It’s been four years for senior libero Cassie Hamilton, and in that time she has gone from a shy freshman to a senior leader who is chasing a school record.
Hamilton was born in Fallbrook, Calif., and seemed destined to play volleyball. Her mother played volleyball at the University of Rhode Island and Hamilton said her mom’s love for the game rubbed off on her early.
“She is obsessed with the sport,” Hamilton said. “So when I was old enough she signed me up and I didn’t even know what it was. She told me I had to at least play a year and I loved it.”
After shining in high school, Hamilton looked to take her game to the college level. Hamilton said she and her family were interested in Idaho because they thought the Vandals were still in the Big West and would play a lot of their matches in California. She eventually found out Idaho was in the WAC, but it was too late as she fell in love with Idaho and decided it was the place for her.
“In my other visits I just didn’t feel that connection with the players and coaches and you have to go off your gut, not just whether it’s a bigger school or closer to home and I loved how comfortable I felt,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton has seen a lot of the court in her four years as a Vandal, and now ranks second in Idaho history in digs. Hamilton is going after the record, but she said seeing her team succeed this season is the most important thing.
“I’m a competitive person, so I’m not going to lie and say I don’t want it,” Hamilton said. “I want it pretty bad — I’d love it, but it’s not the No. 1 thing I’m focusing on this season, but it’s something I’d love to go out with in my last year.”
Hamilton has been a solid player for the Vandals, but that wasn’t always the case. She said her freshman season got off to a rough start.
“I served the ball and went to my spot and we were playing a really good team,” Hamilton said. “The girl just went up and just smacked it right into my face, and that was my very first point.”
Her career started with a headache, but only got better from there. Hamilton said being a part of the team has helped her grow as a person and has changed her mentality toward the game.
“I was really shy coming in and never really talked and the biggest thing for me was you need to communicate — if you want to play you need to communicate,” Hamilton said. “I think that’s the biggest thing for me is I’ve changed my attitude toward the game.”
One thing that has been a constant in Hamilton’s life is staying active, whether that is volleyball, other sports or earning a black belt in taekwondo.
“My dad is a master, and he was set that all his girls had to get their black belts,” Hamilton said. “It looks like he’s getting his rhythm back and for a quarterback that’s very important.”Hamilton wants to use that love for staying active in her future as she is majoring in physical education. She said her dream is to coach college volleyball.
“I love watching Debbie (Buchanan) do her job and I hope one day I get the opportunity to do something like that,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said one of the most important things about being on a college team is the friendships she has developed with her teammates. She said everyone she’s played with has made some kind of lasting impact on her, and she’s not looking forward to saying goodbye.
“I try not to even think about it,” Hamilton said. “Once I start to think about it I just become a mess.”