Q&A with Sarah Tacke

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Fifth-year senior Sarah Tacke and the Virginia softball team will make history on Friday when the Cavaliers take on Louisville at 4 p.m. in its first NCAA Tournament game in school history. Tacke, who hails from Merced, Calif., recently caught up with VirginiaSports.com to talk about the team’s first NCAA bid, what she will remember the most about playing softball at UVa and why she just might be a Charlottesville lifer.

Question: How would you describe this season?
Tacke: It’s been a great season. We have worked really hard and as a fifth-year, it’s awesome to finally see some success and see the program going in the right direction. It’s very exciting.

Question: As someone who was recruited and/or coached by three different head coaches, how do you sum up those five years?
Tacke: I feel like there have been a lot of ups and downs. There are a lot of stories – I feel like I have a lot of stories to tell. I don’t know if I would have had the same coach for five years if things would have been a lot better or a lot worse. Everyone’s experience is different, but I have had a great time here.

Question: What are you going to remember the most?
Tacke: Everything! I am going to remember all the funny stories, all the stupid jokes we have. All the big wins, great plays and clutch hits. Those are the kinds of things I will remember.

Question: Any stories in particular?
Tacke: We have had some sweet wins this year, like Michigan and Arizona, I think those were the two most exciting. We had a walk-off homer by G (Giannina Cipolloni) – that was cool.

Question: What is it going to feel like Friday knowing you’re stepping on the field for the first NCAA Tournament game in school history?
Tacke: I am so excited. It is exciting to just be there, but at the same time, I want to go out there with a game plan to win. I don’t want to just be there – I want to do well. I think it helps we have played there before (two seasons ago) but it is going to be such a different atmosphere. Everyone is going to be pretty jazzed.

Question: What is next for you?
Tacke: I am finishing my master’s in biology this summer, and then I think I might be a lifer in Charlottesville. I will be sticking around.

Question: What is your favorite spot on Grounds?
Tacke: The field! The Park. Why not? Number two is the Lawn, but I would rather be at the field than any other place.