Boston College Athletics
Volleyball to Host Last Two Home Matches
November 15, 2013 | Volleyball
Nov. 15, 2013
Chestnut Hill, Mass- The Boston College volleyball team will host its final two home matches this weekend against Maryland and Pittsburgh.
The Eagles will take on Maryland on Friday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. and Pittsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 17, at noon.
Sunday's contest will mark a special day for four members of the Boston College volleyball team. For Melissa McTighe, Cagla Sen, Alex Trobbe, and Amanda Yerke, the game will celebrate their accomplishments as BC student-athletes.
The four seniors took time out of their schedule to answer a few questions for bceagles.com.
What did you enjoy most about playing volleyball at Boston College?
Sen: "Boston College is a smaller school compared to other universities, so we were all like a family. My teammates and volleyball staff were so supportive throughout my four years at BC. I don't think I could have had better teammates if I went anywhere else. I loved the team chemistry and enjoyed being on the court with the people I really care about and the people I knew that cared about me."
McTighe: "I really cherished the fact that we were all close on and off the court. Since almost all of us are far from home it was really nice to have that tight knit group of people at school that you could turn to when you had a bad day or that were there to celebrate your achievements. I also loved attending a school that was so challenging academically. I feel that I have learned so much through all of the classes I have taken, which I really value."
What will you miss the most about playing volleyball at BC?
Trobbe: "I will miss my teammates the most and just being a part of something bigger than myself. I will also miss the adrenaline and rush of game days, there is nothing like it."
Yerke: "I will miss having the opportunity to compete twice a weekend. I hope to be able to find a career that inspires me and motivates me the way volleyball has."
How do you feel you benefitted from the student-athlete experience?
McTighe: "I feel that I have benefitted in so many positive ways from the student-athlete experience. I have learned how to better manage my time, to work with others and to work really hard for something that you want. The past four years have taught me so many valuable lessons that I know will benefit me my whole life."
Sen: "I think in the long run, being a student-athlete is a huge factor in terms of your career because you develop skills like working well within groups, knowing when to be a leader and when to be a follower, and the most important thing of all; time management. I think the student-athlete community here is so strong and I felt like I had several people I could talk to if I had a problem or question."
What is your favorite BC volleyball memory?
Trobbe: "My favorite volleyball memory is our game against USC at USC. My entire family was there and that is a moment I will never get back. We were losing in what I think was the second or third set and I got thrown in to serve and we came back to tie the game. We ended up losing, but having my family there watching me play one of the top teams in the nation was incredible."
Yerke: "One of my favorite BC volleyball memories is Kellie's braid during the Virginia match. Her hair was still wet from showering and as the match progressed her braid shriveled up into a tiny frizz ball. It took about eight bottles of conditioner and our entire team to unravel the braid. It provided comic relief during the otherwise intense match."
Can you highlight your favorite venue or match that you played in?
McTighe: "My favorite match that we played in was the match we beat Duke on Coach K's court. It was such a fun environment to play in and such a historic gym to win in as well. It was the first time BC had won on that court so it was an awesome feeling to make history there and beat them in three sets. Aside from the Duke game, I think one of my favorite venues to play in was at USC. A lot of my family came to watch me play which meant a lot."
Sen: "My favorite match was when we swept Duke. I don't think I was ever that excited for my team. Being rewarded like that after working so hard in practices and going through hard times is priceless."
What did it mean to you to be part of the team?
Trobbe: "I love the camaraderie a team develops and there is nothing like the closeness that develops between teammates. Going through the good and bad times is always easier to deal with when you know you have 15 other girls backing you up. It is an amazing feeling to accomplish something with other people as well and it is an incredible motivation to want to play hard for your teammates."
Yerke: "I would do anything for each of the 15 girls on this team, and I know they would do the same for me. Our team is resilient, tough, and determined. We have encountered so much adversity this season, but we've never given up. The failures we faced were easier to overcome because we had each other to lean on and everything we accomplished was so much more meaningful because I was able to do it with people I truly care about."
What are your post-graduate ambitions?
McTighe: "My post-graduate ambition is to get a job in the sports world. I feel that I have gained such an understanding of the sport industry over the past four years that it would be an area I would love to get involved in."
Sen: "I want to be in the fashion industry. I am so passionate about fashion that I think I can do whatever it takes to be in the industry. For now, I plan to move to California to pursue a job in fashion. I really want to move back to Istanbul at some point and work there but for now I am really excited about California."
Trobbe: "I am still unsure of what I would like to do post-college, but I really look forward to the adventure. I am open to stay in Boston or move back to San Francisco. All I know is I definitely want to live in a big city."
Yerke: "I plan to pursue a career in marketing or public relations."
