The end of the Vandal volleyball season is drawing to a close, and Saturday the team will honor its three seniors in the last home match of the season.
Libero Cassie Hamilton and hitters Alicia Milo and Rylee Walker will play for the last time at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gym Saturday when the Vandals take on New Mexico State. The Aggies are holding second place in the WAC standing and will be another tough test for Idaho. The Vandals lost to New Mexico State in four sets in their first meeting this year, and the Aggies will be looking to spoil senior night for Idaho.
Rylee Walker
Walker has been with Idaho for the past two seasons after transferring from Tacoma Community College. Walker attended Stevenson High School in Stevenson, Wash., where she participated in volleyball and track. She started her senior season on fire, including a career-high with 14 kills in the season opener against Butler. Walker has not seen a lot of action since the beginning of the year because of an injury, but said she is looking forward to getting in front of the home crowd one last time.
“I haven’t been playing that much this year because I hurt my back,” Walker said. “I’m just looking forward to playing and giving it all I have. We’re hoping for a big win too, that’s what we’re really looking forward to.”
Walker is majoring in general studies with a minor in health.
Cassie Hamilton
Hamilton has played a big role for the Vandals the past four years and is now in second place on the Idaho all-time digs list. She’s from California and attended Vista Murrieta High School where she helped her team win three consecutive league championships. Hamilton said she has been looking forward to senior night.
“I’m just excited,” Hamilton said. “My parents are going to be here. They’re coming up for my last two games. All my friends will be watching and I just hope I can go out with a win against New Mexico (State).”
Hamilton has been a starter at libero the past two years and it looks like she will be close to the all-time digs record at the end of the season. Hamilton said this game has been marked on her calendar since the beginning of the season.
“This is a win I’ve been looking forward to all season,” Hamilton said. “From the very beginning I knew New Mexico (State) was going to be my last home game and I was excited because I have a strong competitiveness against that team. I definitely want to beat them really bad.”
Hamilton is majoring in physical education and wants to be a college volleyball coach in the future.
Alicia Milo
Milo has been a part of the program for five years, having red-shirted in 2007. She’s from Portland where she attended Jesuit High School. In her high school career she helped her team win a state championship.
“I’m excited,” Milo said. “It’s been a long road for me. I’ve been here for a while, but I’m just overall excited.”
Milo has been a big part of the Vandal attack the past two seasons, tallying the second most kills on the squad. Milo is majoring in
psychology.