steinhaus #11

Feb. 18, 2011:

At the banquet Rosie and I were able to say a short speech. This speech for me was special because I haven't had the opportunity to share the story about my unique experience here at CU with many people. It is important for me to tell people my story because it was so unique and because it was a hard one and I wanted people to know what I actually did to get to where I am today.

In March of my senior year in high school I tore my ACL, MCL and meniscus. The coaches at CU held onto me and encouraged me to get healthy so I could come back and play. Thanksgiving of that same year I was about seven months out and supposed to be getting back onto the court but my knee just didn't feel right, it kept giving out on me. I knew something was wrong so I got an MRI and found out that my MCL was not attached (so the first surgery on it did not work). I had to get a reconstructive surgery on my MCL that Thanksgiving and was determined that now everything would be OK and I would be able to compete again.

Well, we had a coaching staff change and the way practices were ran changed immensely. My knee was not strong enough and I could not keep up with practices and was in pain literally 24/7. It was miserable. Coach and I had a talk at the end of spring training my sophomore year. I knew I couldn't contribute to the team like I wanted to on the court so we found a way that I could contribute off the court.

My junior year I did scouting video break down, equipment set up and break down, and about any problem that was thrown to me I tried to handle and fix. That year was extremely hard, going from a DI athlete to essentially a manager position wasn't really a boost to my ego. I learned however from my junior year to my senior year that what I was doing was actually helpful to the team. The girls might not have understood, or liked when I was constantly bugging them to get their laundry in on time, but we worked together and I helped be a mediator between the coaches and the girls. If there were problems, I would ask coach if there was a way to get them more study time, etc. and things were solved.

My experience here at CU as an athlete is not the normal experience a CU athlete would have had but when I look back I wouldn't have changed it. Being in my position I got to learn so much. On the sidelines, I got to learn more about coaching, I got to do more than I would of if I was playing, like actually coach a club team, coach more at volleyball camps, and I learned how to handle hard situations in a positive way. Being in the background I also got to see just how much was needed to run this program and I gained a huge respect for the athletic administration and the Coors staff for everything they do for our team.

My whole "plan" that I had set out for myself, which was my dream to play DI volleyball and be a veterinarian, did not work out for me but I have a new dream now which is to be a kick butt attorney. So, my next "plan" if you will, is to go to law school so hopefully this one is in the cards for me! The lessons I have learned here at CU as an athlete, as a student, and as a person, have attributed to molding me to who I am and how I take on certain situations and I know they will help me pursue my next goals in life.

Go Buffs!

Kristin 'Marty' Martell