The University of the Pacific has long prided itself on having a close-knit, familial campus persona. The Tigers' women's volleyball team and Tigers' men's and women's swim teams have exhibited that trait this year—and then some.
 
For three members of the Pacific volleyball team–Alexa Edwards (Sacramento, Calif.), Jenna Heller (Gilbert, Ariz.), and Sammie Sublett (Ramona, Calif.)–their mothers also played collegiate volleyball at Pacific. 
 
The three second-generation members of the Pacific volleyball program are proud of the volleyball accomplishments of their mothers. And vice versa. Let's meet the mothers:
 

• Cathy Lumb-Edwards played for the Tigers from 1980-83 and served as a graduate assistant for Pacific's 1986 NCAA national championship team.
• Melanie Beckenhauer-Heller (1988-91) was a two-time All-American in volleyball. Jenna's father, DJ, played baseball for the Tigers.
• Leona Bielefeld-Sublett (1985-88) was a player on the Tigers' 1985 and 1986 national championship teams. 

 
Melanie has coached since her playing days and passed on that knowledge to her daughter. Since her other siblings also played volleyball, it is only fitting that the freshman setter is around the game. 
 
"As a toddler, she was chasing balls around the gym, learning her ABCs by peppering with another coach," she said.
 
Alexa Edwards is thankful for her mother's knowledge about the game.
 
"Volleyball has played a huge role in our relationship that has only caused my mom and me to grow closer," the sophomore outside hitter said. "She knows the game so well that I really appreciate the advice and constructive criticism she gives me. I know it is coming from a good place as my mom and a former player herself." 
 
With all three mothers and their daughters, volleyball has been a constant in their lives. Melanie is thankful for what the game has brought to her, Jenna and her sisters. "I am so beyond fortunate for her to have always asked for my advice and embraced my coaching and instruction while maintaining a great relationship," she said. 
 
Daughter Jenna is thankful that her mother coached her. 
 
"My mom has always been one of the best coaches I have ever had. People used to ask me how I liked having my mom as a coach because usually it doesn't always work out, but I loved it," she said. "I knew she had so much knowledge that I was grateful I got to learn. She pushed me to be better every day because she knew, and I knew, I wanted to be the best. Once I committed, our bond grew closer, and I am so thankful I have a role model like her."  
 
Melanie said that the most rewarding thing is watching her daughter create her own experiences while still immersed in so many traditions that she participated in during her days in Stockton.
 
"I have overwhelming pride walking into Spanos, hearing the pep band and seeing familiar faces that now recognize me and acknowledge her and all she brings to the program," she said. "Being able to sing the fight song together knowing how much it meant to me and now to her; it is incredible for us to now also be connected by such amazing traditions and relationships."
 
Leona was the coach for her daughter, Sammie, both at the high school and club levels.
 
"I applaud Sammie's strength as it is never easy for an athlete who has a parent who is a coach," she said. "I feel in many ways it made her stronger as a player, teammate and a young woman in navigating difficult times, especially when adding in the COVID-19 pandemic and recruiting all at the same time."
 
"In each case, I recruited the student, not to follow in their mother's footsteps, but to write the next chapter," said head coach Greg Gibbons. "Once they got here, they felt the family feel that their mothers had described to them. Now, they can see what makes this program special, and they share a new bond with their mothers."
 
For three second-generation student-athletes on the Pacific swim team, they are all proud of the accomplishments of their mothers. And vice versa. Let's meet the mothers:
 

• Natalie Dorr played soccer for Pacific from 1995-98. Dorr was named All-Big West First Team and Player of the Year in 1998. She was inducted into the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 as an individual and with the 1998 team in 2011. Dorr ranks third all-time in Pacific history with 26 goals and second with 25 assists.
• Shannon Scott swam for the Tigers from 1991-93. Her primary event was the butterfly.
• Tisha Kermoian played tennis for Pacific from 1988-92. She and her sisters, Trina Lee and Tiffany Fong, all earned scholarships and played collegiately for the Tigers.

 
Brooke Helgeson, a senior at Pacific and a mother herself to 17-month-old Ashtyn, said she wasn't initially interested in staying in California or attending a small school, but Pacific stole her heart. 
 
"A good handful of students can say that their parents are alumni here, but not many have parents who had such a successful career as a Tiger athlete," said Helgeson. "I used to love going into the Champions Room in Athletics and pointing out to everyone that 'that's my Mom!' on the wall. I think it's great that I play a different sport than she did here, so I never felt like I was trying to live up to how successful she was— I was able to swim to compete against myself. Now that I have a daughter too, I can only imagine how excited I would be if she followed in my footsteps and attended Pacific, too."
 
 
"I always told Brooke that she would know which college would be right for her because it would feel like home the way Pacific felt for me," said Dorr. "When she returned from her recruiting trip, she had made her mind up that Pacific would be her home."
 
"I love watching Brooke compete at Pacific. Every time I go back to Pacific, it feels like home to me. I have so many memories that flood back each time I walk onto campus," said Dorr. "When I watched Brooke compete this year after returning, it was pride knowing she was accomplishing something so difficult that only a very few student-athletes can understand. Every start, stroke, turn and finish made me proud. If you saw me during one of her races, I would be the parent with just a huge smile, just proud of my daughter for stepping up to the challenge of being a mom and a student-athlete."
 
Aidan Scott, a sophomore on the men's swimming team at Pacific, said his mom taught him how to swim at three years old and encouraged him to consider Pacific as an option for college.
 
 
"Now that I am here in college, it means so much to me as my mom can see me race in the same pool that she did," said Scott. "It's also so helpful to get advice from my mom as she has been through a lot of the same challenges and experiences as me." Shannon said the coaches, team, and engineering program at Pacific seemed to best fit Aidan.
 
"I have always stayed in touch with my swim friends/coaches from Pacific and gone to all of the alumni/team events over the years, so it is definitely extra special for me now that he is on the team," said Shannon. "The program has grown so much since I was there in the 90s, so that is also really fun for me to see."
 
Freshman swimmer Kelly Kermoian said she didn't intend to go to the same school as her parents, but now that she's here, she's happy to share that with them.
 
"It makes me feel incredibly honored to have the opportunity to experience what she did when she was here," said Kermoian. "It means everything to me knowing that she is my role model and the person I look up to the most."
 
Tisha Kermoian, who played tennis at Pacific, said she loves watching her daughter compete at her alma mater. 
 
"It's so nice to be able to share my college experience with her. I can relate to what she enjoys about Pacific, and I knew it would be a perfect fit for her. When I heard she would be in my freshman dorm, I was so excited," said Tisha. "It is so great to watch her swim as a Tiger. I'm sure I'll get there, but the one thing I can't wear is a Swim & Dive t-shirt; however, I wear my Tiger tennis shirt with pride."
 
Pacific's Swimming and Diving Coach, Katelyne Herrington, said family ties to athletic programs at Pacific are part of what makes the programs and the school special.
 
"Most of the time, we are aware of their mother's legacy. We have a strong pulse out to prospective student-athletes with family alums. I feel like it makes a difference in the recruiting process," said Herrington. "Their family holds value in their experience that they can draw from on top of what we get to share as coaches. It helps amplify what we are all about here at Pacific."