If you haven’t been to one of the Cal Women’s volleyball games, you should plan on attending before the season ends. The team is not only full of talented volleyball players, but also unique individuals with diverse backgrounds. Although the girls may come from Texas, Croatia, or Southern California, they seem to share one commonality: a love for volleyball. As the season nears its tail end, don’t miss the chance to get to know some players and watch them in action in one of their final home games.

The women’s team is full of unique individuals. Spotlighting senior (and team co-captain) Adrienne Gehan, sophomore and Croatian native Lara Vukasovic, and freshman Maddy Kerr we catch a glimpse into the lives of a few of the teams talented players. Head coach Rich Feller made evident that each year the program “takes great pains to make sure girls on the team know each other in a non volleyball sense through team bonding activities,” which ensures that the girls learn about the diverse interests that they all share beyond their love of volleyball. Interestingly enough, these girls have stories and interests that set them apart among the sea of student athletes and Cal students alike.

Adrienne Gehan, outside hitter (Courtesy of Cal Women’s Volleyball)

For example, take outside hitter Adrienne Gehan. The Dallas, Texas native is a double major in art history and history. Her passion for volleyball started in 6^th grade, inspired by her older sister. Though she “didn’t really consider myself an athlete” she blossomed into an extremely talented player.

“Adrienne was recruited very young as a sophomore in high school,” Coach Feller said. “She was an extremely mature sophomore and junior and stood out above the rest in maturity and calmness as well as the physical aspect she brought to the game.” Her coach describes her as “very goal oriented; she takes a direct path to make her interests happen with both volleyball and her major” while also pointing out that her interest in history and art history is “unique for Cal and Cal volleyball.” Adrienne’s love for art history stems from her childhood. Her mom is from Holland, so at a young age Gehan would travel and go to museums around Europe.

When asked about her favorite museum to date, she cites the SF MOMA, as she “likes contemporary art versus classical.” Although her tight schedule of practices and games keeps her in Berkeley for most of the year, when she has free time Gehan says she tries to take the time to check out a local museum. Upon graduation this spring, Adrienne’s hope is to get an internship in a museum and “do something with art and people. My dream job is to be a museum director.” Hard to have guessed that from watching her hit the ball on the court.

It isn’t hard to spot 6’5” Croatian native Lara Vukasovic. Born in France, she moved to Croatia at the age of 5. A Conservation and Resource Studies major at Cal, Lara grew up enjoying the outdoors. “I was always the only girl in my street spending time playing soccer or basketball with all the boys,” she said.

Both her parents were elite athletes, so it’s no surprise that she has a wide array of athletic ability. She was recruited as opposite hitter, but has played all over the court. Her first visit to the U.S was on her official visit for Cal volleyball, so it is no surprise that upon moving to Berkeley Lara experienced a culture shock.

“Europe and the U.S have very different mentalities in their culture, music, food, and how you go out,” she said. “Everything is different.”

Despite the drastic transition that came from moving her life to a new country, her coach praises her for being “very self sufficient and intelligent. She has a great sense of humor. She can understand sarcasm and the nuances of the English language so well.” This may be a result of her fluency in several languages.

Her plans post-graduation demonstrate her love of traveling and trying new things. After graduation, Lara says that she hopes to go back to Europe, and travel around even further.

Last but not least, Maddy Kerr is a freshman libero from San Diego excited about being on Berkeley’s campus. A potential Media Studies major, Maddy’s love for Cal is infectious. “It was come to Cal or I don’t know what I would’ve done,” she said.

The daughter of 5-time NBA champion and current NBA television analyst Steve Kerr, and an avid sports fan herself, Kerr hopes to use her interest in media studies to pursue a career in sports casting, behind the scenes.

Although she grew up with a sports-oriented father, “he never pressured us to do anything,” Kerr said. “My younger brother has never done a sport in his life, he writes screenplays. I got myself into volleyball, he never pushed me into it.”

Coach Rich Feller highlights Kerr’s “refined athletic ability.” He says that it is “magical that she fell in love with Berkeley” and the Berkeley community is lucky to have her here.

Maddy’s love for Berkeley helps define a commonality among the Cal Women’s volleyball team as a whole, as “something has drawn each one of these girls to Berkeley as their top choice,” according to Coach Feller. The fact that all these girls have found their niche at Cal’s campus, like many of us Cal students, represents a special commonality that we all, athlete or not, share.

Coming off of a November 3^rd win against UCLA, the Bears head to Utah, Colorado, Oregon State, and Oregon before returning home for their final two home games. These final home games are on Friday November 22 against Washington and Sunday November 24 against Washington State. Visit the athletics website for more information.

And Go Bears!

Trending Articles: