Redlands East Valley High graduate Krista (Vansant) Hendrickson, one of the greatest athletes in Inland Empire history, is returning to the West Coast.
Monday it was announced that Hendrickson is leaving her job as an assistant women’s volleyball coach at the University of Illinois, to take a similar post at her alma mater, the University of Washington.
“I bled purple from before the time I went there and I have experience coaching in the Big 10 against some of the best teams in the country,” Hendrickson said by phone from Illinois. “I love the school and the program and have the experience to help the young women in the program.”
Hendrickson is iconic in Seattle. Following a glittering high school career at REV, she was named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year at Washington in 2011. She was named an All-American as a sophomore, nabbed the Honda Sports Award for Volleyball as a junior and senior, earned the American Volleyball Coaches National Player of the Year in 2013 and the ESPNW National Player of the Year in 2014.
“I'm beyond excited to welcome Krista back to UW, along with her husband Duncan—who also proudly wore Husky purple and gold as a baseball player—and their son Liam," said Husky coach Leslie Gabriel via release. "It was important to me to bring in a Husky alum who truly understands our program and can pass on what it means to be a Dawg.”
Said Hendrickson, “I’m super excited to come back to a school that has given me and my husband so much and I’m excited to return to the West Coast.”
Following her brilliant career at Washington, Hendrickson played on the US National Team and helped it win the 2013 Pan Am Cup where she was named the Most Valuable Player. The team also won gold at the Pan American Games.
Hendrickson was named an alternate for the 2016 Rio Olympic team.
She played professionally from the fall of 2015 to spring of 2016 with Volero Zurich in Switzerland and then became a program assistant the University of Washington. Following a year at Washington, Hendrickson began her full-time college coaching career at the University of Indiana.
Former REV and University of Washington star Krista (Vansant) Hendrickson enjoyed her time coaching at Illinois and Indiana. (Courtesy Photo)
The new Husky assistant was coached by her mother, Tricia Vansant, at REV. Tricia is now a counselor at Crafton Elementary School in Redlands. Hendrickson’s father, Robert Vansant, assisted Tricia at REV as the Wildcats won three section titles. Those included the first section team title (2007) in school history.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Krista and her family back on the West Coast,” Tricia said. “The University of Washington will always hold a special part in our hearts, and knowing she has a strong support system there – through her husband’s family and her college friends – brings us great comfort.”
Tricia emphasized the special relationship Krista has had with Washington head coach Gabriel since Hendrickson was 15 years old. She also thanked Illinois coaches Chris Tamas, Eli Sharping, and Jen Tamas.
Hendrickson made an immediate impact as a freshman at REV in 2007. Teaming with stars such as senior middle blocker Tori Brummett and sophomore setter Johnna Fouch, the Wildcats swept to the section title match at Cypress College against powerful North Torrance.
North Torrance led 11-4 in the fifth set and was seemingly on its way to victory before REV rallied. The Wildcats fended off three consecutive North Torrance match points on Hendrickson kills. The poised freshman then finished off the Saxons with two consecutive service aces.
“I thought it was over,” Tricia said after the match. “I figured, ‘Oh well, we’ll learn from this’”
Hendrickson (then known as Vansant) had 17 kills and Brummett 14.
“I was pretty young, but it’s a moment I haven’t forgotten,” Hendrickson said. “And we won the first section title in school history. But winning any section title is exciting.”
Hendrickson had 1,913 kills at REV and was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year.
The former REV star said she still chats with her old high school teammates Danielle Newcomb and Fouch. Fouch is now the head coach at Eastern Kentucky University.
Hendrickson is one of three women to have her jersey (No. 16) retired at Washington’s Alaska Airlines Arena. She was also inducted into the Husky Hall of Fame and the Southern California Indoor Volleyball Hall of Fame.
Now with child in tow, Hendrickson and her eye on more than the ball.
“It’s busy and stressful and I’ve never been so tired,” Hendrickson said of motherhood. “But it’s amazing and rewarding in a lot of different ways. You just have to prioritize and be patient.”
A third-generation San Francisco native. His first job was in Watsonville, where he wrote stories on a typewriter and people smoked in the office. He's covered Redlands, San Bernardino and Riverside.
