Fresno State Athletics
Constructing a Dream
1/26/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Jan. 26, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - For some athletes, an injury in their senior year is a detrimental event. After all, for the past three years, they've been generally healthy, performing well and maybe even setting a few records. The task of balancing school while trying to narrow down career choices, combined with athletic training is a difficult feat. Now, add an injury to the equation. The emotional distress, the feeling of letting the team down, not to mention all hopes of completing a final season as an athlete down the drain, can put a student-athlete into a short state of depression and distress. For former volleyball standout Melanie Estes, her senior year was shaping up to be a successful season en route to finishing out her volleyball career.
The team had received a 16th place ranking in the Volleyball Monthly preseason poll. An accomplishment not to be taken lightheartedly. The previous three seasons had produced a combined losing record of 30-71. Finally the team had a chance to prove how good they actually were. The players anxiously awaited the wins to come pouring in. Unfortunately, for the team and for Estes, a sprain in her right ankle took her out of competition and subsequently the team's hopes for a winning season. Estes had to sit idly by on the sidelines, providing encouragement to her teammates while they tried to move on without the defensive skills that they so desperately needed.
When Estes was stricken with her injury, leaving her sidelined for six weeks, she focused on staying positive for the team's sake. "I had to focus on leadership, and staying positive," said Estes. "I wanted to remain a part of the team as a team player, while still contributing." Estes' new role as an off-court leader forced her to focus more attention on her education. Granted, she still wanted to win volleyball games, but now her mind was able to concentrate on what she was going to do after graduation.
Estes was unable to return until the end of the season, but it was too late. The team finished with a sub-par overall record of 15-16 and a conference record of 4-14. However, Estes looks back on her senior year with a thankful smile, a smile that is grateful for her time at Fresno State and for the opportunity to realize her dream of becoming a civil engineer.
Estes was a member of the Fresno State volleyball team from 1985-88. Within those four years she set three records, which are still holding strong today. Known as a defensive specialist, Estes was able to dig her way into the record books. She ranks ninth on the career digs list with 884, ninth on the digs per game list with 2.25, ninth on the top 10 career leaders list in games played with 393 and she tallied the most digs for the team in 1986 with 308
Today, Estes is getting her digs in a new way, through constructing Highway 168.
For the last 11 years Estes has been a civil engineer in and around the Fresno, Calif. area. Upon graduation from college, Estes began her career with California Transportation where she was a design and resident engineer. Her duties included working on various construction projects for state and local highway projects in Visalia, Calif. More recently, she has been working for Bechtel Corporation as a program manager with the Fresno City Transportation Authority. Her current project is the construction of Highway 168. Her experiences as a manager, as she relates to her employees, can be directly linked to her leadership abilities on the court. "Playing at Fresno State reinforced the idea of working in a team-oriented environment," states Estes. "My employees work with me, versus working for me." Her attitude in the workforce is one of the best things she likes about working as an engineer. She is able to remain competitively driven in an environment that demands teamwork. "I love it," said Estes. "I love working with a team and working towards a common goal." She directly attributes her camaraderie with her co-workers to her days as a Fresno State Volleyball player.
Estes is appreciative of her athletic experiences at Fresno State. She enjoyed being competitive and creating a family through bonding with her teammates. In fact, she has extended her love for Bulldog volleyball through the SideOut Club. She serves as the secretary and membership chairman. "I love being involved with the program again, " said Estes. She wishes that more alumni would give back to the program as she does. After all, it has provided her with so much.
