“Welcome to the Team” is a Q&A series where the Collegian sits down with first-year student-athletes who are entering their first season at Butler University. These articles will address why they chose Butler, what they hope to get out of this season and some personal tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else.
This week, staff reporter Rocco Santoro sat down with five first-years from the Butler volleyball team: Lucy Gray, Karen Dutro, Taylor Wathen, Marin Thaxton and Chase Lemming.
Lucy Gray is a 6’2” outside hitter from Milwaukee, Wis. Photo courtesy of Butler Athletics.
THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: How did you first get into volleyball?
LUCY GRAY: [I started] when I was nine years old. It was a sport that my elementary school was offering, and I started playing because it was the only sport that I could play in [my] age group and I really liked it.
TBC: What made you pick Butler?
LG: I really liked the culture on the volleyball team, and I really loved how pretty the campus was. I felt like it was a good fit for me.
TBC: What is your favorite part about volleyball?
LG: The connections I’ve made over the years and all the friends I’ve gained. I think [volleyball is] a sport that’s rooted for in the community, and if you’ve got a good community, then you’ll really enjoy playing.
TBC: Do you have a favorite volleyball memory?
LG: All my travel tournaments with my club team. We were [like a] family, and it was really fun to travel with them.
TBC: Who is your favorite athlete and why?
LG: [A] volleyball player that I’ve really looked up to over the years is Madisen Skinner. I think she’s such a good player and when she was on Texas, she was dominant and a really good athlete.
Karen Dutro is a 6’1” middle blocker from Columbus, Ind. Photo courtesy of Butler Athletics.
TBC: What made you first get into volleyball?
KAREN DUTRO: I first got into volleyball when I was about seven years old. I went to high school summer camps and played with some of the older girls because my cousin was a coach at that high school. I didn’t start playing competitively until later.
TBC: Why did you choose Butler?
KD: I love all the girls on the team, and I love that Butler is kind of a smaller school where everyone’s very close-knit. [Butler] also has a neuroscience major, which is what I’m majoring in and it’s not very common at [other] colleges.
TBC: What are you most looking forward to by playing at Butler?
KD: Seeing how our team grows together. I still feel like we have newer pieces and we’re still growing and forming as a team. I’m just excited to see where that takes us and how we all learn to play together.
TBC: What is it like holding records for your high school?
KD: It was just a lot of fun playing high school volleyball. You are playing with all of your best friends; they were all around me to allow me to set those records and celebrate with me. Seeing those records is a memory of how much fun and joy high school volleyball brought me, so it’s a blessing for sure.
TBC: Who is your favorite movie character?
KD: My favorite movie character is Anna from “Frozen”.
Taylor Wathen is a 6’3” outside hitter/middle blocker from Louisville, Ky. Photo courtesy of Butler Athletics.
TBC: How did you first get into volleyball?
TAYLOR WATHEN: I first started volleyball in third grade, and at the time, it was something that all my friends were doing. I joined to be a part of it, and I ended up really falling in love with the sport and I’ve played it ever since.
TBC: What made you pick Butler?
TW: I think the culture is really great here. I think our team is a good resemblance of a community, and I think the whole school is [a community]. The professors really care about you [and] I like the class sizes and the campus.
TBC: What is it like being nominated for awards like Athlete of the Year and Rookie of the Year in high school and then trying to bring that success to college?
TW: It’s really cool to be awarded things in high school. I think it proves your hard work and it’s really cool. I hope to just be able to continue to grow in college and add to the team.
TBC: What are you most looking forward to at Butler?
TW: Continue to grow my connections with the people on my team and keep building. I feel like we have a small team that can really be something great in the future.
TBC: Who is your favorite music artist?
TW: Megan Moroney.
Marin Thaxton is a 5’9” outside hitter/defensive specialist from Chicago, Ill. Photo courtesy of Butler Athletics.
TBC: When did you first get into volleyball?
MARIN THAXTON: I started playing in third grade. I liked doing all sports when I was younger, so [volleyball] was a new one I wanted to try and it ended up being my favorite. I liked how there were six people and everyone’s position was important, yet so different at the same time. It was unique compared to others that I had played at a young age.
TBC: Why did you choose Butler?
MT: I chose Butler because of the size of the school. I wanted something not super big but not small, and something close to home. One of my biggest priorities is being near family. It’s nice to be able to have my parents come to games, and other girls on the team [are able to have] their families [here too]. The communal aspect of Butler is what drew me here.
TBC: What is it like to have a sibling play at the same college as you?
MT: It’s so fun. He comes with his friends to all of our games. I don’t think they’ve missed a single home game, and we’re excited to pay that favor forward in the spring when baseball has their games at home.
TBC: Do you have a pre-match ritual?
MT: I always meditate and visualize passing before a game, and I like to listen to calming music.
TBC: If you could add any rule to volleyball, what would it be?
MT: When you serve and they overpass, that should be counted as an ace. You should get some sort of stat.
Chase Lemming is a 5’11” outside hitter from Attica, Ind. Photo courtesy of Butler Athletics.
TBC: What made you first get into volleyball?
CHASE LEMMING: My dad was like, ‘Hey let’s go play some volleyball,’ and so I joined. I started when I was eight and [I’ve] been playing ever since.
TBC: What made you choose Butler?
CL: It was close to home, which was awesome. The coaches [were also a reason] and it felt like a family environment when I stepped on campus.
TBC: What has been your biggest adjustment for you since coming to college to play volleyball?
CL: Time management and learning the ropes of a new program.
TBC: Do you have a pre-serve ritual that you do?
CL: I bounce the ball one time and then I spin it on my hand.
TBC: Do you have a favorite Disney movie?
CL: “Tangled”.