Aug. 16, 2012

BERKELEY - As the California volleyball 2012 season approaches, CalBears.com will be looking back at some of the former talented Golden Bears who have helped build the perennial powerhouse countdown and the jerseys they wore. With nine days remaining, CalBears.com caught up with Shaney Fink, who wore the No. 9 from 1990-93.

Student-Athlete Spotlight - Shaney Fink
During Shaney Fink's freshman year, the Bears went 8-21 and finished last in the Pac-10 only to completely rebound the next year. In 1991, Cal was 15-15 overall and took fifth in the conference with a 9-9 record. The Bears earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they went a then-program record of 3-1. Fink was named to the Cal All-Decade Team, spanning from 1986-96.

CalBears.com: What made you choose your number?

Shaney Fink: Lynn Patrick, superstar outside hitter, laid claim to No. 3, which was my high school number, the year before I entered Cal. Therefore, I chose the option that was three times better. Though I remember being a tad disappointed at first with my new number, I quickly found the many benefits of No. 9, including the difficulty refs have indicating to the scorer's table that you had a net violation.

CalBears.com: What does it mean to be one of the Bears to have worn your number?

SF: No. 9s bring fire and passion to the team. Cal has a great history of #9's including of course the amazing Alicia Perry who had a great career at Cal soon after I graduated.

CalBears.com: What was your favorite Golden Bear memory?

SF: I have so many great memories while competing at Cal, but one of my favorites was beating USC in front of a packed crowd in the old SC gym with their band taunting us every play of the game. I have many special memories off the court as well including preseason camp at the Lair of the Bear, travelling to watch Cal football play at the Citrus Bowl, playing sand volleyball at the Clark Kerr courts, running the fire trail and 6 a.m. workouts in the stadium, de-CAL classes, and starting GO!.....BEARS! cheers at every opportunity possible. We even started one once in class. It didn't go over so well.

SF: Playing volleyball at Cal allowed me to compete at the highest level athletically and academically within a community that challenged me to look at the world from a million different perspectives. My teammates and coaches were awesome and remain today to be some of my closest friends, and I am very appreciative of the Cal alumni network.

CalBears.com: What are you up to these days - where do you live, what do you do, etc.?

SF: I live in Encinitas, Calif., with my husband, Tom Vorkoper, who was a Cal gymnast. We have three children: Lucas (8), Mia (6) and Leon (3). I am the Senior Associate Athletic Director at the University of San Diego, and I love that I get to work every day with student-athletes and give to them the opportunities I had as a NCAA Division 1 student-athlete.

All-Time Jersey No. 4 Wearers:
Erin Freeman (2010-present)
Kristin Obermeyer (2008-09)
Katherine Go (2005)
Meredith Hasson (2004)
Alexis Kollias (2002-03)
Alicia Perry (1996-00)
Lynn Guevara (1995)
Pattie Boland (1994)
Shaney Fink (1990-93)
Patty Casteneda (1989)
Kathrin Boehmer (1987-88)
Wei Meng (1985-86)
Diana Dovino-Young (1984)
Rebecca Connolly (1983)

By the Numbers:(click to read)
44
25
21
20
14
12
11
10
9