Autumn Wedan hasn’t cracked a hole in the Chiles Center floor yet, however with the amount of kills this six-foot senior has tallied, it seems unavoidable. Wedan exploded into the spotlight last season for the Pilots as an unstoppable outside hitter, and with preseason all-tournament honors in Las Vegas and a daunting 33 kills during their opening tournament this past weekend, Wedan appears to be relentless in her pursuit of a successful senior year.
How did you originally start playing volleyball?
I was actually a softball player my whole life. My future high school volleyball coach found me on the softball diamond and basically said, “You’re going to come play volleyball for me.” So I started in sixth grade, just little club stuff. I never played club volleyball, just high school because I was really focused on softball. Then I decided my junior year that it was volleyball I wanted to pursue in college and came to a camp at UP. It all just kind of fell into place.
Have you ever looked back and thought you should have stayed with softball?
Absolutely not. Naturally, I think about softball sometimes, but I am so happy here playing volleyball. It’s my passion now.
Do you have a favorite volleyball memory from your time thus far at UP?
One of my favorite moments in volleyball was last year when we beat Notre Dame. It was a really big game for us. Also it was the first game where I really started to play a lot more. It was kind of like a breaking out game for me. There were a lot of people there and it was a great environment.
Could you describe the feeling you get after a really great kill?
It’s kind of relieving. All your work and your team’s work on that set have come together, and it’s just kind of a relieving feeling more than anything.
What does your pre-game routine look like?
Every day when I wake up before a game, I listen to one of the songs that my dad and I used to listen to when I was growing up. Then I go about my normal morning routine. Afterwards, I have a playlist of five to 10 songs that I only listen to the beginning parts of, maybe like 30 seconds of each one, just thinking about the game. After that I go back and listen to the song I started my day with. It brings it all back full circle.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Portland?
I am a really big people watcher. I love going downtown and sitting in different cafes. People in Portland are very interesting and it is definitely a fun place to people watch in.
Do you have any sports heroes or someone you really look up to?
For volleyball, I’d have to say Destinee Hooker or Logan Tom just because they are both really big icons and it’s so fun to watch them play. However, all around it is Dan O’Brien. He is from my hometown. Even though I never ran track, it’s an inspiration for me to know what he accomplished and what I am capable of doing as well.
Do you have any plans or dreams for after graduation?
I’d like to go overseas and play. That’s where I am looking right now. I am hoping to study animal behavior further. I’m just focused on my senior year season right now.
