Rohnert Park, CA - With recent events and decisions that have been made with the effect of COVID-19, the Sonoma State athletics department will be initiating a community outreach plan entitled "Alumni Testimonials" to help engage the Seawolf fan base and alumni community during these distanced times. Sonoma State has had a vast athletic history and it only seems fitting to take this time to honor and recognize some of our Seawolf/Cossack alumni as they give their testimonial about their time at Sonoma State and how their experience here has shaped them into the person they are today. We truly thank each and every member of our alumni family for their constant support and dedication to Sonoma State athletics over the history of the university and we hope that these personal testimonials will help maintain a positive and supportive environment during the COVID-19 era. 
 

First up in this week's alumni testimonial is volleyball alumni Madelyn Densberger! Maddy was a part of the Seawolves volleyball program from 2012-2015. Maddy had a stellar Seawolf career as she was a 3x All-CCAA First Team recipient, a 2x All-American and she helped Sonoma secure 2 CCAA Championships and 4 NCAA appearances during her career. We conducted an interview with her and asked a variety of questions including how to continue to push through these difficult times, how Sonoma State prepared her for the future, and what it meant to be a Sonoma State volleyball player:

 
What Being A Sonoma State Volleyball Player Meant to Me

"Well, let me just start by saying that is a fully loaded question. It didn't mean just one thing to me – it truly meant everything. It gave me an identity. To family and friends when they asked what I was up to, "I'm on the Sonoma State Volleyball Team". To classmates, "I'm on the Volleyball Team". To new friends, parents, friends, and everyone else, "I'm Maddy – I play Volleyball at Sonoma State.". After college, I remember feeling like something was missing – I was just "Maddy".

It gave me a purpose

"I spent days upon days with sore muscles, scraped up elbows, bruised thighs, and creaking knees, but every time I stepped on that court for a game, it was like something came alive in me. Sure, I was going to school and doing the best that I could to get grades that would impress a future job, but for those 5 years, I was locked-in on beating that girl on the other side of the net, and screaming as loud as I could and smiling from ear to ear with every hit that bounced off the floor – all the while, having my best friends next to me. Let me tell you– passion, adrenaline, happiness, and pure bliss like that does NOT come easily. There are very few things (if any) that I can compare to those moments on the floor. Do NOT take them for granted" (Densberger).

It gave me my best friends

"To this day, my best friends have come from my volleyball teams. The two best friends I have from high school and all of my best and closest friends from college – all teammates. Is this because we didn't have time for other things and people? Maybe. But I can guarantee that the bonds you have with the 12+ girls on the court are stronger, purer, and built on experiences and memories that no "normal" college student gets to experience; they are truly something special, extraordinary, and built to last a lifetime. These are girls that you've cried with, laughed so hard your stomachs hurt, driven through the in-n-out drive-thru at midnight, sat up for hours talking about nothing with, and the girls that you went to battle with every single week... When you start as a freshman, it feels like you have SO much time to spend with these girls, but I promise you, your senior year will sneak up on you, and all of the sudden, every second counts" (Densberger).

It prepared me for life 

"The games I lost, the times I got pulled from the court, the missed serves, the game-losing hits, and the shanked digs – as gut-wrenching as those were, those moments made me more motivated, resilient, and hard-working than anything else. Those moments made the great moments feel that much better, but more importantly, they taught me how to do those great moments. Achieving success and greatness isn't easy, but it's worth it. This team taught me that. Every single employer that I have worked with post-SSU volleyball, has told me those are traits about me they admire, and those are traits that I didn't even realize I had learned until it was all over" (Densberger).

To Current and Future Seawolves

"I can't begin to imagine what you all must be feeling, but what I am here to tell you is don't let this bump in the road distract you from what this team adds to your life. When Bear sent us an email telling us your season was postponed, I immediately thought back to what I would feel if I were in your shoes and I would truly be devastated. I am not sure what I would think or feel other than devastation, honestly. But, if I was in your shoes, I would hope that someone would remind me and encourage me to stick it out, trust the process, and remind me that when the season does come and I get to be on the court with my girls again, it would all be worth it. My five years with my wolfpack were filled with every emotion in the book. Did I think about quitting sometimes, YES. But it would have been one of the biggest regrets of my life to end a once in a lifetime experience like being a part of a successful collegiate Sonoma State Volleyball Program, because it truly is once in a lifetime. Hold tight and stick it out, Wolfpack!" (Densberger).  

 

We thank volleyball alumni Maddy Densberger for dedicating some of her time to giver her testimonial on her experience as a Sonoma State Seawolf. We also thank Maddy for all of her dedication and hard work she put into the program. You have truly helped build up the SSU volleyball program and Sonoma State athletics as a whole to where it is today and we can never thank you enough for your commitment to Seawolf athletics. 

If you are a Sonoma State alumni and would like to share your story, be sure to reach out to the current coach of your respective program where you can receive access to the questionnaire document to share and submit your Seawolf experience. To find all of our head coaches contact information be sure to visit our Staff Directory on the Seawolves athletics website.