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26 CAVALIER CORNER Dean was also able to witness her sister go through the college recruiting process. In the fall of 2020, shortly after the onset of COVID-19, Karli began her collegiate vol- leyball career at the University of Missouri- St. Louis. Two years later, Kate also fulfilled her dream of playing college volleyball after signing with Eastern Illinois, located less than 30 miles away from Tuscola. Despite having to go their separate ways in college, both Kate and Karli were fre- quently banded together growing up, even at the same position on the same team. "It definitely brought us together, when I feel like it could have driven us apart," Dean said. "We were playing the same position, too, and I was always playing up a couple age groups. So, we were always in the same realm of the club that we were at. And in high school, we were fighting for the same position. "But I feel like that's what made us so close, because we could bond over those experiences and obviously compete with each other, which was always fun." Dean's passion for the game is probably best encapsulated by her tenure at East- ern Illinois, where she played not only two seasons of indoor volleyball in the fall of 2022 and 2023, but was also a member of BY PATRICK BOLING W hile Virginia third-year middle blocker Kate Dean is only in her first semester on Grounds, her volleyball journey started "the day [she] was born." A native of Tuscola, Ill., Dean comes from a family whose volleyball roots run deep. Her mother, Keri, was the longtime head coach at Tuscola High School, from where Kate and her older sister Karli ultimately graduated. "I remember me and my older sister always just trying to play with the [high school] girls at practice, but we didn't know what we were doing," Dean said. "And then as soon as I could — when I turned 8 — I started playing club. Ever since then, I've been in travel volleyball and school volleyball, and it's just al- ways been something that's drawn me to it. "I knew pretty much always that I wanted to play in college, too, so that's always been a dream of mine." With Dean as one of their starting middle blockers, the Cavaliers posted a historic be- ginning to their 2024 season by winning 10 of their first 11 matches — the program's best start since 2003. (Photo courtesy UVA) " I feel like by coming to UVA, I could push myself in school, push myself in volleyball, and also be away from home to get used to real life." DEAN PERFECT FIT Third-Year Middle Blocker Kate Dean Looks To Lead The Cavaliers To New Heights