Athlete Feature – Cassidy Pickrell

How old were you when you first started playing volleyball?

I was in 4th grade when I started playing REC volleyball for a team coached by my dad! (I think that’s 9-years-old? Maybe 10?)

How old were you when you started playing club volleyball?

I started playing club volleyball at 14U, so 8th grade. I played club soccer before/during that. I gave up soccer in the middle of my 8th grade year to play volleyball.

Who had the biggest impact on your life/who did you look up to when you were younger and why? 

I have always looked up to my dad. He was an All-American swimmer and water polo player at the Air Force Academy. He’s always been an incredible provider for our family, and does everything graciously. My mom has had the biggest impact on my life. She’s my best friend and I run practically everything I do or think about by her first. My parents have always been firm rocks in my life and pursuit of my dreams, and I can’t thank them enough for that.

What was your favorite club volleyball season and why?

How do you just pick one?! My 18s season was pretty awesome. I played at TAV for 18 Black under John Sample. We won almost all of our games, and then John was always treating us to awesome dinners or fun team nights-outs. (We had a “prom night” at our tournament in Vegas!) On top of all of that, we won our very last game together at Nationals and left for our college careers as the National Champions. That was a great way to end my club career.

What is your favorite part about volleyball? 

I love winning, but my favorite part is the grind. I think getting the opportunity to work on new performance areas every day is a dream for a competitor. I’m lucky enough to get to do this as my job, too! I love to collect bruises from defensive days, finally getting the connection just right with my setter, or my touch bettered in my float serve.

Where did you go to college and why did you choose that university?

I went to two colleges: University of California at Irvine (UCI) and Arizona State University (ASU). I played my first two years at UCI and I loved having the opportunity to be coached by some of THE best coaches I have ever had. Paula Weishoff, Jamie Morrison, and Ron Larsen changed my game on every level and believed in me from day one. They were also the reason I had so many schools interested in me once I decided to transfer after my sophomore season. I picked ASU because the coaching staff there was a perfect fit for me (Jason Watson, Linda Hampton-Keith, Erica Crismon), and I could not have handpicked a better team to be a part of. Not to mention, ASU had the exact major I wanted to study (Sports Journalism) and so many opportunities to advance my skill set for a future career in journalism.

What position did you play in college?

I have pretty much always been an outside hitter. Since going pro, I’ve played more opposite than I ever did growing up. I would say I am a pin hitter now, but in college I considered myself an outside hitter.

What was your most memorable collegiate match and why?

I have two! My junior year at ASU (also my first season at ASU), we played our first preseason tournament at the Air Force Academy. USAFA is an important place to my family because we grew up going to AFA sports games, and my dad’s reunions. (Side note: I almost went to school there myself!) We played Air Force on a Saturday night, and beat them in 3 sets, but the atmosphere was INSANE! I had a bunch of friends at the Academy then, but the cadets were so loud and made the game so much fun to play in. We also were able to share in some of the cadet traditions, so that was an honor.

That same year, we hosted a preseason tournament. We were undefeated going into it and had to play #6 Illinois. It was a HUGE game for us and I was beyond nervous and excited. We won in five sets, and I got the game-winning kill. The crowd was SO loud, our team was on fire, and we had a blast playing and grinding together. I’m getting chills right now as I type this!

What was your favorite part of playing volleyball in college?

Traveling with my team to away games was always a new experience, and I loved getting to go see different parts of the country through volleyball! Plus, you get to play in awesome gyms! (My favorites, besides ASU, of course, were Hawaii, USC, and, believe it or not, Arizona.)

What was your major and why did you choose it?

I majored in sports journalism, because I never want to be away from sports and I have had a passion for telling other peoples stories ever since middle school!

Do you play professional volleyball?

Yes! I am currently playing in Erfurt, Germany.

How many seasons of professional volleyball have you played?

This is my third full season, but the fourth team I have played for. (I played in Switzerland for my first full season. In my second season, I played Poland for 7 months, but my team did not make it to playoffs. A team in Switzerland bought me out of my Polish contract and I played in the Swiss playoffs.)

What has been your favorite part about playing professionally?

I have the travel bug, so definitely getting to see new countries and experience new ways of life!       

If you were to give advice to someone who is considering playing professional volleyball, what would it be?

If you’re considering it, just do it, even if only for one season! How many people can say they played professionally at their sport? AND 8-9 months is not hard to commit to, in my opinion.

Throughout your career, how have you handled adversity? Whether that is an injury, playing time, a bad day, or an argument with a teammate?

I am a Christian, so a lot of my handling adversity comes from prayer and talking to God. I also meditate in the mornings to get my mind right. My agent is super awesome in challenging me to do breathing challenges every so often, and especially when I get out-of-sort mentally. I focus on things I can control and work on those aspects, and I do my best to not let things that are out of my control affect me. It’s way easier said than done, but when I focus on me and getting better personally, everything else comes with it.

What role has your mind played in getting you through the tough times that volleyball throws at you?

I think the mental game is the most important part. When I visualize positive actions before games, I play better. When I take time to meditate in the mornings, I have a clearer mind for practices. When I focus on growing my mental game, there aren’t many “tough times,” because I have prepared myself in a way that it doesn’t affect me inwardly or outwardly.

 How did playing volleyball prepare you for life after sports?

I think playing any kind of sport teaches you so many things – organization, timeliness, respect, team camaraderie, how to work with other people, leadership, how to work hard under different circumstances, competitiveness to be better in everything… the list could go on. I think playing competitive sports prepares people for life after more than most think. 

 If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?

I would tell her not to be too hard on herself, and to continue to always believe in herself. If you don’t believe in you, then who will? You are your toughest critic, but you also have to be your biggest cheerleader. Don’t forget to celebrate the good, kiddo.

Collegiate Accomplishments: Academic

2014 All-Big West Academic Team
2015 All-PAC12 Academic Team
2016 All-PAC12 Academic Team

Collegiate Accomplishments: Athletic

2013 Big West First Team
2014 All-Tournament Team UC Irvine Tournament
2014 Big West First Team
2013-2016 Recorded 1,208 kills in total career