Volleyball is a large part of Katie Sachwitz’s busy life.

Along with being vice president of the volleyball club, Sachwitz is a member of the Biological Honor Society and Women in Science and Engineering.

She is a senior in biology, preparing for medical school and wants to work in a family practice or in pediatrics. For four years, she has also been a volunteer, cleaning the home of a woman with muscular dystrophy.

But it’s been volleyball that’s taken her from the West Coast back to the Midwest, through the death of a parent and, she hopes, will remain in her life well past graduation.

Born in Minneapolis and raised in Seattle, she has been playing volleyball for 11 years, starting her high school volleyball career at Jackson High School in Seattle as an outside hitter.

After Sachwitz’s freshman year, her father was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and the family moved to Apple Valley, Minn. where she attended Eastview High School.

Sachwitz made the varsity volleyball team her sophomore year. Her father died Feb. 14, 2001, after volleyball season her senior year.

She said her father’s death shaped her into the person she is today. It is also one of the reasons she decided to become a doctor.

Sachwitz was named MVP and was all-conference in volleyball her junior and senior years of high school. She also received an award her senior year for having more than 100 kills in one season. She was recruited by Division II South Dakota State and several private schools in Minneapolis.

“I really liked Iowa State and decided to go [there] for academics,” Sachwitz said.

Several people encouraged Sachwitz to try to walk on the ISU volleyball team, including her high school coach.

“I just wanted to focus on my schoolwork, and I know that being a varsity player here takes a lot of time and a lot of weekends,” Sachwitz said. “I’m so glad they had a club.”

Sachwitz played USA Volleyball for the club her freshman and sophomore years. Last year, she was the captain of a collegiate team.

Sachwitz hopes to make the collegiate team again this year.

“It’s just more my style of playing, a little more organized,” she said.

Meagan McCullough, senior in industrial engineering, has been playing with Sachwitz for a year.

“She is a very dedicated member of the volleyball club,” McCullough said. “She is always at practice ready to play. Katie did a great job as an outside hitter for the club last year, and I’m sure she’ll do the same again this year.”

McCullough said Sachwitz is an asset to the team,

“Katie is very outgoing and talkative both on and off the court,” McCullough said. “If you can hear anyone, it’s Katie. Communication is one of the most important aspects of volleyball, so we need people like her on the court.”

Eliza Chouteau, club treasurer and junior in industrial engineering, has been playing with Sachwitz for a year as well.

“Let’s just say Katie is very vocal on the court,” Chouteau said.

Sachwitz said she would like to continue playing volleyball after she graduates in May.

“I would like to get involved with USAV teams,” she said. “I really love volleyball. I don’t want to stop playing.”

Sachwitz said she would love to coach a club team or school team someday.

“I want to have a hobby away from my job and would love to coach volleyball,” she said. “I like younger kids too, getting them developed and accustomed to volleyball, so middle school would be great. I really would coach anybody.”

After 11 years of volleyball, Sachwitz still loves the game.

“I play mainly because I love the sport, but the other big reason is the people I play with,” Sachwitz said. “I continue to play year after year because I make really good friends.”