Volleyball always has been, and always will remain, an important element in Alicia Hansen’s life; after all, the Midwest native was born to play the sport.

With her dazzling smile and trademark cherry berry brew colored lipstick, the 5-10 senior outside hitter for SIUC said she began playing volleyball at her Dike, Iowa high school a school with a rich volleyball history.

Actually, Dike’s program is very legendary in volleyball, Hansen said. From 1985 to 1989 we had state championships. In Dike, Iowa, you are born to play volleyball. If your not playing volleyball, what else is there?

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While at Dike, Hansen was named first team all-state, elite team all state, and Conference Player of the Year.

Dike’s legendary volleyball program is nothing short of a recruiting mecca for college coaches. In addition to Hansen, Dike High School also produced Lori Simpson, the 1991 Gateway Conference Player of the Year for the Salukis.

It was Dike’s solid volleyball program that attracted SIUC coach Sonya Locke. While playing for Dike, Hansen was recruited by such schools as Memphis State, Iowa, Iowa State and DePaul, when Locke came calling.

During my senior year, coach Locke called and wanted me to go to SIUC immediately, Hansen said. She told me she could guarantee me an offer. So my parents and I drove down here to talk to coach Locke.

Hansen said a variety of elements influenced her decision to sign with SIUC.

The campus was just beautiful, I really loved it, Hansen said. The other athletes would smile at you and it seemed like a very friendly atmosphere. I was very impressed with the campus and have no regrets at all.

Hansen, a sports marketing major, said her four-year experience as a spiker at SIUC has been an enjoyable one, thanks in part to her fellow team members. She said her and her teammates are just like sisters.

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Playing here has been both fun and exciting, Hansen said. We are all so close and that is what makes it so fun. We’re really close. We go out together, we study together. We could be blood.

It’s like a huge family, and I’m really going to miss it.

Together, the entire Saluki entourage travels to Normal on Friday to participate in the Missouri Valley Conference volleyball tournament. Friday will mark the first time the Salukis have appeared in the tournament.

Hansen said making the tournament this year has been both a thrill and a relief.

Getting into the tournament has been a huge relief, and I’m really excited, she said. Now that we are in, we can play the way we want to play because there is no more pressure. We can just play our own game.

If we play the way we know how to play, there will be no stopping us.

Last year, the Salukis came an inch away from making the tournament last year, but were edged out by Bradley. Hansen said getting into the tournament this year is the highlight of her career as a Saluki.

Our goal has a team is to get to the MVC, Hansen said. Hopefully we can dominate there and that will be the highlight of my career.

As ironic as it may seem, Hansen said Locke is the most competitive member on the team.

She has different ways of motivating us, and she is definitely the most competitive person on the team, Hansen said. She pushes us in practice and she will never let up.

She is the lion of the forest. She’s definitely a bearcat, but I wouldn’t want her any other way. She’s very motivating and discipline is her middle name.

Hansen has produced equally impressive numbers at SIUC this season. In her last three matches, Hansen has averaged 11 kills, six digs and 2 blocks while hitting a solid .273. She ranks fourth on the team in kills with 187.

Because volleyball is such an important aspect of her life, Hansen said she will be saddened once her playing days at SIUC come to an end. Although she does not have any solid plans at this time, Hansen said she somehow find a way to return to sport that is so dear to her.

As far as coaching goes, I haven’t given it a lot of thought, she said. Somehow I know I will get back into it. Sports has become a part of my life.