USC will lose great senior athletes


On Saturday, I went to the men’s volleyball game against California Baptist University. It was Senior Night for the Trojans, and I decided to go because I figured it would be the last time I’d get to see one of the greatest setters in the game play in cardinal and gold. The way the team and the fans celebrated Micah was one of the most palpable emotions I’ve ever experienced.

Senior Night made me think about some of the other incredible seniors who will be graduating in 2015. In addition to Micah Christenson, USC will say goodbye to Elizabeth Eddy, Monica Vavic and Garrett Stubbs. That’s not to say the entire class of 2015 won’t be sorely missed, but these four athletes are the ones that have stood out to me in my semester as a sports editor.

Christenson led the Trojans as a co-captain for three seasons. In addition to his success at the collegiate level, Christenson has made a name for himself as one of the best setters in the world. Last summer, Christenson was the starting setter for the U.S. Men’s National Team that won an FIVB World League gold medal. He was the only collegian on that team. In 2013, he also served for the national team at the NORCECA Continental Championships and was named as the tournament’s Best Server and Best Setter. Next summer, he will rejoin the men’s national team in Rio for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Christenson will graduate with a degree in human biology. His leadership and skill will be big shoes to fill for the men’s volleyball team next season.

Eddy is one of the most talented Women of Troy to play for USC. She excelled in not only one, but two sports during her time at USC. Eddy’s natural athletic ability has brought her success in soccer as well as lacrosse. Her athleticism allowed room for versatility on the soccer pitch, as Eddy has played nearly every position for the Women of Troy, aside from keeper.

Though she was recruited for soccer, Eddy’s love for sports compelled her to take up lacrosse, and she joined the newly formed women’s lacrosse team. Though new to the sport, Eddy earned MPSF honors for her defensive performance.

She will leave USC with a degree in business administration. In January 2014, she was drafted by Sky Blue FC in the 2014 National Women’s Soccer League draft.

Vavic of the women’s water polo team has had an outstanding collegiate career, topped off by a senior season during which she became USC’s all-time leading scorer with 257 career goals. She is the daughter of Jovan Vavic, the head coach of the men’s and women’s water polo teams. Aside from her sheer talent, she is a team leader whom the Women of Troy will miss. Vavic will graduate with a degree in communication.

The baseball team is having one of the best seasons in recent years and is poised to go deep into the playoffs. This year, catcher Garrett Stubbs has emerged as a team leader.

Stubbs is batting .354 on the season, with the third highest average on the team. When he isn’t hitting, Stubbs is making heads-up plays behind the plate and leading his pitchers and the rest of the team.

Last season, the Baseball Draft Report ranked Stubbs as No. 40 on its 2014 MLB Draft College Catcher to Watch list. The baseball team still has a fair number of games to play this season, but behind the leadership of Stubbs, I am confident that the team will go far.

Though graduation is less than a month away, these seniors will be a part of the Trojan family forever. Once a Trojan, always a Trojan.

Regan Estes is a sophomore majoring in public relations and Spanish. She is also the sports editor of  the Daily Trojan. Her column “Wild Wild Westes,” runs on Tuesdays.

1 reply
  1. Steve B.
    Steve B. says:

    Why did you wait for the last home game of the regular season to attend? There were three other seniors with two of them
    starters ( Feathers & Rivera ) for most of the season also playing their last game except for the tournament this Saturday. Baseball is a different entity with good juniors being selected in the MLB draft that will also depart the college scene. Great that Stubbs
    stayed for four years along with Dante Flores, and A.J. Ramirez. It has been more than recent years for the team even making the playoffs back in 2005.

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