« Volleyball 2011

Betsy Sedlak

School
UC Davis
Position
Middle Blocker
Major
Film Studies
K
165
Pct
.336
SA
0
BS
9
BA
81
D
18

Classroom

Sedlak holds a 3.32 grade-point average in film studies, with plans on completing a master’s degree in television production or writing. She has appeared on the athletics honor roll every quarter since her arrival at UC Davis in the spring of 2009, and made the Dean’s Honor Roll in winter of 2011. Sedlak also garnered Big West Conference All-Academic honors as a junior.

Character

Sedlak transferred to UC Davis after spending her freshman year at Oregon and, according to head coach Jamie Holmes, was instantly respected for her outstanding work ethic and for the experience from her previous program. “She is the first player in the gym during practices to call a timeout and rally the team together,” Holmes wrote in a nomination letter for the school’s W.P. Lindley Award (for academics, athletics, leadership and community service). “The beauty of it… they listen to her.” As such, Sedlak was selected as a team co-captain in 2010 – a position usually reserved for fourth- and fifth-year veterans of the program. As Holmes stated in the Lindley nomination, “Betsy speaks the language of our program to the student population, to teammates and to future Aggies… she is the very definition of a role model.”

Community

The entire UC Davis women’s volleyball team takes an active role in the local community, visiting elementary schools to provide lessons on good academic and lifestyle habits. Additionally, the Aggies held a youth program called “Lil’ Spikers” which, among other things, hosted volleyball clinics throughout the year. Besides taking part in these activities, Sedlak coaches for Five Starz Volleyball Club (formerly Davis Volleyball Club), heading the 14-and-under team in 2010, the 15U in 2011, and the “Starlets” program for ages 7-12.

Competition

Sedlak earned All-Big West Conference honorable mention as a sophomore, then picked up first-team accolades as a junior in 2010. She also led the conference with a school-record .395 hitting average (286-63-565) and established another UC Davis mark with 146 total blocks. Sedlak captured all-tournament honors at all four tournaments as a junior, including a tournament MVP nod at the Aggie Invitational – a performance that helped her claim Big West Player of the Week distinction.