The 2017 Women’s Volleyball has had a thriller of a season. This has been one of their best seasons to date. Their fearless leader, in his twenty-ninth season as head coach, is Bob Heersema.
He has coached the team to play competitive volleyball, and their performance in the CCAC Tournament has proven that. The Lady Cougars Volleyball team has taken the NAIA by storm. This team is a troop full of local Chicago ladies, but also a few from Indiana, including Junior Outside hitter, Kate Bontrager.
Bontrager is a Studio Art major hailing from Valparaiso, Indiana. She is another transfer student coming from Division II powerhouse the University of Indianapolis.
During her career at Indianapolis, Bontrager had a total for 191 kills and played 49 matches. In her first season at Saint Xavier, Kate’s best game to date is against Purdue Northwest when she recorded twenty kills.
When I sat down with Kate, I asked her how she started to play volleyball and how this team is so different from others she has been a part of. Take a look to see what this power player had to say!
When did you start playing volleyball and why?
Kate: I have always been around volleyball because both of my parents play and coach, there is even a picture of me when I was one year old sleeping in a ball cart. But I started playing volleyball when I was 12, I started playing because I wanted to be just like my parents.
Growing up, who was your role model?
Kate: My mom, when she played in college, she was an All-American and in my basement we have her retired jersey number hanging. So I have always seen that as something to look up to and push me to get better.
Did you play any other sport besides volleyball?
Kate: I did gymnastics and I played softball.
You came from the University of Indianapolis, which is a powerhouse Division II school. Why did you come to Saint Xavier?
Kate: I did not feel like the volleyball program was the right fit, I loved the school, campus, my teammates but I was not having fun anymore. I didn’t love volleyball and I knew that needed to change.
How is this team so different from the past teams you’ve been a part of?
Kate: It is different because with a big group of girls you are bound to have some sort of drama, and we haven’t had any problems this year and that is really hard to do.
What are the top 5 songs you listen to before a game or before you work-out?
Kate: Sorry Not Sorry – Demi Lovato, POWER – Kayne West, Waves – Kayne West, Partition –Beyoncé, Flawless Remix – Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj
Do you have any superstitions?
Kate: Of course I do. There’s a list: I have to eat the same thing in the cafe before every game, I do my hair the same, I use the same pony tails, I have to put my FitBit in my left sock, and I always drink a glacier freeze Gatorade before every game.
What is something on your bucket list?
Kate: I’ve always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon
Where is someplace you have always wanted to go?
Kate: Europe
Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?
Kate: Dunkin Donuts
Thank you Kate for the great interview! It was so nice to get to know you a little bit better. Tune in next week for an exciting edition of Athlete Profile when I sit down with one of the leaders on the Cougar Football team.
Christine Manika
Sports Columnist