With senior weekend on the horizon, Western Washington University softball seniors Hailey Rath and Olivia Matlock sat down to reflect on a friendship that spans a decade, a few rivalries and one transfer.

Rath, a shortstop majoring in business management with a minor in psychology, has been at Western throughout her collegiate career. Matlock, a first baseman and elementary education major, transferred ahead of her junior season from St. Martin's University.

The pair banter like sisters, finish each other's sentences, and even live together. Together, the two are preparing to close out their softball careers the same way they started them: side by side.
 
Q. Can you tell me a little bit about how you guys met and how you first became friends?
Hailey Rath
We met in 12U. We played on Washington Lady Hawks together — that's how we met. But technically, we knew of each other because we played each other since 10U. We used to be rivals. It was like explosion against speed. We knew of each other, but then 12U hit and we finally actually met.
Olivia Matlock
We played softball together our 12U first year, then 14s. Then I moved up in age, and then we played with each other again in 16U and 18U. So basically, we played with each other almost every year in travel ball, except for one year when we were little.
 
Q. What's something most people don't know about your friendship, or something that might surprise people?
Hailey Rath
We fight like sisters. We have a sister bond. We fight — not in a bad way, not like, 'Oh my God, I hate you.' Compared to other people's friendships, we just know each other very well. It's like we grew up in the same house when we were younger.
 
Q. [To Olivia] Can you speak on what it means to you to play for Western the last two years with your best friend.
Olivia Matlock
Ending my softball career with my best friend since 12U — it's probably one of the best things ever.
Hailey Rath
It's cool that we started our softball careers together and are quite literally ending our softball careers together. Not to get emotional or anything, but that touches my heart. It's full circle. I'm grateful that she came, and it was nice to have her adapt to everyone very quickly.

Q. In what ways do you think your friendship has made you better teammates?
Olivia Matlock
We know each other so well that on the field — since I'm her first baseman — I can read every movement she makes when she's throwing to me. I can tell just by her body position where the throw is going. I think it's having that trust in each other and having each other's backs. We've known each other for 10 years, so we know how each other's swings are, we know each other's mechanics. I can go up to her and be like, 'Hey, what do you think about this?' and she'll just give me automatic feedback right away.
Hailey Rath
It's nice because we can hold each other accountable. Hitting-wise, like she said — I know this girl's swing to a T. So, if I see something, I'm obviously going to tell her, 'cause I obviously want her to be better. It's nice to hold each other accountable.
 
Q. What do you admire most about each other — as an athlete or just as a person?
Olivia Matlock
I would say her confidence, the way that she holds herself. She holds herself at a very high standard and never wants to dip below the bar. She just walks around with this confidence that I honestly wish I had in everything in life.
Hailey Rath
The one thing I admire most about Liv is she's a very caring person. It's nice to have her around because I'm the type of person —like I don't care— if something goes this way, it is what it is. And Liv's always the one that cares for people. Like don't get me wrong I care for people and I love people. But Liv, she's the balance that I need. She's a very loving person.
 
Q. What's the most impactful thing you've ever said to each other — something that stuck with you on or off the field?
Hailey Rath
Recently, me and Liv have hit a point in our friendship where things are changing — life is changing. In the next couple of years, I'm going into a completely different life than I've ever been in, and Liv's also going into a completely different life. We had this deep conversation a couple weeks ago, and she showed me how much she cared about me — friendship-wise. She really wants this friendship to last forever, and that really touches my heart. I know it probably hasn't shown, but it actually does.
Olivia Matlock
On the field, last year when I was going through my slump toward the end of the season, you were always there to encourage me. You helped me get through that — always having that vibe of, 'You got the next one, you got this.' Knowing deep down she's always gonna have my back, that she's always gonna be there for me no matter what — with everything changing, she's always gonna be my best friend at the end of the day.
 
Q. What's one thing the other person does better than anyone else?
Hailey Rath
Liv is very smart. She knows the most random things out of anyone I know. Like the whole NASA rocket thing that just happened — I kid you not, she knew everything. She's probably one of the smartest people I've ever met. School smart — street smart, she can work on that.
Olivia Matlock
Again, I'd say your confidence. You always just go out and do what you do, do what you want to do and don't care what other people think or what they say.
 
Q. As seniors, how does it feel wrapping up this chapter together?
Olivia Matlock
Quite literally everything for this weekend is going to be full circle for me. Not just ending my softball career here but having our senior weekend together — and I am playing my old school on my senior weekend, which is crazy. I think it's the perfect way to end my softball career with somebody I literally started it with. We went through so much from age 12 to now 22, and we've always been there for each other. It's just nice to have that closure that we're going through it together and ending it together.
Hailey Rath
It's sad, but it's also sweet. It's going to be nice that we get to end it on senior weekend together, and with our families together. All our families have always been close throughout our career — they've been our biggest supporters both ways. My parents are Olivia's biggest supporters and her parents are mine. You're literally my second sister.
 
Q. Looking back at 10 years of friendship, is there a memory that stands out as one of your favorites?
Hailey Rath
I think my top memory hasn't even happened yet, but I think it's gonna be this weekend. Taking it all in especially with her by my side. We've done a lot together. We've gone to concerts together; we've gone to Mariners games together. My most favorite memories are probably with my Eatonville people and Liv; we all get together. The summer was really fun. Fourth of July.
Olivia Matlock
I remember we went to Florida — we went to Disney World. That was fun. Or even senior year of high school—
Hailey Rath
—Oh senior year of high school! My team went down to play Liv's team!
Olivia Matlock
I was not thinking about that but okay.
Hailey Rath
—and it was fun to play against each other for once. That's all I'll share don't worry…Yeah, I hit a home run off her no biggie. Eatonville won like 14 to 13 — it was crazy.
Olivia Matlock
Well, I think my favorite memory was like senior year when we were at Indiana. Or junior year PGF when we got 2nd PGF, which was really fun too. I think it's all the travel ball memories, our dads used to take us on trips, we'd share a hotel room — someone was always snoring. Those trips always made us closer and made our families closer, too.
 
Q. What do you hope people remember about the two of you and the mark you left on this program?
Hailey Rath
I think together — showing that we've been best friends for so long, even with that two-year gap. We came back and picked up right where we left off, showing that no matter what, we're always gonna be there for each other and it's always gonna be the same.
Olivia Matlock
Yeah, I agree — that was well said. And also, that we always have fun with each other. There's never really a moment where we're not laughing.