ARLINGTON, VA – Cal's Lillian Schonewise was in fourth grade on Sept. 11, 2001 when the United States was the target of a terrorist attack.

Now a senior preparing to begin her adult life after college, she understands the meaning of the Cal volleyball team's trip to The Pentagon this weekend for the Service Academy Challenge.

“It's really cool to come back around and celebrate what America stands for on 9-11,” Schonewise said. “Everyone is thrilled to be able to be at The Pentagon on 9-11. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

The Service Academy Challenge is an annual tournament that takes place in the subterranean gym at The Pentagon in Arlington, VA. that features military academies and high-academic institutions. The Bears will meet Harvard and Army on Friday and Air Force on Saturday.

The event is the brainchild of former Cal assistant coach Matt McShane, now the head coach of Air Force.

McShane and Cal head coach Rich Feller are still close friends and the Bears jumped at the chance to be part of a special and unique tournament this year.

“When Matt first go to Air Force, he had a vision of running this kind of tournament,” Feller said. “He wanted us to come to the first one but we were booked for a few years. I said, 'How about 2015?' He said, 'You're in.'”

McShane's idea was to hold the tournament during the week of 9-11 to honor the memory of a pivotal moment in U.S. history. The event is open to a limited number of invited guests.

Saturday's matches will be played at the nearby Ft. Myer Fitness Center.

“It's a unique opportunity,” Feller said. “The volleyball is obviously important but it's really secondary to the importance of being here. It's the reverence of honoring the United States and everything that went on in our country during that time. And it's a chance to bring a little recreational activity to the people that work there every single day defending our country.”

The Bears are getting the chance to do some sightseeing when they are not playing volleyball. They toured the U.S. Capitol and The Pentagon on Thursday. On Wednesday evening, Schonewise and fellow seniors Nikki Gombar and Lara Vukasovic joined Feller on a tour of the West Wing of the White House.

The Bears also realize that while they are being afforded a rare off-the-court opportunity, they still need to focus on their business on the volleyball court as well.

“We're going to play volleyball, but we also want to take advantage of all the opportunities we have there,” Schonewise said. “It's all about balance. When we're in the gym, we need to take care of business. When we're out of the gym, we can enjoy everything else.”