Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus Weber State (Exhibition) on August 15, 2026 at 3:00 P.M.
3:00 P.M.
Volleyball
vs Weber State (Exhibition)
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The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Steve C. Wilson
Dear Berkeley
11/25/2019 4:27 PM | Volleyball
The Senior Parents Wrote Letters to Their Daughters Leading into Senior Day
With Senior Day this Wednesday, November 27 at 4 p.m., the parents of each senior wrote a letter to their daughter. Next up, is Berkeley Oblad.
Dear Berkeley,
I remember when you started playing volleyball at eight, and were the tallest of your age and most of the time people assumed you were a year or two older then you actually were, which set a certain standard for you at a young age. Luckily for your dad and I, you stepped up to those assumptions and took them on willingly and like a champ.
You took a significant stand on who you wanted to be and how you wanted to be perceived on and off the court early in your career. Volleyball has helped mold you in so many ways, and I am positive we could never count them. This game has forced you to be "Comfortable being Uncomfortable"- a quote you would hear often from one of your club coaches and friend, Ruben Herrera.
I remember your first volleyball practices you were so willing to learn and make mistakes. You were there to learn a new sport and were determined to do just that. It also never mattered who was around you that was more skilled, more polished, more prepared, more aggressive or even louder. You were fine to be yourself and do your best. You have always measured yourself to your own standards and not to other players or athletes around you. I personally think this has helped you to not be jealous by the success of others or be intimidated by your peers in the field of volleyball, but has given you such a competitiveness that has pushed you to be better!
I remember when you were eight-years old and couldn't serve it over the net or barely from the 10-foot line. I remember when you circled the court without a position, learning the game. I remember when you weren't the tallest girl on the court. I remember when we would tell you to start calling the ball and would reply "I do!"
We would say, "Then you are not loud enough! Be louder, be more aggressive."
I also remember wondering if you would ever be able to hit the ball as hard as "older girls" did. I remember when you waited to hear "IF" you made a Club team the first time you tried out. We were so nervous, and I remember how proud I felt of you after each and every time you would step over one of these milestones.
Each one had its own sense of awe for the long hours and personal sacrifices you made to reach the goals you had personally set.
What I didn't know at this time was how many milestones you would continue to step on, over and crush.
Some of these skills were a lot of work and took a lot of reps to develop. Watching you at practice being frustrated, teary and exhausted, yet still very determined to master whatever skill you were working on was enlightening and inspiring. Looking back now I can identify how you would later maneuver through your life with this same kind of work ethic and perseverance.
I specifically remember you learning to run a slide for the first time. You club coach, Sam Richards, walked you through each step, what felt like a hundred times. First you went through the foot work and then added the arms, then the jump and finally the ball. I remember thinking, can this really be pulled off in a game? Will Berkeley be able to time the set and the steps right? Now when I watch you run a slide in a game, I get little glimpses of this first practice, and I am amazed at how far you have come.
Another moment I count as significant in seeing how far this girl of mine has come was when you were a 13-year-old eighth grader, you were asked to play on your clubs 18's team for their final qualifier in Southern California. The team was made up of high school seniors and juniors. Some of the girls had a school dance they didn't want to miss, which is why you were invited to play with them. Now, these girls weren't just older then you, but they had a lot of volleyball maturity and muscle development that you hadn't gotten yet...... I believe you went into the weekend with the understanding that this was not going to be easy, but you could take the little victories from each match and use it to build on and help you overcome hard moments that you would experience as you continued to play this game. That first block you got on one of those high school seniors was thrilling for you and me. I wanted the whole gym to know how young you were at that moment and how huge that was that this 13-year-old just blocked an 18-year-old.
I would like to think it was moments like this that helped to prepare you for the contribution you would make as an incoming freshman playing significant minutes at The University of Utah, in the volleyball mecca that is the Pac-12.
You have developed exponentially since you began 15 years ago and there have been many many amazing coaches who contributed to your success, but I would be amiss to not acknowledge and complement profusely Beth, JJ, Malia and Dan. They have had an enormous impact on refining your skills, making you stronger, more confident and so much more refined while you played here at the U. And not just in the realm of volleyball, but as a leader and woman.......
Oh, the things you have learned and the person you have become because of this game. I am forever grateful for how this sport has shaped you and your future.
I would have never guessed you would come this far from that very first practice.
Berkeley, we are beyond proud of you and love you without limits.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Dear Berkeley,
I remember when you started playing volleyball at eight, and were the tallest of your age and most of the time people assumed you were a year or two older then you actually were, which set a certain standard for you at a young age. Luckily for your dad and I, you stepped up to those assumptions and took them on willingly and like a champ.
You took a significant stand on who you wanted to be and how you wanted to be perceived on and off the court early in your career. Volleyball has helped mold you in so many ways, and I am positive we could never count them. This game has forced you to be "Comfortable being Uncomfortable"- a quote you would hear often from one of your club coaches and friend, Ruben Herrera.
I remember your first volleyball practices you were so willing to learn and make mistakes. You were there to learn a new sport and were determined to do just that. It also never mattered who was around you that was more skilled, more polished, more prepared, more aggressive or even louder. You were fine to be yourself and do your best. You have always measured yourself to your own standards and not to other players or athletes around you. I personally think this has helped you to not be jealous by the success of others or be intimidated by your peers in the field of volleyball, but has given you such a competitiveness that has pushed you to be better!
I remember when you were eight-years old and couldn't serve it over the net or barely from the 10-foot line. I remember when you circled the court without a position, learning the game. I remember when you weren't the tallest girl on the court. I remember when we would tell you to start calling the ball and would reply "I do!"
We would say, "Then you are not loud enough! Be louder, be more aggressive."
I also remember wondering if you would ever be able to hit the ball as hard as "older girls" did. I remember when you waited to hear "IF" you made a Club team the first time you tried out. We were so nervous, and I remember how proud I felt of you after each and every time you would step over one of these milestones.
Each one had its own sense of awe for the long hours and personal sacrifices you made to reach the goals you had personally set.
What I didn't know at this time was how many milestones you would continue to step on, over and crush.
Some of these skills were a lot of work and took a lot of reps to develop. Watching you at practice being frustrated, teary and exhausted, yet still very determined to master whatever skill you were working on was enlightening and inspiring. Looking back now I can identify how you would later maneuver through your life with this same kind of work ethic and perseverance.
I specifically remember you learning to run a slide for the first time. You club coach, Sam Richards, walked you through each step, what felt like a hundred times. First you went through the foot work and then added the arms, then the jump and finally the ball. I remember thinking, can this really be pulled off in a game? Will Berkeley be able to time the set and the steps right? Now when I watch you run a slide in a game, I get little glimpses of this first practice, and I am amazed at how far you have come.
Another moment I count as significant in seeing how far this girl of mine has come was when you were a 13-year-old eighth grader, you were asked to play on your clubs 18's team for their final qualifier in Southern California. The team was made up of high school seniors and juniors. Some of the girls had a school dance they didn't want to miss, which is why you were invited to play with them. Now, these girls weren't just older then you, but they had a lot of volleyball maturity and muscle development that you hadn't gotten yet...... I believe you went into the weekend with the understanding that this was not going to be easy, but you could take the little victories from each match and use it to build on and help you overcome hard moments that you would experience as you continued to play this game. That first block you got on one of those high school seniors was thrilling for you and me. I wanted the whole gym to know how young you were at that moment and how huge that was that this 13-year-old just blocked an 18-year-old.
I would like to think it was moments like this that helped to prepare you for the contribution you would make as an incoming freshman playing significant minutes at The University of Utah, in the volleyball mecca that is the Pac-12.
You have developed exponentially since you began 15 years ago and there have been many many amazing coaches who contributed to your success, but I would be amiss to not acknowledge and complement profusely Beth, JJ, Malia and Dan. They have had an enormous impact on refining your skills, making you stronger, more confident and so much more refined while you played here at the U. And not just in the realm of volleyball, but as a leader and woman.......
Oh, the things you have learned and the person you have become because of this game. I am forever grateful for how this sport has shaped you and your future.
I would have never guessed you would come this far from that very first practice.
Berkeley, we are beyond proud of you and love you without limits.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Players Mentioned
MB
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