George Mason Athletics is recognizing and celebrating 50 years of women's volleyball during the 2024-25 season. Over the course of the next few weeks, leading up to the 50th-anniversary celebration on Oct. 19, a series of Q&As, stories, and social media posts will reflect and celebrate the players and coaches who have built the Patriots women's volleyball program into what it is today.
Alumni who are interested in attending the 50th-anniversary celebration should RSVP in advance.
In the 1980s, the Patriots women's volleyball program was still very new. During the course of the decade, the team had four head coaching changes (including the program's winningest coach, Pat Kendrick), was promoted to Division 1, and joined the CAA conference.
Over 30 years after they lived in Fairfax, Kerrie (Brewer) Campbell (1980-84), Gina (Scott) Taylor (1981-1986), Joyce (Johansen) Schaefer (1984-88), Monica (Wiley) Rubino (1987-91) reflect on their time as Patriots.
Why George Mason?
KC: I was invited to try out by Coach Dean Shumway and accepted the offer of a volleyball scholarship to attend a great academic university. My high school friend and teammate, Terri Syme, and I were the first athletes ever recruited from Chesapeake High School.
GT: I chose George Mason because they offered me a scholarship, they weren't too far from home, and they had a nursing major.
JS: Loved the area (came from out of state) and loved how nice and welcoming everyone was.
MR: At the time Mason was growing on campus and it still had a small campus feel with a growing volleyball program in the CAA and excellent academics. Coming from a small town in upstate NY, I loved the proximity to Washington DC and all that the area had to offer. I was also recruited by American U but I didn't want to be in the city all the time. Mason was the perfect balance.
When did you start playing volleyball and why?
KC: I didn't start playing volleyball until my junior year of high school. My high school softball coach, Kay Curry, also coached volleyball and kept at me to join the volleyball team. I lived at the beach during the summer and didn't want to quit my summer job and come back early for practice – until my junior year. I was an all-county fast-pitch pitcher (before people really knew what that was) and didn't know anything about volleyball. I learned that it's a fabulous sport. Much more dynamic and team-focused than pitching and striking out batters (the team in the field must have been pretty bored).
GT: I started in 9th grade and played club ball 10th-12th grade.
JS: Started playing in Junior high school because I loved sports.
MR: I started playing in 6th grade and I was a manager for my sister's high school team and I fell in love with the sport.
What do you remember most about your coaching staff?
KC: It was early in the program. We went from Div. II to Div. I and during that time, I had three different coaches. We traveled in a not-so-great van driven by the coach and ate PB&Js. I played with Pat Kendrick who went on the be the coach for many years. The program has come a long way!
GT: We got a new coach my second year, a husband/wife duo, they were tough - I had to earn my starting position back.
JS: My first coach was Kim Sears. She was so kind and welcoming. My second coach was Pat Kendrick - she was a lot of fun and pretty hard on us but really cared about us!
MR: Pat Kendrick was my head coach and I had a very positive career as a student-athlete. I always remember our coaching staff working us hard, helping us achieve our goals, and caring how we were doing on and off the court. My freshman year after a home tournament I had to go into the hospital for an illness and PK was the first to visit me and make sure all was ok.
What is your strongest volleyball memory from your time at Mason?
KC: The joy and freedom of hitting, blocking, and diving. I remember raising a stink about our skimpy uniforms. Specifically, I saw no legitimate reason why we had to wear briefs instead of shorts. Not surprisingly, I went on the become a civil rights lawyer fighting against discrimination based on gender, race, age or disability.
GT: Definitely traveling on the bus and how much fun it was. When I was a freshman, the upperclassmen were so funny. Staying in the hotels.
JS: Preseason training - ugh. Also, winning conferences and travel trips. Especially one where our hotel room was broken into.
MR: I made the all-tournament team in 1990 as an outside hitter at the end of season CAA tournament…I was a setter!
Advice for young volleyball players?
KC: Have a good work ethic and have fun.
GT: Everyone should know how to set. Live in the moment, but have a short memory for mistakes or success - always working to improve.
JS: Keep working hard!
MR: Young players have played much longer in club volleyball than I did as a young player. So, when they get to college it may be better than their club experience or worse. However, the youth should try all positions they might like to play. They should try to play other sports if possible. And when you get to college, be proud of your accomplishment and being a student-athlete, it isn't an easy road but it prepares you for life and I can't imagine not having met my lifelong friends who were my teammates.
Have you stayed involved in the game of volleyball in any way?
KC: I took the CA bar exam and my first Big Law job as a litigation associate in San Francisco so I could play beach doubles. At that time, the AVP tour was just getting going. It was the era of Flo Hyman and Debbie Green. I found a doubles partner, played tournaments at Santa Cruz many weekends and we won a tournament on the Marina Green. I loved the volleyball community and it was a great release (and contrast) from the pressures and demands of Big Law. Win or lose, we got a workout, a great tan, and had a blast.
GT: Yes, I coached high school volleyball for 5 years and played recreational sand volleyball.
MR: I actually coached in college for 5 years after Mason and then when my girls were young I started to coach them and have stayed involved in coaching club.
Can you catch us up on what you are doing now?
KC: I worked for over 26 years as a trial lawyer in Big Law with a national (primarily federal) litigation practice, specializing in First Amendment and Defamation law. I have been fortunate to work on matters involving public figures and matters of public concern. Over the years, I climbed the ranks from associate to equity partner, raising three kids as a single mom along the way. In 2016, I was the lead plaintiff in a ground-breaking class action for pay discrimination, which spurred a lot of public discussion about discriminatory practices in pay, promotions, and partnerships in Big Law and other business sectors. After two years of litigation and a very favorable resolution, I started my own firm, KCampbell-Law, PLLC. My practice is focused on civil rights, discrimination, First Amendment, Defamation, and Whistle blower matters.
GT: I'm a school nurse at a private school in Raleigh, NC
JS: Running my own accounting business and mother of three young adult boys.
MR: I recently moved from Northern Va. a year ago and live in Savannah, Ga. - I currently help out with Club Savannah.
