TACOMA, Wash. - Last Saturday proved to be a busy day for Pacific Lutheran University senior student-athlete Lauren Wilson. In the span of 24 hours the Olympia, Washington native played in a volleyball match, won the high jump, and then played a key role in another volleyball match, guiding the Lutes to a 3-2 win over previously undefeated Whitworth University.
 
It was a day that Wilson never envisioned experiencing as a collegiate athlete.  
 
"Going into the year I knew I was going to do track and volleyball because they pushed back the Northwest Conference Championships for track," said Wilson.
 
"It was supposed to be I'd miss a few meets and then jump right into it. But then my high jump coach (my Dad) was like 'why don't you just compete on Saturday. Take four jumps to save your legs and treat it like a practice.' And because it was at PLU I was like 'yeah, why not.' So it was really low stakes, low pressure, and I think muscle memory and adrenaline kicked in and it was a lot of fun to do high jump and volleyball in the same weekend."
 
Wilson's double-duty weekend was fully endorsed by both head volleyball coach Kevin Aoki and head track & field coach Adam Frye. 
 
"I obviously had to get it approved by Adam and Kevin but with everything they're so supportive of the athletes."
 
That support was well founded. Wilson collected 12 kills and 16 digs in Friday night's volleyball match and added 10 kills and 15 digs in the Lutes' five set win on Saturday. Sandwiched between the two was Wilson clearing 4' 11", 5' 1", and finally 5' 3" at the PLU Opener to win the high jump. Limited to just four jumps on the day, Wilson didn't attempt anything higher than 5' 3". Despite that, her mark currently ranks second in NCAA Division III this season.

"The crossover between seasons has created some unique challenges and opportunities for our dual-sport athletes," said Frye. 
 
"We've missed having some of our fall-sport athletes with us through the winter and it was exciting to see some of them compete this weekend during a bye or between matches. Lauren winning the high jump with a 5' 3" clearance after playing volleyball Friday night, and then turning around and helping the Lutes to a big win in volleyball Saturday night, was pretty special. When you consider she is coming off ACL surgery and hasn't practiced with us since the fall, it's really incredible. It speaks to how special a person and athlete Lauren is. I'm just so glad she's back competing in both sports and making the most of this unique senior year!"
 
The opportunity to be back competing in both sports has been a long process for Wilson who was injured during volleyball season in the fall of 2019. 
 
"It was kind of a blessing in disguise that COVID happened. I wouldn't have gotten a track season anyways and then with volleyball being pushed back to the spring I had so much more time to heal and rehab. It was definitely a lot of work, last spring, summer, and even in the fall but by the time January came along I felt really strong and I was just excited to play one last season."
 
Making the day even more special was the opportunity to share the moment with her Father, Curt Wilson, who serves as PLU's high jump coach. 
 
"It's been really cool to bond over high jump. He jumped in college so he knows his stuff. It's really been cool to learn from him and see him coach the other athletes because I know he really loves it."
 
Wilson's ability to juggle both sports simultaneously is something she's been doing since high school when she'd jump for Olympia High School and then play in a club volleyball tournament in the same weekend. 
 
"I think it starts from being so busy in high school doing two sports. That kind of prepared me and like I said doing track and club volleyball at the same time. But then also having the ability to do it in general thanks to the coaches at PLU. And competing at the D3 level there's so much flexibility."
 
With her time on campus winding down, the English literature major reflects on what has made her athletic experience at PLU so special.
 
 "I've gotten to play with so many different people from freshman year until now and they're some of the best people I've ever met. We have so much fun together. And then with track its completely different. It's a team sport but it's also individual. So being able to have that mental challenge of focusing on your own event and then having the freedom to cheer on everyone else and bonding with those people is pretty cool."