During her years with Stanford, she never failed to impress us with her all around skills. Cassidy Lichtman can set, can dig, can serve, can pass, can block and many more. She is a complete package!
Despite her busy schedule since finishing her collegiate year last year, Cass granted us the chance to interview her and share to us her thoughts about her years with Stanford University’s women’s volleyball team, unforgettable moments, the present and the future.
After the 2010 season…
After season ended I took about a month off from volleyball and lifting per my trainer’s demands. He actually requested more time but I had to stay in shape because in late January I started going down to Anaheim to train. There was a winter training block for college seniors but I didn’t want to leave school completely so I went down on Thursdays and Fridays.
In January I also started coaching club. I was the assistant coach for Vision 18 Gold. That was a great experience. My team was not only very skilled but they were also a really fun bunch of girls to work with. I also got to coach with one of our assistants at Stanford, Jason Mansfield, who’s a wonderful coach so I learned a lot. We went to the Junior Olympics in July and won a bronze medal.
I graduated from Stanford in June with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s in History. Getting those diplomas was definitely a relief. I spent the last few weeks in San Diego training, going to the beach and getting things ready for Poland. I left the US last July 30th and so far Poland has been very exciting!
Non-volleyball Plans…
I’m putting off the real world for the time being but I think I would like to go into something related to foreign policy or nuclear nonproliferation. I’m interested in conflicts and how we can minimize them so we don’t end up destroying our world.
Favorite volleyball position…
I really don’t. I have a preference for winning. Whatever I happen to be doing on the court to help us win me happy. It’s all just volleyball to me.
The Stanford Volleyball experience…
By far, the best part has been getting to know the people in this program. I could not have picked better teammates. No matter how much time we spend together I’m still excited to see them because they are such amazing people. Our staff-coaches, trainers, doctors, admin- is absolutely the best in the country, atleast in my admittedly biased opinion. I’ve learned so much from all of them and become a much better volleyball player and a better person from their influence. It sounds cliche but our program was really like a family and I will always appreciate that aspect of my Stanford experience above all else.
3 Favorite Matches…
Texas in the semifinal in 2008. We were down 0-2, went in for the break and just rallied around each other, coming back to win in 5. I will always see that match in my mind as the ultimate team performance. I also loved watching the replay on tv and hearing the announcers say over and over again that it had never been done before. In that moment though, when we stepped out onto the court in the 5th game there was no question for any of us that we were going to win it.
A similar match, Cal at home for the last match of the PAC 10 in 2009. We went down 0-2 again and were down in the 3rd. Somehow we came back to win the set and going into the 4th I knew we had the match. We clinched at least a share of our 4th consecutive PAC 10 title with that win. Ten minutes later in the locker room we found out Oregon upset Washington and we were the outright champs after maybe the craziest PAC 10 season ever.
Beating Penn State in preseason in 2010. There was just so much emotion for us going into that match. Gabi, Alix and I had been waiting two years for that moment and I think it showed. It was only right that we should be the ones to end that streak, being the last ones to beat them in 2007. Even though we knew we had a lot of season left to play, for that one night we were on top of the world.
“Old school” Player….
I think part of that comes from being able to play different positions. There seems to be more and more specialization as time goes on and obviously I have avoided that somehow. I guess the players I would think of regarding that term would be the actual “old school” players I grew up watching. I used to go into the gym and play with my mom and her nationals teammates when I was little. I’m sure they influenced how I play. I was also taught to respect the great players in the history of volleyball– the Odens, Paula Weishoff, etc.
One of the smartest players of your generation…
To begin with, I think playing smart means understanding that every contact has a context. You are never just playing the ball, you have to understand the situation you are in and how that situation affects the decision-making process. I honestly think people overestimate my intelligence in this regard, but I’m getting better at it.
Professional Career…
I have received offers from various teams to play and I’ve chosen to play in Poland for BKS Aluprof Bielsko Biala.
Losing to USC in 2010…
Lots of tears. That was really difficult for all of us. I still believe we deserved to go to the final four. I still believe we were the best team in the country. For whatever reason, though, it didn’t happen for us and I won’t make excuses. I do know that I will never watch that match. That one is going to hurt for a long time.
Stanford’s go-to player this 2011 season…
I think a lot of people are going to step up next year. I’m excited to watch them all grow as players. Hayley Spelman is definitely going to be fun to watch as she keeps improving. I think Rachel Williams and Carly Wopat will make huge strides with a year under their belts. I’m also looking forward to watching Karissa Cook run her offense.
Coach Dunning…
John is a really impressive person. The best thing about him is that he never stops learning. Some people, having had as much success as he has, would probably just assume that their way was the right way and keep doing it. He doesn’t though. He constantly reevaluates our system, the techniques we’re learning, even his own coaching style. At the same time, he creates an environment in which we have to learn too. He likes to help educate players so that we can think for ourselves rather than relying solely on coaches or anyone else.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your volleyball career and what did you do to correct it?
I can’t think of any big mistakes that I’ve made in terms of my career. I’m pretty happy with the way everything has gone.
And finally, our favorite question.
If you were holding a mirror now and be given the chance to talk to yourself, what would you tell Cassidy?
I would tell myself to keep believing regardless of what happens or what other people say. To remember that that is how I’ve gotten where I am and it’s what is going to get me where I want to go.
Thank you so much Cass for the time and for answering our questions.
A new chapter has started in your vollleyball life and we wish nothing but the best the volleyball world can offer.
Knowing how smart, grounded and strong you are, we know a bright future is waiting for you.
PS: If we ever visit Poland, we’d love to have coffee with you. Deal?