Laughs With the Grads
11/18/2021 5:07:00 PM | Volleyball
As the Orange prepare for Senior Night against Duke on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 1pm, we sat down with graduate students Dana Gardner and Yuliia Yastrub for a Q&A reflecting on their time here at Syracuse University and their friendship through the years.
Dana and Yulia Photo Gallery
1. How were your recruited to the Orange?
Yuliia: Coach Yelin reached out to my coach at the time, and he mentioned me as a player who was hoping to play in college. Coach Yelin asked to see my game videos and he liked what he saw on the clips. I had to then take the English exams and fortunately I passed. Then I ended up here.
Dana: I really don't remember how it started. I think it was Erin Little who reached out to me first. She asked me if I wanted to come on an unofficial visit, and I visited over the summer. I had an idea of the schools I would have wanted to attend at the time, and after to coming to Syracuse, I just knew.
2. What sticks out most in your mind when reflecting on your careers at Syracuse?
Yuliia: I played every position, except setter. That was a very exciting part of my career here at Syracuse, trying all these different positions and getting all of these different experiences on the court. Coach first put me as a Libero against Penn State in the NCAA Tournament in 2018. That was the most exciting time I can remember. Scary, of course, but exciting.
Dana: The experience I get helping other people and players is so special. Players will come off the court and ask me what I am seeing and how they can improve their play. Sometimes they need extra help understanding what the coaches are looking for and will come to me for clarification. It has been such a unique role to play. One time, I remember Coach pulling me into the middle of the huddle and saying "Dana, come, explain to them," and I helped clarify what Coach was trying to say about closing holes.
3. Building off of that, Dana, the team quite often endearingly refers to you as the "team mom." What does it mean to you to fill this role and have the entire team look up to you like that?
Dana: I don't even think of it like that. To me, I just want to help people in any way possible. If I can help my team, I'm going to help my team. That's really all that matters to me, that every girl on the team is in the right mindset to be able to go out there and do what they need to do, whether that's on the court or off.
Yuliia: She even gave up her dream car to help the team. She used to drive a Mini Cooper but had to take the mom van to bring Abby, Elena and I all back to Syracuse this summer!
4. It is no secret you guys have one of the strongest relationships on the team. Looking back five years, how did your friendship begin?
Dana: The funniest thing is beginning our freshmen year, we didn't like each other.
Yuliia: We were roommates first semester freshmen year with another teammate at the time, and second semester freshmen year I had left to go live with some of the Russian players. And then something happened, and we just decided to be friends.
Dana: I think it was Psych 205. We had the same class and started to do some studying together. By the end of the semester, I asked, "Do you want to go to Canada with my family and me?" and she said yes!
Yuliia: That's actually a funny story. We went to Canada without knowing I needed a visa, so we went to the border, and they wouldn't let me in. We were stuck at border patrol the entire day and when we went to go back to America, they wouldn't let me in because I had left my forms in Syracuse. I had to get my mom to send me pictures, it was such a mess. We had to split up from my Dana's family. They all went to Canada while she and I went to Buffalo and stayed with her old club coach.
Dana: Instead of seeing Canada, we went to the American side of Niagara Falls, ended up having a really great time. And, we have lived together for the past four years.
5. What are your post-graduation plans?
Yuliia: I am not really sure yet. I don't want to say goodbye to volleyball yet. Since America doesn't have professional volleyball like other countries, maybe I will take a little break, but I think I would still like to play.
Dana: I am trying to plan but without a lot of for certain details. Next semester I have an internship that will give me good experience, but I want to start working towards getting certified to be an alcohol and addiction counselor.
For all of the latest information on Syracuse volleyball, follow us on Facebook (CuseVB), Twitter (@CuseVB), and Instagram (@cusevb).
Dana and Yulia Photo Gallery
1. How were your recruited to the Orange?
Yuliia: Coach Yelin reached out to my coach at the time, and he mentioned me as a player who was hoping to play in college. Coach Yelin asked to see my game videos and he liked what he saw on the clips. I had to then take the English exams and fortunately I passed. Then I ended up here.
Dana: I really don't remember how it started. I think it was Erin Little who reached out to me first. She asked me if I wanted to come on an unofficial visit, and I visited over the summer. I had an idea of the schools I would have wanted to attend at the time, and after to coming to Syracuse, I just knew.
2. What sticks out most in your mind when reflecting on your careers at Syracuse?
Yuliia: I played every position, except setter. That was a very exciting part of my career here at Syracuse, trying all these different positions and getting all of these different experiences on the court. Coach first put me as a Libero against Penn State in the NCAA Tournament in 2018. That was the most exciting time I can remember. Scary, of course, but exciting.
Dana: The experience I get helping other people and players is so special. Players will come off the court and ask me what I am seeing and how they can improve their play. Sometimes they need extra help understanding what the coaches are looking for and will come to me for clarification. It has been such a unique role to play. One time, I remember Coach pulling me into the middle of the huddle and saying "Dana, come, explain to them," and I helped clarify what Coach was trying to say about closing holes.
3. Building off of that, Dana, the team quite often endearingly refers to you as the "team mom." What does it mean to you to fill this role and have the entire team look up to you like that?
Dana: I don't even think of it like that. To me, I just want to help people in any way possible. If I can help my team, I'm going to help my team. That's really all that matters to me, that every girl on the team is in the right mindset to be able to go out there and do what they need to do, whether that's on the court or off.
Yuliia: She even gave up her dream car to help the team. She used to drive a Mini Cooper but had to take the mom van to bring Abby, Elena and I all back to Syracuse this summer!
4. It is no secret you guys have one of the strongest relationships on the team. Looking back five years, how did your friendship begin?
Dana: The funniest thing is beginning our freshmen year, we didn't like each other.
Yuliia: We were roommates first semester freshmen year with another teammate at the time, and second semester freshmen year I had left to go live with some of the Russian players. And then something happened, and we just decided to be friends.
Dana: I think it was Psych 205. We had the same class and started to do some studying together. By the end of the semester, I asked, "Do you want to go to Canada with my family and me?" and she said yes!
Yuliia: That's actually a funny story. We went to Canada without knowing I needed a visa, so we went to the border, and they wouldn't let me in. We were stuck at border patrol the entire day and when we went to go back to America, they wouldn't let me in because I had left my forms in Syracuse. I had to get my mom to send me pictures, it was such a mess. We had to split up from my Dana's family. They all went to Canada while she and I went to Buffalo and stayed with her old club coach.
Dana: Instead of seeing Canada, we went to the American side of Niagara Falls, ended up having a really great time. And, we have lived together for the past four years.
5. What are your post-graduation plans?
Yuliia: I am not really sure yet. I don't want to say goodbye to volleyball yet. Since America doesn't have professional volleyball like other countries, maybe I will take a little break, but I think I would still like to play.
Dana: I am trying to plan but without a lot of for certain details. Next semester I have an internship that will give me good experience, but I want to start working towards getting certified to be an alcohol and addiction counselor.
For all of the latest information on Syracuse volleyball, follow us on Facebook (CuseVB), Twitter (@CuseVB), and Instagram (@cusevb).
Players Mentioned
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