Zac and Ainslee first met after both of them played (and won) in the semifinals of an intramural 6v6 volleyball game. Zac’s friend was chatting with Ainslee’s mom, who was there to pick Ainslee up for her ride home the next day. Ainslee, standing awkwardly beside Zac, asked him if they had made it to the championship, and he confirmed. Zac then asked Ainslee if she was going to cheer for him at the championship, and she replied, “If you come cheer me on at mine.” Neither of them watched each other’s matches, but they both won that night — in volleyball and in meeting each other.

After Thanksgiving break, Zac and Ainslee began talking more and spent every day together for the next three weeks leading up to Christmas. One night at a formal after-party, they stayed up until 4 a.m., walking around campus, watching the first snow, and body sledding. They had several late-night talks that week, staying up until 4 a.m. again on three different nights. Two weeks later, they shared their first kiss, and by December 31st, Zac asked Ainslee to be his girlfriend. It was no surprise to anyone, but Ainslee couldn’t believe she had found someone she couldn’t wait to introduce to her parents.

Within a month of dating, they met each other's parents, and from there, the rest is history. They’ve spent two summers long-distance, traveled to Disney World three times, attended two Mardi Gras balls, gone to countless weddings and formals, and even won multiple intramural championships in the same gym where they first met. They’ve also explored the U.K., Europe, and Mexico — and they’re just getting started.

When it was time to propose, Zac knew Ainslee wanted two things: the beach and her family. So, on July 11th, in Cannon Beach, Oregon, Zac asked Ainslee to marry him, with both of their families waiting nearby to surprise her afterward. Of course, Ainslee said yes, and well, you know the rest!