Written by Genre McAtee '16
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Jensen Cunningham (JC) put a lot of hard work into the 2015 sand volleyball season after transferring to Santa Clara University in the middle of her freshman year. Cunningham told Santa Clara Broncos (SCB) that she is already looking forward to the indoor season and is excited to find out what she will bring to the Bronco team.
SCB: Why did you decide to transfer to Santa Clara University after playing for San Diego State as a freshman?
JC: I decided to transfer to Santa Clara because San Diego State didn't feel like a home to me. I also wasn't enjoying my volleyball career there so I wanted to look for a different atmosphere and Santa Clara was the perfect fit for me academically and volleyball wise.
SCB: How did you like your first year on the Mission campus? What made this year a memorable one for you?
JC: The first two quarters I've experienced at Santa Clara have been nothing less than a great time. The students here are a lot more welcoming and friendly which has carried into the classroom atmosphere. I felt comfortable here from the start. The most memorable thing for me was convincing some of my teachers of strange nicknames I go by and having them refer to me by those strange nicknames.
SCB: You played alongside GiGi Cresto for most of the season. Can you elaborate on your experiences being a part of that team?
JC: GiGi Cresto and I became good friends because of the partnership during sand season. We had some rough patches here and there because sand is a very frustrating sport but the best part of it was how we could always rely on each other to make one another laugh when one of us was having a tough time. Our friendship has grown into more than just partners in the sand. We lift weights together and push each other to lift more. Outside of volleyball we will cook and bake together, so I would say the best part about sand was the good friend I got out of it.
SCB: Congratulations on the completion of your first sand season as a Bronco! What are you going to be doing next?
JC: Since sand ended, the only thing I've been thinking about is indoor season. I didn't enjoy my freshman season so I'm hoping to make up for that here by starting over. I'm looking forward to practices and putting in hard work to see what this team can accomplish and how I can help.
SCB: With the 2015 sand volleyball season in the books, will you have more free time to watch Netflix? What kinds of shows or movies do you like to watch?
JC: I always make time for Netflix. My roommate calls the living room my happy place because if I'm not doing homework or volleyball I'm on the couch watching Netflix. My favorite show is Sons of Anarchy. I actually just started it over again. Movie wise it all depends on my mood. I usually like the old romantic comedies that I used to watch with my mom at home.
