ould you explain the significance of this past weekend’s scrimmage?
Most importantly it’s just more experience, because it’s a new team with a new combination of players, so it’s really important to play with each other as much as possible to see how people would react in certain situations and to feel comfortable with the chemistry of the whole team.
As the starting setter, what sort of role must you play out on the court?
I am in charge of running the offense, so it’s my job to find out which plays will be most effective in terms of what the other team is doing on defense and what we’re best at on offense. My job is to get the ball to the hitter or to attack myself.
With setters having to call a lot of shots, how closely have you worked with the coach?
Especially when I was a freshman and sophomore, we talked a lot about different situations and what kind of plays you would run. Now, we’re getting more in depth about the game and more technical.
Since you are also a co-captain, in what other ways must you act as a leader for the women?
I just keep everybody together and focused in the direction that we want to head. On and off the court. I’ll be there for support or encouragement if someone needs it.
Has volleyball always been a large part of your life?
When I was very young my parents actually coached volleyball at the grade school level, so I was just kind of around in the gym. Then in sixth grade or so I started playing for one of the club teams in the area.
How did your high school playing days go?
At the end of my freshman year, I was starting varsity so I had four letters. We never made it to State but we came close. We won conference several times. My first two years of club volleyball I played as a defensive specialist and then my eighth grade year I was switched to center. In high school it was a fall season and then there was club volleyball in the spring.
After so many seasons what have you already taken from the sport?
Friendships are obviously a good part of it. You always wonder how your former teammates are doing and the coaches especially. You’ll always have those relationships with you. I guess in terms of life lessons, just being able to dedicate myself to something so long and to know that I still truly do love volleyball. And there’s time management and those things everyone always tells you.
How do you balance your spot with academics?
Daily you have to be on top of your schedule. You have to make sure you get your work done when you can. Use the time you have, 20 minutes here, 20 minutes there. If you use that you’d be surprised how much you got done.
What other interests do you pursue on campus?
I take voice lessons. I sing in the choir down at the Catholic Student Center, and I’ve been in the chamber choir a couple times.
Have you ever sung the National Anthem at WU?
I’ve sung the National Anthem before matches. It’s gotten to be pretty regular.
Do you sing it the same way every time or do you change it up some?
It’s mostly the same I guess, a few embellishments here or there. Actually, one of my teammates, Mia Viola, and I do a duet sometimes, and my dad came and sang so it was the three of us once with harmony parts and such. It was fun.
How will the team prepare physically or perhaps mentally for this schedule?
If the coaches have scouted a team at all, tracking tendencies that they might have, then we’ll throw that into practice. We might practice how to defend certain shots they might use. I guess that is more of the mental aspect, knowing as much as you can about the other team before hand. We also brush up on our technique.
How does the team respond to the program’s tradition of success with 7 previous national championships and streak of 12 UAA titles?
We know what’s expected. We’re striving for the top every year. We know it’s been done and can be done again, but we also know it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to get there.
After last year’s third place in the NCAA finals, what would you like to see the team accomplish this fall?
Our goal is a national championship, no doubt about it. Last year in the semifinal match we came really close to getting into the championship match, and we know we have it in us as a team. We have the skills and a lot of work to do, but it’s there.
Was that the team focus last year?
Winning a national championship was mentioned last year, but after making it to the final four it’s even more of a goal this year. We’ve got a little more confidence that we can get there. We’ve just got to put the finishing touch on it.
What level of commitment is required to maintain the necessary intensity?
It’s hard, but you really have to love the game. You have to enjoy being there all the time, because you are. You are on the road a lot and missing a lot of classes, but when you are committed to it it’s that much sweeter a reward when you succeed.
Who do you think your greatest competition might be?
I’m not really sure, honestly. I do know that we are rated fourth, but I don’t even know who’s rated above us. Puget Sound, Whitewater and I’m assuming Central will be in the running again. Actually, one of our home tournaments this year has probably four of the five top teams. Juniata and Whitewater are coming. River Falls and Ohio Northern, and they are all top-caliber teams.
Would you say that the team’s schedule is tough, and the conference is very strong too?
I would tend to agree with that. Coach [Luenemann] likes to have a pretty tough schedule so we’re used to playing tough competition all year. As for the conference, I agree it’s getting stronger, which is a good thing I think.
Do you think the that fact that there are many young players on the team will be much of a factor?
Obviously it’s going to come into play, but we’re starting with a good base. Last spring we had a really good season with a lot of growth from last year’s freshmen. With experience under our belt from last spring we’ll be in pretty good shape.
Say you didn’t play well and have a big test. Do stressful situations ever add up?
Oh, sure. A lot of times you just have to take a step back and say you know what, maybe I do have a big test, but I’m going take 20 minutes out for myself. Actually one of my hobbies is playing piano on the side. It relaxes you a bit, and you can refocus on the goals that you really do have.
With your interests in volleyball, music and academics, does one stand out as your greatest passion?
I’ve always known that I’ve had interests and abilities in all three areas, and I guess I’ve always been able to balance them in a way that I can enjoy them all. I guess that’s one way that I keep myself less stressful than I could be, because if academics aren’t going well maybe volleyball is or something is good in music. So I can balance myself.