Anna Baytosh, McKenna Carroll, Olivia Mediano and Anu Munkhtur make up the Chico State volleyball team’s 2014 recruiting class. Hailing from the Sacramento area, Northern California, Southern California and the Bay Area respectively, head coach Cody Hein and assistant coach Tommy Gott scoured the state looking for talent. The Orion had the chance to talk with the newcomers during the first week of classes.
Anna Baytosh
- 5 feet 10 inches outside hitter
- From Gold River, California and attended St. Francis High School
- Majoring in communications design
The Orion: What are the differences between high school and college volleyball?
Baytosh: College volleyball is much quicker and played at a higher level of intensity.
The Orion: How do you see yourself contributing to the team this season?
Baytosh: I see myself contributing to the team by working hard on the court and pushing my teammates to their fullest potential.
The Orion: How are you adjusting to life at Chico State so far?
Baytosh: I love college so far. It is definitely different from what I am used to but I love the town and my teammates are awesome so the transition has been easy.
The Orion: What is your favorite aspect of Chico, or the team, so far?
Baytosh: My favorite thing about Chico is the atmosphere. Everyone is friendly and I love how it’s a supportive college town.
McKenna Carroll
- 5 feet 8 inches setter
- From Redding, California and attended Enterprise High School
- Majoring in kinesiology
The Orion: What are the differences between high school and college volleyball?
Carroll: A major difference between high school and college volleyball is the speed of the game. Everything is much more advanced and played at a much faster tempo.
The Orion: How do you see yourself contributing to the team this season?
Carroll: I am a hard worker and am very competitive. I can see myself contributing these characteristics of mine every day whether it be in practices or games.
The Orion: How are you adjusting to life at Chico State so far?
Carroll: It’s been a little difficult adjusting to the college life because I don’t get to be a normal student like most of my friends. I constantly have practices and am exhausted by the end of each day. But I am getting used to balancing homework with volleyball.
The Orion: What is your favorite aspect of Chico, or the team, so far?
Carroll: My favorite thing about my team is that everyone was so welcoming and everyone is super funny. Our team is very close and I am excited to spend my first season with them all.
Anu Munkhtur
- 5 feet 3 inches defensive specialist
- From Albany, California attending Albany High School
- Majoring in kinesiology
The Orion: What are the differences between high school and college volleyball?
Munkhtur: Some of the differences between high school and college volleyball has to be the pace of the game and how it’s so much faster, and another thing would have to be that everyone is so talented because they’ve all been recruited to play.
The Orion: How do you see yourself contributing to the team this season?
Munkhtur: I see myself contributing to the team defensively and off the service line and hopefully strengthening their already great defense.
The Orion: How are you adjusting to life at Chico State so far?
Munkhtur: I’ve been adjusting to college life fine. It’s always different moving into a new place and not knowing many people, but being a part of a team has made it easier, already knowing 16 girls.
The Orion: What is your favorite aspect of Chico, or the team, so far?
Munkhtur: I think my favorite thing about Chico has to be the campus and how it’s so pretty with the brick and the trees.
Nick Reddy can be reached at [email protected] or @NickIsReddy on Twitter.
