Net Posts With Cailin Onosko
October 18, 2016 | Volleyball
One of just two liberos on the squad, freshman Cailin Onosko has made a major contribution to Washington's success this year day in and day out in practice, and has proved ready to step in at a moment's notice when the Huskies need a serve. An energetic presence on the sidelines, Onosko has been part of winning teams during her high school and club days in San Diego and is willing to help the Dawgs however she can. Onosko talked to GoHuskies about her choice to come to Washington, what she's working on in her game, and what she plans on studying.
Β
GoHuskies.com: Talk about what the freshman experience has been like so far. Has it been what you expected? What kind of surprises have you had?
Cailin Onosko: I didn't really come in with too many expectations.Β I just tried to be open and see what it was going to be like.Β But it's been amazing.Β All the people have been so nice and doing LEAP, the early program, and starting a class with all athletes was really helpful.Β Immediately we got to meet a bunch of people and learn a lot about UW and about what it's going to be like to be a student-athlete so it was really fun.
Β
GH: How are classes going so far?
CO: Going well.Β It was kind of fun, I have a big lecture class and that's exactly what I expected college to be like, so that's kind of cool to have.Β And it's on ECON which I really enjoy, so that's been fun.
Β
GH: Do you have an inkling yet of what you're interested in studying?
CO: I actually applied to get into the Business School through their Freshman Direct program and I got in. So I'm already in the Business School, so kind of starting to do my pre-req's with that.
Β
GH: Playing as a true freshman, not always being on the floor like you're used to from high school or club, how do you keep yourself ready when you might not know when you'll be coming in?
CO: I've always been fairly energetic and I'm competitive and into the game.Β So being ready on the sidelines hasn't been too hard for me because I always make sure that I'm watching and paying attention.Β I'm always kind of imagining that I am in so I always feel ready to go.Β But taking on this role, being on the sidelines, it hasn't been too hard for me because I love all the girls that are out on the court and I'm just cheering for them and so proud to see what they do because I see all the hard work they put in practice.Β And it's so fun to compete with them in practice and just be a part of the team.
Β
GH: You obviously have a very important role every day in practice, being one of just two defensive specialists, and trying to make it tough on the hitters.
CO: Yeah, it's been really nice to be so competitive in practice and get the chance to play all the time.Β It's really nice because the team holds everyone to the same standard so whether you're a starter or not, you're expected to compete and hold the same level so that's really fun too.
Β
GH: You definitely have an energetic presence on the bench, is that how you've always been or is that a new way you wanted to contribute this year if you're not out on the court?
CO: I guess I've kind of always been like that.Β I just love the game so much and love the players that it's always been part of me to be really cheerful and supportive and competitive and into it.
Β
GH: When did you start playing volleyball?
CO: I started playing when I was really young.Β I want to say I was maybe 11 or 12.Β 10 maybe.
Β
GH: Did you like it right away? Were you playing other sports that you liked?
CO: I was big into soccer.Β I played both of those all the way up through middle school and then realized I had to choose one.Β And I just loved volleyball so much better, and back then I was more tall for my age. But yeah I loved the game so much and I loved the fact that there's always a point being scored and always something going on, whereas with soccer there could be no goals scored.Β So I just loved the intensity of the game.
Β
GH: You played with pretty much one club for a long time right?
CO: Yeah actually my whole career I've played with Coast Volleyball Club.Β I started Leapfrog, that's what their little league youth program is called, and played with them all the way through 18's.Β
Β
GH: Was there someone that helped you along the way or provided some good inspiration or guidance for you?
CO: Yeah I had a couple coaches at Coast.Β One I had when I was 12, his name was Shawn and he saw something in me that some of the other coaches didn't see.Β He gave me a chance, because I was always on the 2's teams, but when I was 15 I finally made a 1's team and he was the one that kind of got me to that point.Β And another coach was JJ Van Niel, who now coaches at Utah, he was another big mentor to me.
Β
GH: At what point did you start thinking about playing in college, or was that always the dream?
CO: Definitely when I entered high school I would say.Β But I always loved volleyball so much that I wanted to take it as far as I could.Β But I didn't really know if it was realistic, but once I got into high school and more my sophomore year, I really started to think I could do it.
Β
GH: How did you start to figure out possibilities of where you wanted to go and how did you eventually decide on Washington?
CO: I really wanted to play in the Pac-12, just because it's such a competitive, high-level conference.Β And then I wanted to get a little away from home, so I wasn't too interested in a lot of the L.A. schools.Β Once I came up here I just knew.
Β
GH: You're from San Diego, what do you like most about your hometown? What do you miss most about home, being away from home for the first time?
CO: Well, San Diego, obviously the location right on the beach.Β I lived like 10 minutes so that was really nice.Β I was ready for a change because I've lived there my whole life so I was really excited to get out, what I miss most though is just the people, my family and friends.Β
Β
GH: What's it like living with the other freshmen?
CO: We have so much fun.Β We're all pretty crazy together so we've had a fun time.
Β
GH: Coach Cook talks about each person coming to practice, thinking about something they're trying to improve.Β What have been some of those things for you so far?
CO: One big thing is definitely my mental strength because I can be really hard on myself, and that kind of gets me in a downward spiral.Β So I definitely try to focus on that.Β And then I've definitely been trying to work on my serve because I know that if I want to contribute to the team on the court, then that's the big area where I can this year.Β So I've been developing a jump serve because I'd never done that before, so that's brand new to me, so that's been kind of tough.Β Then with my passing, just trying to create angles earlier and focusing more on my arms.Β With defense, I've really been working on trying to read the hitters and seeing the game because I never really focused on that.
Β
Β
GoHuskies.com: Talk about what the freshman experience has been like so far. Has it been what you expected? What kind of surprises have you had?
Cailin Onosko: I didn't really come in with too many expectations.Β I just tried to be open and see what it was going to be like.Β But it's been amazing.Β All the people have been so nice and doing LEAP, the early program, and starting a class with all athletes was really helpful.Β Immediately we got to meet a bunch of people and learn a lot about UW and about what it's going to be like to be a student-athlete so it was really fun.
Β
GH: How are classes going so far?
CO: Going well.Β It was kind of fun, I have a big lecture class and that's exactly what I expected college to be like, so that's kind of cool to have.Β And it's on ECON which I really enjoy, so that's been fun.
Β
GH: Do you have an inkling yet of what you're interested in studying?
CO: I actually applied to get into the Business School through their Freshman Direct program and I got in. So I'm already in the Business School, so kind of starting to do my pre-req's with that.
Β
GH: Playing as a true freshman, not always being on the floor like you're used to from high school or club, how do you keep yourself ready when you might not know when you'll be coming in?
CO: I've always been fairly energetic and I'm competitive and into the game.Β So being ready on the sidelines hasn't been too hard for me because I always make sure that I'm watching and paying attention.Β I'm always kind of imagining that I am in so I always feel ready to go.Β But taking on this role, being on the sidelines, it hasn't been too hard for me because I love all the girls that are out on the court and I'm just cheering for them and so proud to see what they do because I see all the hard work they put in practice.Β And it's so fun to compete with them in practice and just be a part of the team.
Β
GH: You obviously have a very important role every day in practice, being one of just two defensive specialists, and trying to make it tough on the hitters.
CO: Yeah, it's been really nice to be so competitive in practice and get the chance to play all the time.Β It's really nice because the team holds everyone to the same standard so whether you're a starter or not, you're expected to compete and hold the same level so that's really fun too.
Β
GH: You definitely have an energetic presence on the bench, is that how you've always been or is that a new way you wanted to contribute this year if you're not out on the court?
CO: I guess I've kind of always been like that.Β I just love the game so much and love the players that it's always been part of me to be really cheerful and supportive and competitive and into it.
Β
GH: When did you start playing volleyball?
CO: I started playing when I was really young.Β I want to say I was maybe 11 or 12.Β 10 maybe.
Β
GH: Did you like it right away? Were you playing other sports that you liked?
CO: I was big into soccer.Β I played both of those all the way up through middle school and then realized I had to choose one.Β And I just loved volleyball so much better, and back then I was more tall for my age. But yeah I loved the game so much and I loved the fact that there's always a point being scored and always something going on, whereas with soccer there could be no goals scored.Β So I just loved the intensity of the game.
Β
GH: You played with pretty much one club for a long time right?
CO: Yeah actually my whole career I've played with Coast Volleyball Club.Β I started Leapfrog, that's what their little league youth program is called, and played with them all the way through 18's.Β
Β
GH: Was there someone that helped you along the way or provided some good inspiration or guidance for you?
CO: Yeah I had a couple coaches at Coast.Β One I had when I was 12, his name was Shawn and he saw something in me that some of the other coaches didn't see.Β He gave me a chance, because I was always on the 2's teams, but when I was 15 I finally made a 1's team and he was the one that kind of got me to that point.Β And another coach was JJ Van Niel, who now coaches at Utah, he was another big mentor to me.
Β
GH: At what point did you start thinking about playing in college, or was that always the dream?
CO: Definitely when I entered high school I would say.Β But I always loved volleyball so much that I wanted to take it as far as I could.Β But I didn't really know if it was realistic, but once I got into high school and more my sophomore year, I really started to think I could do it.
Β
GH: How did you start to figure out possibilities of where you wanted to go and how did you eventually decide on Washington?
CO: I really wanted to play in the Pac-12, just because it's such a competitive, high-level conference.Β And then I wanted to get a little away from home, so I wasn't too interested in a lot of the L.A. schools.Β Once I came up here I just knew.
Β
GH: You're from San Diego, what do you like most about your hometown? What do you miss most about home, being away from home for the first time?
CO: Well, San Diego, obviously the location right on the beach.Β I lived like 10 minutes so that was really nice.Β I was ready for a change because I've lived there my whole life so I was really excited to get out, what I miss most though is just the people, my family and friends.Β
Β
GH: What's it like living with the other freshmen?
CO: We have so much fun.Β We're all pretty crazy together so we've had a fun time.
Β
GH: Coach Cook talks about each person coming to practice, thinking about something they're trying to improve.Β What have been some of those things for you so far?
CO: One big thing is definitely my mental strength because I can be really hard on myself, and that kind of gets me in a downward spiral.Β So I definitely try to focus on that.Β And then I've definitely been trying to work on my serve because I know that if I want to contribute to the team on the court, then that's the big area where I can this year.Β So I've been developing a jump serve because I'd never done that before, so that's brand new to me, so that's been kind of tough.Β Then with my passing, just trying to create angles earlier and focusing more on my arms.Β With defense, I've really been working on trying to read the hitters and seeing the game because I never really focused on that.
Β
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