Being a college athlete can often lead to a mix of experiences.

• Lifelong friendships are made. 

• Unforgettable memories happen over time.

• A rollercoaster of emotions takes place regularly.

• Lessons are learned in and out of the sport.

The list goes on and on. At the end of the day, most athletes would not trade their collegiate tenure for anything. It is truly a privilege - one that stays in the heart for years even after the final buzzer sounds.

Cassie Hunt, Abby Knoop, Mariah Mitchell, and Emma Norris can all relate to college athletics' unique journey. The Western Illinois volleyball quartet cherished its 'Senior Day' this past Saturday (March 27), and now have more time to sit back and reflect on these last four years with the Purple and Gold. In terms of what's to come next, goals are in place for each respective career path. 
 

An initial attraction

Three of the four players hail from Iowa, with Cassie being the lone Illinois native. She and Abby, a fellow roommate, can recall a sense of camaraderie amongst the WIU program during their first visit. It ultimately led to playing a pivotal role in them attending the institution.

"Meeting the team back when I was in high school, the connection felt very natural and made me want to come here," explained Cassie. "I'm still friends with most of the seniors who graduated when I was a first-year. Also, I liked how the school was close to home."

Abby also pointed out the close-to-home aspect, as her hometown of West Branch, Iowa, is only a two-hour drive from Macomb.

For Emma, she was sold on the team's aims of building a more substantial reputation while putting its players as priorities.

"I knew the program wanted to do well, and the staff had high hopes for each person," said Emma. "I immediately felt wanted and welcomed."

Out of the bunch, Mariah made the earliest college decision. Reuniting with a close friend and teammate, Aubrey Putman, was a crucial part of the process. 

"Aubrey and I attended a Western camp and really liked it," acknowledged Mariah. "I took a few more visits before deciding to commit in my sophomore year of high school. Being from a small town (Wapello, Iowa) and seeing the tightness of the Macomb community appealed to me."
 

Enter the arena

Transitioning from high school to collegiate competition almost always poses a challenge. Mariah and Emma were especially thrown into the fire as first-year members who played over 25 matches. Mariah was also a late bloomer to the sport in her upbringing. She can remember having to learn volleyball X's and O's to an advanced degree once entering Western.

"Coming into college, I started to realize my intelligence of the game would become more important. I needed some concepts to be broken down for me a bit, early on, but the entire transition became manageable."

Emma chimed in. "Personally, I thought one of the best benefits of starting college volleyball was being able to spend more time working on your craft. Not having classes for seven hours straight (compared to high school) allowed this to happen."

Adapting to set positions on the court was another factor. After playing multiple spots in her prep career, Cassie eventually settled into a setter role for WIU. Abby noted the change of becoming a college volleyball player as a "breath of fresh air" after having competed in several sports throughout her high school days.

As youngsters, all four seniors leaned on older players to show them the ins and outs of college bump. They all cite a familiar name: Shiah Sanders. The class of 2019 alum was said to be a key mentor. 

"Shiah was beneficial with learning the game and always your biggest supporter," Abby detailed. "If you missed a hit, she didn't care - she'd be cheering you on still. Mentally, it helped both on and off the court. We've all stayed in contact with her. It was great to run into her in Minnesota after one of our last matches this season."
 

Far from the norm

Looking back on those early times as a Leatherneck, the senior crew's last run was quite the contrast. For starters, the traditional fall season instead became a 17-match format in the spring semester, and gyms were absent of spectators until the closing weeks. Such adverse conditions are never ideal for any athlete finishing out his or her journey.

"Finding different ways to stay motivated was important for us right away," said Mariah. "I think we just found it in each other, honestly. In the years I've been here, I don't think we've ever had a team that was so close."

"Back in the fall, there was a lot of uncertainty if a season was even going to take place," Cassie added on. "Once the schedule was released, we brightened up more, and everyone wanted to work even harder for each other. I wanted to make the most of my last time playing with my friends."

Aside from 'Senior Day' and some entertaining bus rides, Abby singles out another specific favorite moment of the 2020-21 campaign.

"When we all learned that Cassie had reached over 1,000 career assists, it was easily one of the most joyful nights. We were coming back from a long, nine-hour road trip, and that topped it all off in the best way."

The season also saw Mariah and Emma both pass the 500-kill mark, while Abby registered four games with five or more kills -- a season-best.
 

Next chapter… 

Relationship-building, time management, and putting passion into work are just a few takeaways from the seniors over these last few years.

"The one thing I'll keep for the rest of my life is to never take anything for granted," said Abby. "When I hurt myself (torn labrum), it was a day-by-day process to return healthy, and these years flew by so fast."

"I would include 'sacrifice' in that mix," Emma furthered. "I was fortunate to have others in my circle teach me what it means to sacrifice in high school, but college takes it to another level."

Devoting even time to their volleyball skills and classroom studies put each senior in a good spot for soon-to-be career pursuits. 

Abby already obtained a marketing degree last spring and is now seeking an MBA with an emphasis in supply chain management. Having helped assist the WIU athletics department, she still has an end-goal of working in sports marketing, especially in the social media realm.

Cassie similarly wants to stay in sports, becoming a nutritionist for either a professional or collegiate team. She is set to receive her bachelor's in nutrition/dietetics this May. Graduate school rests in her sights as well.

Majoring in forensic psychology, Emma has gone back and forth in determining a set occupation. She eventually realized a common denominator of her interests: helping people in some distinct way. Receiving a PsyD degree is next on her list.

The youngest senior, Mariah, will graduate in only three true years with a study in agricultural science. A few internships in plant research have already taken place, and she too hopes to attend graduate school soon.

Before they depart from Western, however, each of the four could not get away without answering the critical question: what does it mean to be a Leatherneck?
 

Cassie: "A Leatherneck is strong but also knows how to be supportive and care for people. The community cares for us, and that support goes both ways."

Abby: "When I think of Leatherneck, I think of ones who act together as a family and show toughness in all facets of life."

Emma: "It means to be determined and knowing you're here (at Western) for a reason. Through the hard times and adversity, like this pandemic, for example, a Leatherneck never stops pushing through."

Mariah: "It means to do well in perseverance. Our school has many people who stay committed to whatever needs to be done, all of the time."
 

There are no wrong answers there. Thank you four for dedicating ample time and energy to the volleyball program. Your future is so, so bright!