Ping!
 
That is the sound of ball to bat and when Brendan Hendriks makes contact, it resonates throughout the ballpark.
 
Just like the towering home run that he hit over the rightfield netting and onto Masonic Avenue in the team's season finale against California. Just like the thunderous shot he hit into the Fullerton night to beat No. 2 Cal State Fullerton in 19 innings.
 
The left handed batter is also a doubles machine. He recently moved into the school's top 10 list in career doubles and has 42 two-baggers entering the weekend against San Diego.
 
He was named to the All-WCC Freshman Team in 2012, an All-WCC Honorable Mention last season, a Top 100 senior by Baseball America, and has been one of the catalysts for the Dons this season.
 
That on-field success has been a reflection of the hard work and determination he has shown on and off the field.
 
"The first thought that comes to mind is his determination and persistence, as a person, as a player, as a classmate, and as a leader," USF baseball head coach Nino Giarratano said. "He's a great student, works hard and he's the same type of athlete. He works hard at the game, works hard on the relationships with his teammates. He is one of the reasons we've had the success we've had over the last four years."
 
Hendriks was a sophomore on the 2013 NCAA Regional Team and has been a part of some of the better teams in the program's history. The team did not meet its own expectations last season, finishing below .500, and started this season 0-10. But the experience and determination of Hendriks has been a key component to the Dons rebounding to reach the .500 mark.
 
"He was determined this year when he came back to get this team to where it wanted to get to," Giarratano said. "The seniors are to be commended for keeping the team together. They're the guys that helped us keep it together."
 
For the former hockey player, that focus and determination takes a break when he gets some free time where fishing is a pastime.
 
"Know Your Dons" is an on-going feature on USFDons.com designed to personalize the student-athletes of the University of San Francisco. Meet Brendan Hendriks.
 
Student Life
Favorite spot on campus: Benedetti Diamond
Favorite class: Acting for Non-Majors
Hardest class: Econ with Musey
Favorite place to study on campus: Top floor of the library with the couches
Keys to balancing the demands of school and your sport:  Getting things done when they need to be done and enjoying time off when you get it.
What experience made the biggest impact on you in the classroom: When I went homeless for a day and made a video about it.
The best thing about USF is: There is aways something to do. There is never a dull moment in San Francisco.
What does "Change the World From Here" mean to you: Better person, better player on and off the field. It's important to be a good person.
 
Pop Culture
Favorite TV show: Friends
Favorite movie: Waterboy
Last book you read: "The Way of Baseball" by Shawn Greene
Favorite singer or band: Josh Thompson
What's on your iPod: All country, pretty much. Old school rock and country.
 
Team
Top skill: Hitting for power
One thing you are always working on: Trying to become a better leader and see what I can do to help the team.
One skill of one of your teammates you wish you had:  Dom's confidence because he dropped a fly ball (against Nevada) and his confidence is still sky high and I think that's why he's going to be such a great hitter going forward.
Pre-game rituals or superstitions before events: I've tried to stay away from that. I try to go against the superstitions and step on the foul line and kind of go against anything you can think of.
Funniest teammate: Either Zack McCoy or Dom[inic] Miroglio.
Favorite saying: He hangs it, you bang it.
 
Sports
Sports teams I follow: Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Blue Jays
Favorite athlete: Ryan Smith, he just grinds it out. He's kind an under-the-radar guy that gets the job done.
Favorite athletic memory: Playing for Team Canada
Biggest sports thrill: Hitting a home run
My second-best sport: Hockey, for sure.
Sport I'm the worst at: I'm pretty bad at basketball. I like to think I'm pretty good at it but guys give me a hard time on it.
Earliest sports memory: Probably hockey, skating when I was three years old on outdoor ponds with my family.
First sport you ever played: Hockey
 
Food and Travel
Favorite meal: Prime Rib
Favorite ethnic cuisine: Chinese Food
Favorite snack food: Ice cream and peanut butter
Least favorite food: There's nothing I don't like.
Guilty pleasure: Chick flicks
Who is the best cook on the team: Christian Cecilio
If stranded on an island, what would you bring with you: My girlfriend, my family, and two friends from the team.
Most interesting place you've ever visited: Cuba
Place you'd most like to visit someday: Jamaica
Favorite place in San Francisco: Pier 7, we go shark fishing
Describe your perfect day in San Francisco: Sleep in, wake up, play a baseball game, then go out with the guys at the Bistro, then go to the pier to fish.
 
This and That
Hobbies: Fishing, golf, tennis. Anything we can do with sports, we like to do.
Pick three words to describe yourself: Determined, calm, and outgoing.
Early riser or night owl: Night owl. I like sleeping in.
Something people would be surprised to know about me: That I don't ride a dog sled to work in Canada and I don't live in an igloo.
Person I'd most like to meet: Wayne Gretzky
Talent I wish I had: I wish I was fast. That would help me a lot on the baseball field.
Role models: My parents.
My parents were right when they said: Hard work pays off
Moment in my life I'll always remember: Hitting the home run against Fullerton in the 19th inning to win it.
In 10 years, I'd like to be: Still grinding out baseball
If I could trade places with someone for a day, it would be: Chris Davis (Baltimore Orioles)
Pet peeves: When I wake up in the morning and Zack McCoy is way too happy to be up. He gets in the face and that's the worst.
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Best advice you've ever received: Let the game come to you. Don't try to go out and do things you're not capable of doing.
Describe your perfect day: Go out to my cabin in British Columbia and I'll fish from 9 in the morning to 6 at night. Then go home and eat some food.
Describe the student-athlete experience at USF: I think it's everything I expected and more. There is always something to do here. The athletic community is great, our coaching staff has done a great job.