Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Dig R Knights: Mary Kate Painter
Oct 20 | Women's Volleyball
For senior transfer Mary Kate Painter, family is everything – both on and off the court.
Prior to every game, the defensive specialist/libero listens to music and tapes her wrists. If you look close enough, you'll see the word "family" across the wrap. It's family that has been most important in her career.
After spending her first three seasons at UCF, Painter joined a new family – the Scarlet Knight family – and became the very first Scarlet Knight to join the roster under new coach Caitlin Schweihofer to be part of a foundation of a program the first-year head coach is trying to build.
Her road to Rutgers, however, started in the backyard as her mom, a volleyball player herself, first introduced Painter to the sport. It's not just mom though that Painter credits for helping her with her volleyball journey. It's her entire family.
A quick search and you'll find Painter's hometown of Pottsville, Pennsylvania just over 100 miles away from the College Ave Gym, a stone's throw away compared to her 11 other teammates on the roster.
"I think being closer to home and getting the chance to play in front of them, means a lot," Painter said of Rutgers' proximity to home. "Putting on that jersey and being able to play in the Big Ten is a huge honor from me to them because of everything that they have done for me."
Although, Rutgers was not originally on the radar for the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist and three-time First Team PA District 12, All-Philadelphia Catholic League and All-Delaware County star, it's a lesson she hopes fellow local Northeast products can learn from.
"I'm going be honest," she noted, "I actually didn't know about Rutgers. I'm kind of upset that I didn't because it's such an amazing school and I don't think I would ever want to be anywhere else but here."
Now though, Painter can't help but gush about what her new home in New Brunswick has to offer.
"For me, at least, if you're looking to be near to major cities, you're a train ride right away from New York and Philadelphia," she explained. "They are both beautiful cities, a lot of good places to eat and a lot of attractions. I personally like all four seasons and that's something that I love getting to experience."
"I would also definitely say the coaching staff is amazing."
With one season remaining in her eligibility, Painter decided to make her way back to the Northeast and closeout her career helping to build a program exuding about a family-like atmosphere that Schweihofer and her staff have created in their short time "On The Banks".
"They are so knowledgeable and they care about every single one of the players," Painter explained. "The players, we get along so well. Everybody is amazing the chemistry is just unbelievable.
"Caitlin is an amazing coach and an even better person," Painter continued. "I've always admired how dedicated and passionate she is at what she does and she's very good at what she does. The environment that she's trying to create with this team is a lot of competitiveness and you're seeing that a lot in practices. Now you just walk in the gym and everybody is working so hard and being energetic. It's just such a fun environment to be in."
More recently in practice, the Scarlet Knight family has been stressing communication.
"In practices, whether that's talking with the passers with the seams or hitters with the setter about what sets they want, the staff stresses a lot of communication," she said. "Honestly, I think it is very important in anything that you do because one miscommunication and things might not go so well."
It's also a trait vital to being a successful libero.
"There has to be lots of communication in my position and it has to have lots of energy," a trait people can instantly notice in one of the newest Scarlet Knights. "I'm communicating to the hitters where there are open spots or if there are any holes in the block. The libero is supposed to be that person that takes all the balls and needs to communicate the seams between your hitters and you in the middle."
There's also another aspect of the game Painter can communicate with her team. She brings the experience of having reached the NCAA Tournament twice with her former team.
While Painter awaits her official senior season to start, she'll continue with the preparations on the court while working on a double major in management and labor relations and psychology.
"I was thinking about going into the HR field," she mentioned. "My grandfather was in HR and my aunt is currently right now. A lot of people have said I'm good with people and that would be a good choice. As for psychology, I think it's such a growing field and I think it's beneficial to have anywhere you go."
For Painter, it's not how you start, but how you finish and the finish to her career will be the start of the next chapter in Rutgers volleyball.
"Getting to play (volleyball) in college and getting an education in college, I think is an amazing opportunity," she reflected. "I'm a senior and it's just crazy to think that I'm almost done. One of the reasons why I came here was because I knew that the staff could take this program to a whole another level. I wanted to be a part of that for my last year."
"Never stop taking advantage of the opportunity that's being given to you," she advised. "And what I would say that I've learned from my past three years playing volleyball is just have fun."
For previous stories in the Rutgers Volleyball's Dig R Knights Series:
Prior to every game, the defensive specialist/libero listens to music and tapes her wrists. If you look close enough, you'll see the word "family" across the wrap. It's family that has been most important in her career.
After spending her first three seasons at UCF, Painter joined a new family – the Scarlet Knight family – and became the very first Scarlet Knight to join the roster under new coach Caitlin Schweihofer to be part of a foundation of a program the first-year head coach is trying to build.
Her road to Rutgers, however, started in the backyard as her mom, a volleyball player herself, first introduced Painter to the sport. It's not just mom though that Painter credits for helping her with her volleyball journey. It's her entire family.
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"My whole family is a big inspiration to me," she explained. "From my mom, my dad, my two sisters Amelia and Eily, my aunts, my uncles and my cousins, they have just been so supportive. My volleyball career has been one crazy journey. I've had a lot of ups and downs, and they've been with me every step of the way and I don't think that I would be here without them. I don't think I've ever given them the proper credit."
A quick search and you'll find Painter's hometown of Pottsville, Pennsylvania just over 100 miles away from the College Ave Gym, a stone's throw away compared to her 11 other teammates on the roster.
"I think being closer to home and getting the chance to play in front of them, means a lot," Painter said of Rutgers' proximity to home. "Putting on that jersey and being able to play in the Big Ten is a huge honor from me to them because of everything that they have done for me."
Although, Rutgers was not originally on the radar for the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year Finalist and three-time First Team PA District 12, All-Philadelphia Catholic League and All-Delaware County star, it's a lesson she hopes fellow local Northeast products can learn from.
"I'm going be honest," she noted, "I actually didn't know about Rutgers. I'm kind of upset that I didn't because it's such an amazing school and I don't think I would ever want to be anywhere else but here."
Now though, Painter can't help but gush about what her new home in New Brunswick has to offer.
"For me, at least, if you're looking to be near to major cities, you're a train ride right away from New York and Philadelphia," she explained. "They are both beautiful cities, a lot of good places to eat and a lot of attractions. I personally like all four seasons and that's something that I love getting to experience."
"I would also definitely say the coaching staff is amazing."
With one season remaining in her eligibility, Painter decided to make her way back to the Northeast and closeout her career helping to build a program exuding about a family-like atmosphere that Schweihofer and her staff have created in their short time "On The Banks".
"They are so knowledgeable and they care about every single one of the players," Painter explained. "The players, we get along so well. Everybody is amazing the chemistry is just unbelievable.
"Caitlin is an amazing coach and an even better person," Painter continued. "I've always admired how dedicated and passionate she is at what she does and she's very good at what she does. The environment that she's trying to create with this team is a lot of competitiveness and you're seeing that a lot in practices. Now you just walk in the gym and everybody is working so hard and being energetic. It's just such a fun environment to be in."
More recently in practice, the Scarlet Knight family has been stressing communication.
"In practices, whether that's talking with the passers with the seams or hitters with the setter about what sets they want, the staff stresses a lot of communication," she said. "Honestly, I think it is very important in anything that you do because one miscommunication and things might not go so well."
It's also a trait vital to being a successful libero.
"There has to be lots of communication in my position and it has to have lots of energy," a trait people can instantly notice in one of the newest Scarlet Knights. "I'm communicating to the hitters where there are open spots or if there are any holes in the block. The libero is supposed to be that person that takes all the balls and needs to communicate the seams between your hitters and you in the middle."
There's also another aspect of the game Painter can communicate with her team. She brings the experience of having reached the NCAA Tournament twice with her former team.
While Painter awaits her official senior season to start, she'll continue with the preparations on the court while working on a double major in management and labor relations and psychology.
"I was thinking about going into the HR field," she mentioned. "My grandfather was in HR and my aunt is currently right now. A lot of people have said I'm good with people and that would be a good choice. As for psychology, I think it's such a growing field and I think it's beneficial to have anywhere you go."
For Painter, it's not how you start, but how you finish and the finish to her career will be the start of the next chapter in Rutgers volleyball.
"Getting to play (volleyball) in college and getting an education in college, I think is an amazing opportunity," she reflected. "I'm a senior and it's just crazy to think that I'm almost done. One of the reasons why I came here was because I knew that the staff could take this program to a whole another level. I wanted to be a part of that for my last year."
"Never stop taking advantage of the opportunity that's being given to you," she advised. "And what I would say that I've learned from my past three years playing volleyball is just have fun."
For previous stories in the Rutgers Volleyball's Dig R Knights Series:
- Senior right side hitter - Beka Kojadinovic
- Senior right side hitter - Kamila Cieslik
- Junior outside hitter - Anastasiia Maksimova
- Senior outside hitter - Yana Kamshilina
- Junior setter - Inna Balyko
- RU -
Players Mentioned
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