CAYLEY THURLBY (13)
Sweet home, Chicago
Naperville, Ill.: pop. 140,106
Da Bears. The Cubs. The Bulls.
Cayley Thurlby's zoo is made up of sports teams from her beloved Chicago, about 30 miles west of her hometown. She got to share that love a few months ago when Hawaii played a spring tournament at Loyola-Chicago and team members went to the Cubs' opening day at Wrigley Field.
"It was awesome, the whole trip," said Thurlby, who again will back up All-American Kanoe Kamana'o at setter.
Thurlby has also become coach Dave Shoji's utility player. She's expected to get time at setter, right-side hitter, libero and designated server.
"Wherever, just to be in the game," she said. "We need someone to make a difference."
Thurlby is excited about this season "and not just because it's my senior year," she said. "All the girls are a year better and I think we have the drive and the experience to get to the final four.
"Can we win it all? Absolutely."
After graduating with her degree in communications and marketing, Thurlby hopes to be headed to Europe to play professionally. Ultimately her goal would be to play on the beach.
And then there's the broadcast booth. Her passion is baseball but football is a close second. Thurlby's mother was a Honey Bear (Chicago Bears cheerleader, and "I grew up loving the Bears," she said. "Whatever I end up doing I want to stay involved in sports."
If you go... Eat at Portillos, Chipotle, Lou Malnati's Pizza, Noodles and Wildfire. Catch a game at Wrigley Field. Shop on the Magnificent Mile. Sail on Lake Michigan. Check out North Avenue Beach.
COURTESY OF CAYLEY THURLBY
Cayley Thurlby showed her teammates around her native Chicago this spring.
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COURTESY OF CAYLEY THURLBY
Cayley Thurlby showed her teammates around her native Chicago this spring.
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COURTESY OF CAYLEY THURLBY
Cayley Thurlby showed her teammates around her native Chicago this spring.
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COURTESY OF CAYLEY THURLBY
Cayley Thurlby showed her teammates around her native Chicago this spring.
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Staying connected on the road
Cayley Thurlby, a senior communications/ marketing major, enjoys being able to communicate while on the road and has the appropriate gizmos to do so in style.
"I correspond mostly via e-mail, but I also do a lot of texting on my new Sprint phone," she said. "And I have my laptop on the road."
Thurlby has kept Wahine fans updated with her posted diaries on preseason practices and road trips.
She was a sports intern at KHON the summer of 2004 and is considering a sports broadcasting or sports marketing career. The next Harry Caray?
"I'm not ready to be a broadcast stud yet," she said of the late Chicago Cubs icon.
Her must-haves on the road:
1. Laptop (Prefers Mac to PC)
2. Cell phone with text messaging and MTV Overdrive
3. iPod (20GB) with iBuds (Play lists include "Grey's Anatomy" and her creatively named Pop Not Soda.)
"Cayley is going to be a success no matter what endeavor she takes on. She's a driven young woman and whatever she chooses to do she'll be wonderful at it. This season, we'll find a role for her somewhere. She can contribute at so many positions."
-- Dave Shoji