WILLIAMSBURG, VA.- Many student-athletes spend their summers training, taking classes, or simply trying to recover before the grind of another academic year. For Tribe Volleyball's Kate Dedrick the summer consisted of tasting octopus and other local delicacies after six-hour hikes in northern Spain. 
 
The junior opposite side hitter that teammates call K-tron2000 and strength coaches call The Destroyer spent a month abroad highlighted by a 14-day, 200-mile pilgrimage on Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James. Dedrick and her classmates hiked an average of 15 miles per day from the Spanish city of Leon to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compestela which houses the remains of St. James the Great. 
 
Dedrick and 15 other students stayed in hostels along the way as they traced the footsteps of pilgrims dating back to the ninth century while completing two classes for six credit hours. For Dedrick, the hours will go towards her business analytics degree. 
 
Studying abroad is a popular choice at William & Mary, but one that is not explored by many student-athletes due to their commitment to their academics and their team. "I always knew that I wanted to study abroad, but it was a challenge with the timing of everything because I could only do it at the beginning of the summer," said Dedrick. 
 
Head coach Tim Doyle is a proponent of players taking advantage of every opportunity they are provided during the offseason. "I love that our student-athletes utilize the May and June months to intern, study abroad, and pursue other adventures. So much growth and maturation occur as a result of these experiences, so they return to campus as better developed leaders and people."
 
The junior chose to study in Spain out of convenience as it was the only program that fit her busy schedule. In fact, Dedrick was one of the few students on the trip that had no experience speaking Spanish. "I said 'por favor' and 'gracias' a lot, but I picked up a few more phrases and was able to get by."
 
The language barrier was not the only obstacle for Dedrick, "going into the trip I didn't know any of my classmates, but we all got to know one another very well." Dedrick and her classmates shared all meals together during the trip in addition to the many hours of walking on the road to Santiago de Compestela. 
 
Some of those meals made quite an impact on the Texas native. "I will definitely remember the food," Kate said with a smile. Dedrick admits that she is no seafood connoisseur, but tried all of the local fare which for many coastal towns included barnacles, octopus, and other treats from the sea.  
 
However, Dedrick's favorite meal of the trip came in the town of Villiafanca del Bierzo. The featured dish was pork paella served up at the town's hostel. "It was really old and small so it was not the nicest hostel we stayed at, but it had a lot of character." The hostel that the program stayed at during their time in Santiago de Compostela was a converted monastery in the heart of the town square. Every day Dedrick would see pilgrims completing their Camino. 
 
On the final day of the journey the party reached Monte do Gozo, a hill three miles from the ultimate destination and the spot where pilgrims first get a glimpse of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. For Dedrick it was a moment she would never forget. "We had been so near to the cathedral for the first part of the program and it is a beautiful site, but once we had been away for two weeks and done all this hiking it was like finally coming home." 
 
Hiking 15 miles per day would seem rigorous, but Dedrick welcomed the change of pace. "Everything seemed to go a much slower pace for the month, and it was nice to take a break from the constant demands of school and volleyball that I usually have during the year. I think it really helped me clear my head and give me perspective."
 
With over 50 percent of all students choosing to take classes overseas, William & Mary holds the distinction as the number one study abroad program among all public universities and head Doyle encourages his players to take a step outside their comfort zone. 
 
"We encourage our athletes to take advantage of William & Mary's resources, especially the study abroad program," said Doyle. "We've had players study abroad both summers I've been here. William & Mary is ranked #1 for highest undergrad study abroad participation, and our programming is exceptional, so it's an awesome chance to learn and broaden your horizons."
 
The trip not only served as an unforgettable experience for Dedrick, but also provided the junior with clarity and perspective heading into the 2019 season. "A lot of people's main reasons for going on the Camino pilgrimage is to have time to clear their head and reflect on their thoughts, and I definitely appreciated the opportunity to do that," said Kate. "Seeing how different hiking was from what I'm used to also really made me miss volleyball, and it made me really excited to get back into the gym to get ready for the upcoming season."
 
Dedrick suggests that all student-athletes take advantage of the opportunities they have even if it means fitting a trip into a tight window. "The program was perfect, it was short enough that it did not interfere with volleyball, but long enough that I was able to experience things that I will never forget."