NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Connecticut College community has been fortunate to have an outstanding group of more than 100 senior student-athletes who have represented the institution with class, respect, and sportsmanship in competition as well as a variety of other ways.
Over the upcoming weeks, we will take a look at the Class of 2020's overall experience at Connecticut College as a student, athlete, and citizen; what being a student-athlete at the institution has meant, and what lessons they will take with them into the real world following graduation.
Today, our 15th team spotlight will highlight and celebrate the two seniors of the volleyball program. We spoke with head coach Josh Edmed about the group as well the seniors themselves about their overall experience at Connecticut College over the past four years.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW A VOLLEYBALL PHOTO GALLERY OF TEAM MEMORIES
Volleyball Class of 2020
Dayna McCue (Captain) (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) – Economics & Government Double Major
Grace McGee (Captain) (Portland, Ore./Oregon Episcopal School) – Botany Major
Head Coach Josh Edmed on the Class of 2020
"Dayna and Grace have exemplified the true spirit and values of being a Camel. Their commitment to leadership, learning, hard work, and empathy have allowed them to excel in all that they do both on the court and in the classroom. We have been fortunate in having these two amazing individuals involved in our program, and I can't wait to see all of the successes they will experience as they begin their professional careers."
Below are questions we asked the seniors as well as their answers about their personal experiences at Connecticut College as student-athletes over the past four years.
Q: Why did You Choose to Attend Connecticut College?
Dayna: I chose Connecticut College because it allowed me to continue my athletic career without sacrificing my academic and social goals.
Grace: I wanted to continue my education at an institution where I could explore different academic paths and keep playing my favorite sport.
Q: What is your favorite Camel athletic moment?
Dayna: My favorite athletic moment was going to the NESCAC Tournament in 2016.
Grace: Senior Day was incredibly fun. Having Dayna's and my families both present, a bunch of fans, and all of our teammates playing for each other created a fun and exciting atmosphere.
Note: To view a photo gallery of the Senior Day ceremony, please click here.
Q: What does #OneCamel mean to you?
Dayna: #OneCamel means that every student and athlete at Connecticut College is united under a single nation.
Grace: #OneCamel unites our campus and athletic teams. It encourages my team to operate as a cohesive unit, and it inspires all teams to support each other through our shared love of sports.
Q: What do your teammates mean to you?
Dayna: To me, my teammates are friends, sisters, supporters, motivators, and competitors.
Grace: My teammates from all four years are people with whom I share so many of my experiences at Conn. They have been my support system on and off the court and encouraged me to be the best person I can be.
Q: What is your favorite team memory?
Dayna: My favorite team memory was our trip to Costa Rica in the winter of 2019. During this trip, we played against several local teams, went white water rafting, zip-ling, surfing, and helped at a local turtle sanctuary.
Grace: The last weekend of our season in 2017 was my favorite weekend of NESCAC play. We lost both matches to Tufts and Bowdoin, but that's the best volleyball I have ever played with a team. It was a bittersweet ending to the season, but knowing that we all had put our best effort into those two games sustains my love for the sport.
Q: What is the best thing about being in the NESCAC?
Dayna: The competition.
Grace: I am really drawn to the level of competition that every team in the NESCAC embodies. Every team in the conference plays to the best of its ability and values its time on the court, creating an environment that made me look forward to each coming season even more than the last during my four years.
Q: Describe the greatest part of your Connecticut College experience outside of being on the volleyball team.
Dayna: The greatest part of my Conn experience besides athletics was the opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain in the spring of 2019.
Grace: Over the last four years, I have learned how to be a part of a team that isn't in athletics. With my roles of advising first-year students and serving on the Honor Council, I have learned to collaborate with other people and work together to connect our ideas and come to a consensus. Through this, I enjoyed getting to know some of my peers as well as faculty and deans from across the College.
Q: Describe a research project or presentation you had the opportunity to work on as a student at Connecticut College.
Dayna: During the fall of senior year, I presented my semester-long research project detailing the rise of gun violence in America and factors contributing to the apparent rise. For the project, I extensively researched the topic, wrote a scholarly article, and created a poster in order to share my findings with my peers at Connecticut College.
Grace: I am currently working on my Senior Integrative Project for my CISLA certificate with Professor Jones of the Botany Department about the influence of herbaria on current plant conservation efforts. This project is combining my experience of working in a herbarium during the summer of 2019 in Madrid, Spain, with research I am still doing which involves an analysis of plants' historical importance and the evolution of botanical study between the United States and Spain.
Note: To learn more about the CISLA experience at Connecticut College, please click here.
Q: What has been your favorite class?
Dayna: A few of my favorite courses include Essentials of Fitness and Wellness, Math of Money, International Trade, and European Politics.
Grace: I loved Introduction to Botany. I knew in high school that I wanted to continue studying biology, and when I took this course during my first semester at Conn, it was absolutely engaging. The information was a novel version of what I thought I already knew, and understanding more about the natural world around me was engrossing.
Q: Who has been your favorite professor?
Dayna: I have had many favorite professors, but one that stands out is Noel Garrett. He is an extremely helpful and supportive professor and Dean at Connecticut College. I encourage all students to reach out to Noel. He is a great support system to have on campus, and I am always so amazed by his vast knowledge.
Grace: Kris Hardeman in the Botany Department is one of my favorite professors. She taught the course that introduced me to my field of study, and I think about that semester often. She is also my academic advisor, and the guidance she has given me over the last couple of years has been very helpful to my overall experience.
Q: Name an individual who has been the most influential and supportive of you at any point during your four years at Connecticut College.
Dayna: My parents have been the most supportive of me throughout my college experience. They have been there at almost every game and never stopped believing in me as an athlete and a student.
Grace: Patty Giannattasio is somebody who I have felt unconditionally supported by during my time at Conn. I valued her leadership style and extensive knowledge of the sport while she was our assistant coach. She made a point to listen to what is said and make me feel heard before offering guidance, and I am so grateful for her encouragement.
Q: What is the greatest lesson you have learned from being a student-athlete at Connecticut College?
Dayna: One of the greatest lessons I learned from being a student-athlete is to cherish every moment on the court and with your teammates.
Grace: I have learned how and when to be a team member and leader in all of my pursuits. My communication has also developed tremendously over the last four years from working with different groups at the College and being part of various programs.
Q: What are your career goals and plans for after graduation?
Dayna: After graduation, I will be moving to Chicago to work for Morningstar in their development program. I also plan to pursue a master's degree during or after completion of the program.
Grace: I am hoping to be back on the East Coast at some point working in environmental conservation or doing botanical field work.
Be sure to check back with www.camelathletics.com over the upcoming weeks as we continue to highlight and celebrate the senior student-athletes in the Class of 2020 as well as the positive experiences they have had at Connecticut College over the last four years.
