Net Posts With Kara Bajema
September 28, 2016 | Volleyball
While classes start this week for Husky students, Kara Bajema has already had plenty to learn and about a dozen tests to take in her freshman year. From the small town of Lynden just south of Washington's border with Canada, Bajema may have flown under the radar of some schools as she led her high school to consecutive 1A state titles. But Bajema has made her presence felt quickly at UW, doing well to handle the difficult transition not just to Division-I but the Pac-12 level, as she currently ranks second in the league with 1.68 blocks per set, despite not having played middle blocker until the start of practice in August. Bajema talks about her road to Washington and how with volleyball there is always more to learn.
GoHuskies.com: When did you first come to volleyball? You also were a standout basketball player in high school, so did you play any other sports growing up?
Kara Bajema: When I was really little I would play soccer. I played soccer until seventh grade. Then I started basketball in second grade and played that throughout high school and really enjoyed that. That's what I thought I was going to get myself into. My dad was my coach but then my freshman year, after I had quit soccer, I got interested in volleyball and that's when I realized and decided I wanted to pursue volleyball. I had more fun in volleyball than I did in basketball but I didn't want to quit basketball quite yet.
GH: Did you grow up in Linden your whole life?
KB: Yes. We did live in Michigan until kindergarten but I don't remember too much.
GH: And you're the middle of three siblings?
KB: Yeah, older sister and younger brother. My older sister played soccer at the University of South Carolina. She is the shortest in the family at like 5'11" and my brother passed me by already. He is like 6'3" and he is a basketball player.
GH: When you were starting to think about sports in college I imagine your sister was helpful after going through it herself.
KB: She was always jealous of the fact that I had her to watch and go through it first and then Dad and Mom are more used to it and the processes you have to go through. So it was nice having an example before me, having the do's and don't's and to have advice for what would come.
GH: Coming from a small school and jumping into the Pac 12 has to be a big adjustment. How would you describe the process so far?
KB: I knew I wanted to go somewhere bigger and get out of a small town. I was prepared that it was going to be next level and way more difficult. But so far it has been good.
GH: What do you like most about Lynden?
KB: I liked the community of it, everyone is so encouraging and supportive and they make an effort to know what you are going through and support you through it. Even now that I'm at college there is still support at home. People will follow things, or they will text me and say "good job" or "I watched tonight" so I think that's the best part of a small town. And we actually do have a lot of good athletes there so it's pretty competitive.
GH: Why did you decide Washington?
At first I jumped around clubs quite a bit because of where I lived and the time distance to travel just to go to any club. When I went to Puget Sound is when I tried to get my name out there and try and get recruited. I didn't have high expectations at first and didn't really know where I was capable of going to but I reached out to a lot of California schools. For spring break we went and visited Santa Clara and San Diego and then UW started having interest. I was shocked I didn't even know they would be interested into me. Then once I went on visits I really fell in love with everything about this school, and it was a no-brainer that I wanted to go here. There were other schools looking at me in different places but having a school near where you lived was nice.
GH: Did you go to many matches growing up? It's a long trip obviously.
KB: Once I knew I was coming here I started to make the trip and come to more but I had been to a few before then. It was always during volleyball season and it was a two-hour drive so it was hard.
GH: So you get to campus in the fall and right away it's looking like you'll change positions and play middle. What was that conversation like with Coach Cook and what were your initial thoughts?
KB: I was open to anything. When I was being recruited they said in advance that freshman year I could be a middle. It was really hard at first playing middle because I was so unfamiliar and it was a lot to take in and sometimes it was pretty stressful but the coaches were really helpful and patient. So far I really enjoy it and I'm happy to be out there playing and contributing where I can. The first time I got on the court I was thinking a thousand things and a time, and now it's one or two things and I can just play volleyball.
GH: Picking up the blocking part of the college game can be one of the hardest parts. How has your blocking game progressed so far?
KB: I never even knew there were that many things to blocking. There are so many things I was doing wrong. There was so many things to learn and it is really important on the court. Before I would have one, maybe two responsibilities, but now I have three hitters to focus on. Being able to read the set is the biggest thing and then going to the right spot.
GH: Being part of a large freshman class and locals, what has it been like?
KB: It was really nice being able to be familiar with your freshman class before you start. We would see each other at club tournaments and say hi and Cailin would come to the camps or some of the bigger tournaments, so we were all familiar with each other which was nice.
GH: What's your rooming situation like?
KB: First over the summer I was with Shayne. Then I was with Cailin in preseason. And now all four of us are in an apartment style dorm in Mercer. They are pretty nice we are very fortunate.
GH: You have had to travel a lot, has there been anything surprising or that you've enjoyed?
KB: In preseason we went to Washington DC where I had never been so it was cool. I have been to Hawaii but who wouldn't want to go there again, so that was fun. Traveling is tough but it is worth it. We weren't in school so it is a lot easier and I have enjoyed it so far.
GH: Are there specific goals you have for yourself this year?
KB: My goal is to keep learning and be a contributor as needed. Pretty big shoes to fill from the two girls that graduated last year, and I want to keep learning everyday. It's fun to know there is always more to learn and you can keep getting better every day.
GoHuskies.com: When did you first come to volleyball? You also were a standout basketball player in high school, so did you play any other sports growing up?
Kara Bajema: When I was really little I would play soccer. I played soccer until seventh grade. Then I started basketball in second grade and played that throughout high school and really enjoyed that. That's what I thought I was going to get myself into. My dad was my coach but then my freshman year, after I had quit soccer, I got interested in volleyball and that's when I realized and decided I wanted to pursue volleyball. I had more fun in volleyball than I did in basketball but I didn't want to quit basketball quite yet.
GH: Did you grow up in Linden your whole life?
KB: Yes. We did live in Michigan until kindergarten but I don't remember too much.
GH: And you're the middle of three siblings?
KB: Yeah, older sister and younger brother. My older sister played soccer at the University of South Carolina. She is the shortest in the family at like 5'11" and my brother passed me by already. He is like 6'3" and he is a basketball player.
GH: When you were starting to think about sports in college I imagine your sister was helpful after going through it herself.
KB: She was always jealous of the fact that I had her to watch and go through it first and then Dad and Mom are more used to it and the processes you have to go through. So it was nice having an example before me, having the do's and don't's and to have advice for what would come.
GH: Coming from a small school and jumping into the Pac 12 has to be a big adjustment. How would you describe the process so far?
KB: I knew I wanted to go somewhere bigger and get out of a small town. I was prepared that it was going to be next level and way more difficult. But so far it has been good.
GH: What do you like most about Lynden?
KB: I liked the community of it, everyone is so encouraging and supportive and they make an effort to know what you are going through and support you through it. Even now that I'm at college there is still support at home. People will follow things, or they will text me and say "good job" or "I watched tonight" so I think that's the best part of a small town. And we actually do have a lot of good athletes there so it's pretty competitive.
GH: Why did you decide Washington?
At first I jumped around clubs quite a bit because of where I lived and the time distance to travel just to go to any club. When I went to Puget Sound is when I tried to get my name out there and try and get recruited. I didn't have high expectations at first and didn't really know where I was capable of going to but I reached out to a lot of California schools. For spring break we went and visited Santa Clara and San Diego and then UW started having interest. I was shocked I didn't even know they would be interested into me. Then once I went on visits I really fell in love with everything about this school, and it was a no-brainer that I wanted to go here. There were other schools looking at me in different places but having a school near where you lived was nice.
GH: Did you go to many matches growing up? It's a long trip obviously.
KB: Once I knew I was coming here I started to make the trip and come to more but I had been to a few before then. It was always during volleyball season and it was a two-hour drive so it was hard.
GH: So you get to campus in the fall and right away it's looking like you'll change positions and play middle. What was that conversation like with Coach Cook and what were your initial thoughts?
KB: I was open to anything. When I was being recruited they said in advance that freshman year I could be a middle. It was really hard at first playing middle because I was so unfamiliar and it was a lot to take in and sometimes it was pretty stressful but the coaches were really helpful and patient. So far I really enjoy it and I'm happy to be out there playing and contributing where I can. The first time I got on the court I was thinking a thousand things and a time, and now it's one or two things and I can just play volleyball.
GH: Picking up the blocking part of the college game can be one of the hardest parts. How has your blocking game progressed so far?
KB: I never even knew there were that many things to blocking. There are so many things I was doing wrong. There was so many things to learn and it is really important on the court. Before I would have one, maybe two responsibilities, but now I have three hitters to focus on. Being able to read the set is the biggest thing and then going to the right spot.
GH: Being part of a large freshman class and locals, what has it been like?
KB: It was really nice being able to be familiar with your freshman class before you start. We would see each other at club tournaments and say hi and Cailin would come to the camps or some of the bigger tournaments, so we were all familiar with each other which was nice.
GH: What's your rooming situation like?
KB: First over the summer I was with Shayne. Then I was with Cailin in preseason. And now all four of us are in an apartment style dorm in Mercer. They are pretty nice we are very fortunate.
GH: You have had to travel a lot, has there been anything surprising or that you've enjoyed?
KB: In preseason we went to Washington DC where I had never been so it was cool. I have been to Hawaii but who wouldn't want to go there again, so that was fun. Traveling is tough but it is worth it. We weren't in school so it is a lot easier and I have enjoyed it so far.
GH: Are there specific goals you have for yourself this year?
KB: My goal is to keep learning and be a contributor as needed. Pretty big shoes to fill from the two girls that graduated last year, and I want to keep learning everyday. It's fun to know there is always more to learn and you can keep getting better every day.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ VolleyballWashington Volleyball 2025 Big Ten Media Day
Tuesday, July 29
2025 Go BIG! for Washington Day
Friday, February 28
Empowering the next generation of girls & women in sports
Sunday, February 09
UW Volleyball 2024 NCAA Hype Video
Friday, December 06
