Different-sized seniors develop lasting friendship

Wearing funny outfits, donning horrible hats and singing Spice Girls at the top of their lungs with the windows rolled down on the way to Cold Stone Creamery — this is how the friendship between IU women’s volleyball seniors Caitlin Cox and Mary Chaudoin began.

“That’s how it all started, and ever since then (Mary and I) have been inseparable,” Cox said. “Whenever we are with each other’s parents, we are like daughters to them and she’s my sister. She’s the sister I never had.”

While that’s how the friendship officially began, Cox remembers the first time she met the blonde-haired Peachtree City, Ga., native at an AAU tournament. The interaction that ensued in pregame warmups was the first indication of how Chaudoin’s out-going, energetic personality would blend with Cox’s all-business passion on the court.

“I was warming up, and I was peppering, and all of a sudden I hear, ‘Yeah, Caitlin Cox,’ and I look over and it was her and I’m thinking, ‘Who is this tall blonde girl? I have no idea who it is,’” Cox said. “She knew that I was fresh from commitment, and we didn’t really know anyone, so we got all excited to meet each other.”

Standing side-by-side, one might think the 5-foot-2-inch Cox would have been intimidated by the 6-foot-2 Chaudoin.

Chaudoin said even though she and many other volleyball players tower over Cox, Cox’s attitude dominates the court as the most passionate and competitive leader with whom she has ever played.

“It’s funny because she is this little thing and is extremely feisty and vocally feisty,” Chaudoin said. “I’m obviously a lot bigger than her, but I would say that I’m a little bit more emotional and have a softer side.”

Chaudoin said the size difference has even been the gag of their own on-going Halloween tradition of dressing up together with (somewhat) matching outfits.

“It started our sophomore year when we dressed up as Snickers bars. I was king-size and she was fun-size,” Chaudoin said. “This year, we dressed up as McDonald’s, and she was a Happy Meal and I was super-sized.”

Throughout the years as their Halloween costumes have evolved and progressed, so has the IU volleyball program.

Entering as a freshman, Cox said she knew the program was not going to be a national contender right away, but the ultimate goal was to bring unparalleled success to IU volleyball.

“I knew it was going to be something that was going to be worked for and that was important to me,” Cox said.

Statistically, Cox is the best libero IU has ever seen. As a four-year starter, Cox burned through the record books.

This season, Cox broke Juli Pierce’s all-time school digs record and currently sits at 1,796 digs for her career. She set the single season digs record with 513 last year.
Along with being the all-time and single season digs leader, the senior from Springport, Ind., has 108 career service aces.

Cox said the satisfaction of elevating a program to a level that she never anticipated it could achieve may be unmatched by one of her close friends who chose Penn State, a national powerhouse, and has won three consecutive National Championships with them.

“She loves volleyball, but I don’t know if it’s that same satisfaction just
blowing people out,” Cox said. “I think it made me a better person to come into a program like this to mature and grow and to overcome the best and worst in life.”

For Chaudoin, being a part of the change in the Indiana volleyball program has been a blessing.

“Coming in my freshman year, the program mentality was a lot different than it is now, and I’m glad to say that I was a part of that change,” Chaudoin said.

“Regardless of what was on the scoreboard, (Cox and I) got after it every day with our work ethic and passion for the game and that is what we really established and will be the legacy we leave behind.”

So, as the final days of their senior seasons dwindle away, Cox and Chaudoin both admitted that life after volleyball will be tough, especially because there will be times where they won’t see each other every day.

Cox and Chaudoin know their friendship will never end.

“Cait is my best friend,” Chaudoin said. “She is always there for me both on and off the court. She’s helped me through a lot.”

Cox echoed the sentiment.

“Whenever I have any problem, I know I can count on her to be there to listen, to give me advice or to make me feel better about myself,” Cox said. “She is my best friend. She will be my maid of honor. She is just everything I could have hoped for to find a best friend in college. I’m very blessed to have her and her family in my life.”