Senior Letter: Kristen Ostach

A letter written by Kristen Ostach. Senior night will be Saturday Nov. 25 at 7PM vs. Michigan State.

To our fans: Thank you for your unwavering support. In my 16 home matches as an Indiana Hoosier you have created an energy and excitement in the gym that is unparalleled. I am so grateful to have experienced such enthusiasm for the sport of volleyball from the surrounding community. Running out to a packed crowd at UGym and high-fiving fans in the RedZone will be a memory that I will always hold close to my heart. Your presence at matches made me eager to represent Indiana University. It's been a pleasure meeting each one of you after games and being welcomed with kind smiles and words of encouragement, whether the outcome was favorable or not. I am lucky to have shared this experience with all of you, and I hope to join you in the stands next year to cheer on our favorite girls!

To my teammates: I couldn't have asked for a better group of girls to spend my last season with. Thank you for welcoming me into your world from the beginning and making me feel accepted even when I was too shy to let my whole personality show. The transition to IU was challenging for me, from meeting new people, struggling to drive through Bloomington, to summer Versa workouts; I couldn't have survived without each one of you by my side. You are some of the most kind-hearted and fun individuals that I have ever met, and we always have a way of making the best out of the worst of situations. I don't believe there is a deeper bond you can form with a group of people until you are caught in a rainstorm blind folded and holding onto a raft. When I think about all the friendships we've formed and memories we've shared, I am sad that one season is all the time we have together. However, I am excited to see what the future holds for each of you. You are some of the most talented individuals that I have ever played alongside, and I hope you never loose sight of your capabilities. Thank you for being so unapologetically yourselves and for letting me be a part of your family, you have made it the experience of a lifetime.

To the coaches: Thank you for taking a chance on me. I recognize that I'm not the most skilled or physical player, but I truly wish that I was able to fulfill your expectations as a member of this team. Thank you for your patience with me and constant encouragement, even during the roughest of times. I hope that my hard work and trust has demonstrated my respect for each one of you. I've learned and appreciated so much more about this game in one season than I have the majority of my career. I am so grateful for the opportunity you have given me to come to Indiana University, but I am even more grateful for the culture that you have established here. It's been a long time since I've felt a strong sense of support from a coaching staff and I believe you model everything that college athletics should be. Thank you again for this once in a lifetime experience and I am excited to see what the future holds for this program!

To my parents: There isn't one game that I can remember looking up in the stands and not seeing you. It didn't matter if I was playing, benched, or injured...you were there. And it took me until college to realize how rare it was to have parents that would drop everything and drive across the state(s) for a two hour match. Thank you for making every game a priority and showcasing your love for me every day. Sometimes I can't believe that I was blessed with such incredible parents. You're always eager to lend an ear to listen to my daily frustrations, and keep me centered on what matters most when I get led astray. I am so grateful to have the close relationship that we do. No one knows how long and challenging of a career it has been but you two. I know the pain you felt when I got hurt for the second time, and I want to thank you for helping me get through that rough period and not letting me give up on the game that I love so much. Everything that I have accomplished in my life is a direct result of your unconditional love and support. I love you both so much and thank you for allowing me to get this far, its been a dream come true.

To the support staff: Without all of you, there would be no team. You keep us healthy, sane, well fed, and clean. You show up to work long before we get to practice, and don't leave until long after. I have never experienced a team that is more well-taken care of than this one. Thank you for your time and dedication to this program, whether you are taping ankles, keeping score, or practicing with us, we simply couldn't function without you. I also want to especially thank Shane and Amanda for their support off the court. Both of you give so much to this program, and it shows in how highly the team thinks of you. I am lucky to be surrounded by people that care so much about the well-being of each player on this program, the family like environment created by all of you has demonstrated to me what it means to be a Hoosier.

Indiana University Athletics

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