By Stevie Corio— Staff Writer
When a college athlete approaches the end of his or her college career, there’s always a huge question about what the next steps are: “Is this as far as I can go?”
While some student-athletes might not be too sure about what their next move is, the women’s volleyball seniors at San Jose State seem to have nothing but forward-thinking.
This season, the women’s volleyball team had to say goodbye to five of their senior teammates, and they all have big plans for their futures.
Continuing to play volleyball after college is an option for many of the seniors on the team. A few of them are planning on pursuing careers in volleyball once they graduate from San Jose State, while others plan on beginning new chapters without volleyball.
Three out of the five seniors plan to continue playing after they graduate from San Jose State.
“I most likely will go back home to Estonia,” Laura Parts said. “I want to play professionally in Europe, and I don’t want this to be my last volleyball experience. I still have a lot more to give.”
Caitlin Bettenay had also expressed that she wanted to move back home to Australia after she graduated from San Jose State.
“If I go back to Australia, I will start my master’s degree there and I want to play professionally for Australia in beach volleyball,” Bettenay said. “I’m pushing for the 2024 Olympics. That’s the goal.”
While Bettenay and Parts plan on going back home and pursuing volleyball, for Kaitlynn Zdroik, attempting to play volleyball after college is an option. However, it’s not the only passion she plans on chasing.
Zdroik hopes to keep the sport in her life after college as well if she chooses not to stay at SJSU.
“I definitely want to pursue a master’s degree, but I could potentially go overseas and play volleyball,” Zdroik said.
Fernanda Vido and Thaliana Grajeda, unlike their other teammates, have announced that their volleyball career will come to an end after this upcoming beach season.
“I’ve gotten everything out of volleyball I’ve had to get out, so it’s the next chapter for sure,” Vido said.
Vido, originally from Brazil, plans on staying in the United States and pursuing her major in business analytics.
“I would love to stay,” Vido said. “The Silicon Valley is a great place to be, so I hope I can stay and work for a tech company.”
“I want to keep volleyball apart of my life for sure, but I don’t plan on playing professionally after college,” Grajeda said.
Grajeda wants to pursue a career in criminal justice and continue to play volleyball recreationally in her free time.
Volleyball has been a part of these players’ lives for many years, and it has been a sentimental aspect of their lives that they have built a strong relationship with.
“I started playing volleyball when I was eight,” Vido said. “You had to be nine to be on the team, but I wanted to play so bad.”
Playing volleyball has provided them with unforgettable experiences and has helped shape them into the adults they have become.
“I have been playing volleyball since I was in fifth grade,” Grajeda said. “It has allowed me to go places I would have never been able to go, and I’ve met so many great people through volleyball.”
While this chapter at San Jose State is coming to a close for these seniors, they are moving onto their future goals and will take with them what volleyball has offered them.
“My dad always told me at the end of the day, 15 years from now, you’re not going to remember the wins and losses, you’re going to remember your teammates and the experiences you’ve had,” Zdroik said.
There is still more volleyball at SJSU to come for these seniors with the upcoming beach season, but once the second semester is over, they will move on to their new beginnings.
Follow Stevie on Twitter @CorioStevie