VOLLEYBALL'S CAITLIN UPDIKE HAS BEEN A LEADING CONTRIBUTOR TO THE TEAM'S SUCCESSFUL RUN

By Scott Sudikoff
Tufts Athletics Communications Assistant

MEDFORD -- For Tufts senior Caitlin Updike, volleyball has been a way of life since she was five years old.

"My dad originally got me into the sport and wanted me to play on teams long enough to learn the basics so we could play in co-ed beach tournaments together," Updike explained. "Once I started playing beach, I loved competing."

Mike Updike, Caitlin's father, plays competitive beach volleyball in California two or three times a week. With his motivation and her love for competition, Updike began to play for indoor club teams at the age of nine. Of course Updike sees her father as one of her major influences in the game.

"My biggest volleyball influences have been my dad and my brother. We would often pepper in front of my house just to get touches in before school."

As a native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., Updike has had some advantages in terms of her growth in the sport. Volleyball is something that she could play all year round, whether it was on the beach or inside of a gymnasium.

"In Manhattan Beach, volleyball is the sport to play," said Updike, who says being able to play throughout the year is very beneficial for a tall player (Updike is 5-foot-11) like her. "Being able to play beach volleyball all year round was great training for me, especially for my ball control which often times poses a difficulty for taller players."

Tufts head coach Cora Thompson spotted Updike while making a trip to see the Southern California Volleyball Club play in a tournament in Las Vegas.

"We were recruiting a few players on Caitlin's team at the time and watched her play as a result," Thompson explained. "I was more impressed with her than the players we initially came to watch!"

From there, the rest has been history as Updike has been an outstanding four-year player for the Jumbos. Thompson was most impressed with her intensity, passion and competitive spirit, and thought she would be a great fit for the Jumbos.

"I hadn't looked at Tufts until coach contacted me after seeing me play," Updike said. "I looked into walking on to UCLA or UC-Santa Barbara in particular, but decided I would rather be able to play at a competitive Division III school."

Updike's passion has spilled over to her teammates, according to Coach Thompson. "She pushes and pushes for the results she wants for herself and her team and that kind of attitude has been contagious within our program."

Competitive would be an understatement for the Jumbos in Updike's time. They have put together a stellar 92-25 record during her four years (since the 2007 season). The team has earned the right to host the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and NCAA Regional tournaments in each of the last two seasons. Tufts won the regional crown last fall and played in their first NCAA Quarterfinal.

With success will come some failure, but Updike and her teammates are attempting to channel what they have learned into a championship run in 2010.

"We have grown accustomed to having a target on our backs," she said. "We have learned that we need to play each match point-by-point and trust in our system."

As with any competitive sport, the off-season is a time to improve your craft. For Updike and the Jumbos, that means a lot of weight-training, especially with the legs and shoulders.

"By strengthening the muscles in and around my shoulders I have been able to prevent many of the common injuries that come with overuse," Updike described. "This past summer, I focused on blocking and approach footwork. I feel that as a result of all the footwork and agility exercises I did over the summer, my approach is faster than it has ever been.

In 2010, Updike has already been recognized as the MVP of the MIT Invitational, where the Jumbos claimed the championship for the third straight year. She has also garnered recognition as a NESCAC player of the week. These accolades are something Updike relishes.

"It's exciting to be recognized for my play," she said. "I went to a high school (Mira Costa) with a longstanding history of volleyball excellence and did not receive much playing time. Now it feels as though all the hard work I did then is paying off."

With her college career winding down, Updike has had some time to reflect on her tenure at Tufts.

"Playing for the Jumbos has been the best experience of my college life," she said. "Coach (Thompson) has been such a positive role model and leader for the team."

At the end of the 2010 season and upon graduation, Updike still thinks she will have the passion to continue playing competitively and has aspirations to play overseas in Europe.

Updike would also love to stay in the New England area, even though she was born and raised on the other coast. Her brother, Nick, is a sophomore setter for the Emmanuel College men's volleyball team and she plans on staying in the area to be close to him.

"In order to improve you have to work hard out of season," is Updike's advice for aspiring players. "Pushing yourself working out and getting in as much ball control as possible are imperative to improving your game."

"Caitlin, along with her teammates and classmates, have achieved great success due to their work ethic and ability to focus on the challenges at hand," Thompson added.

Updike, Thompson and the Jumbos are hopeful that their hard work will yield a championship at the end of the 2010 campaign.

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