Kaitlyn Vincek, number two for the Eastern Michigan University women’s volleyball team, decided to play volleyball after talking to the mother of a friend who ended up persuading her to try out.
“She ended up being my first coach and I played with her daughter up until college. Now we actually play against each other,” Vincek said.
Vincek, a senior at EMU from South Lyon, Mich. but born in Indianapolis, has many hobbies off the court. She enjoys coaching, reading, music, fishing, comedy and art. She said she loves all types of music, but her favorite genre is country.
Vincek’s favorite sport, not unlike many of her teammates, is hockey. Despite that, she said her favorite athlete is professional volleyball player and Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings.
“She was pregnant during the Olympics and she won her third gold,” Vincek said.
Competitively, Vincek played many other sports before deciding to pursue volleyball. She named softball, track, soccer, basketball and swimming and diving as the sports she’s played in the past.
This month falls into Vincek’s favorite time of year. She said fall is her favorite because of the weather, colors, college football and her own sport of volleyball.
Vincek is a sports management major, but said her favorite subject is history. Her favorite food is peanut butter, but as far as places to eat, her favorites are off campus.
“Dom’s is Ypsi’s finest, but Sidetrack has the best dinner,” she said.
Vincek’s favorite movie is the 1986 hit “Top Gun.” She also said her favorite actor is Clint Eastwood and her favorite actress is Meryl Streep.
Growing up, Vincek said her favorite show was the ABC Saturday Morning cartoon “Recess.” Now, her tastes have changed but the network stayed the same. Her favorite show right now is the ABC hit drama “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Vincek said she doesn’t have any unique talents. However, she did add she’s pretty “comedic.”
Vincek admires her parents and said they are caring and hardworking individuals.
Vincek is on track to graduate in the spring. She said in her time at EMU, her biggest accomplishment is serving on the NCAA Division I Student Athlete Advisory Council.
“I am one of 31 student-athletes across the nation that has been chosen to represent the Mid-American Conference,” Vincek said.
