Every person has a favorite pastime. For some of us that pastime consumes our life, it becomes our passion.
This is the case for Lindsay Matikosh, an outside hitter for the UB volleyball team. For this California born, North Tonawanda raised junior, few things have been more important than volleyball for the past 10 years.
"Volleyball is my life, it's one of the things I can go out there, go out on the court and not have to think of what I'm doing . If I'm having a bad day in school I can come on the court and forget everything and just focus on volleyball."
Buffalo was lucky to have landed Matikosh over Toledo, Kent State, and Northern Illinois.
"I had a couple offers from other MAC schools, but the team here was so open and welcoming . I was like 'I can really fit in there and grow with them.'"
The leader in both kills (323) and digs (315) in the 2001 season, she has an impressive list of accomplishments to show for her dedication to the sport. Three straight Class A New York State High school championships (97-99), five varsity letter winning years, three Empire State Games gold medals, 1999 Gatorade NYS High School Player of the Year award, and the 2001 UB team MVP are just a few. In fact, Matikosh is also on pace to become just the fourth player in UB history to record over 1,000 kills and digs in a career.
Despite her skill on the court, Buffalo was unable to muster more than five wins in the 2001 season, with a dismal 0-18 MAC, 5-23 overall record. But a new season brings a new coach and a new attitude and Matikosh has a positive outlook for the 2002 season.
"We're struggling a little bit right now, but we're also still learning together how to deal with everything and everyone, so it'll take some time but we'll be up there."
She feels that the coaching staff's extensive knowledge of the game is going to be a great motivational factor.
"They all have so much information to tell us that sometimes we walk out of practice and we're like, 'Oh my God, they just know so much.'"
Processing the amount of volleyball information that comes from the mouths of the qualified coaching staff could be difficult considering her special major, early childhood education. Her schedule consists of waking up at 6 a.m. to go lift and condition, go to class, eat, study, and then be at Alumni Arena again for practice from 4-7 p.m.
"It's really tough being a student-athlete and a lot of people are like, 'Oh student-athletes, they get all this stuff'. But we have to wake up at six and do all these things . we're already here three weeks before classes start, practicing . we have no life from August to November pretty much."
Having very little personal time, Matikosh leans on her accommodating teammates during the long volleyball season.
"There's no other word to describe (the team) other than awesome. When you come in as a freshman you're lucky to automatically have 11 friends right away. We spend so much time together we're like a family."
Finding herself already in her third year of collegiate play, Matikosh has found a source of motivation: the drive to win before her time is up.
"This is my second to last year. At this time next year, I'll be thinking, 'I'm a senior, this is going to be my last first game, my last preseason.' A lot of that keeps me motivated right now, but just my teammates. I want to do well for them, I just love the game so much."
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
