Everyday Champions is a program that recognizes the complete student-athlete – the student-athlete that makes a difference and makes an impact not only on the field of competition but in the classroom and in the community.

The Everyday Champion exemplifies the characteristics of STAR:

Stewardship

Teamwork

Achievement

Respect

In an attempt to recognize those student-athletes that go above and beyond the call of duty, Oregon State will choose an Everyday Champion each week throughout the school year and highlight their accomplishments.

Kristy Mortensen (Alamosa, Colo./Alamosa HS/Northeastern JC) is a senior on the Oregon State volleyball team. Through eight matches, she leads the Beavers with 2.78 digs per game and is second on the team with seven service aces. She maintains a 3.76 grade point average and is scheduled to graduate in June with a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences with an option in Human Service. Wednesday afternoon, she took time from her busy class and practice schedules to talk about her volleyball career, her experience at Oregon State and her plans for the future.

After playing setter your entire life and then playing mostly defensive specialist last year, you have had to shift positions to libero this season. How difficult has that change been?

“It has definitely been tougher to make the transition from DS to libero because as a setter and defensive specialist I wasn’t asked to pass. I just played defense and wasn’t involved in the serve-receive game before, now I have to be a primary passer.”

Is it disappointing to not be playing your original position any more?

“I am open to doing whatever it takes to be on the court. I’ll take any opportunity the coaches give me to contribute. This is just a new challenge and I like that.”

Having been recruited just a year or so ago by the Somera’s how has it been to now be playing for Terry?

“I was a little nervous and anxious to have a new coach, but at the first meeting and first practice I knew that I would really like Terry. It took a while to get the rest of the staff in place, but he talked about Salima and Mark so much that we were really looking forward to meet them.”

Why did you choose to come to OSU?

“I looked hard at a school in Florida and also UNLV. Then the coaches here called and offered a visit and tested my interest in transferring in the spring. I took the visit and liked it and here I am. My first impression of the girls on the team was positive. I liked the coaches and really liked the campus. Plus Corvallis is a good fit for me because I’m from a smaller town, this wasn’t too big of a jump.”

You have a GPA over 3.7 and your sport seems to play or practice year-round. How do you manage your time so well?

“I’m pretty adamant about getting my homework done. But I procrastinate too, just like everyone else. Getting good grades has just always been really important to me, so I force myself to study.”

What was your favorite class at OSU?

“HDFS 360 – Critical Thinking with Michelle Cox. It was a class that I was dreading. I thought it would be really boring, but it was just the opposite. Not to say it wasn’t a tough class, but it was very enjoyable.”

Last summer you worked at the Old Mill Center for Families and Children. Talk about that experience.

“It was for an internship at OSU. I worked in a couple pre-school classrooms there, one of which is more intensive for children that need more one-on-one attention. I went into it thinking that I might like to be a pre-school teacher and it was a great experience helping to make a difference in children’s lives, but pre-school isn’t the direction I want to go now.

You have a new internship this term. What is that one like?

“This internship is at the Family Services Center for Head Start. I’m helping family advocates provide different services, such as dental service, transportation, and teaching parenting skills to families in need. I have even had the opportunity to assist in home visits. I’m very intrigued to learn more about a career in family advocacy.”