Player of the Year Ranked 5th Nationally for Kills

A: I feel really great about winning NESCAC player of the year. I have worked so hard this season, putting my all into every practice and every game. It is incredibly rewarding to work as hard as you can, and see that others recognize how hard you have worked.

Q: What do you think makes you such a talented volleyball player?

A: Probably the number one thing is my competitive attitude. I really love competing and winning. I also really just love the game of volleyball. My love of the game makes me work harder, run faster and jump higher. Of course, my height, 5’11,’’ helps with my hitting a little too.

Q: When did you first start playing organized volleyball?

A: I have been playing volleyball all of my life. However my first “organized” team was in 7th grade. I guess I was one of the better players then, but I would say I did not develop into a real volleyball player until 9th or 10th grade.

Q: You came to Wesleyan from Ann Arbor, Mich. Is that where you grew up?

A: Yes. I’ve lived there my whole life.

Q: What was it like growing up in the shadows of the University of Michigan?

A: Amazing. I have always been a big supporter of University of Michigan’s volleyball team. I have gone to most of their games, and attended their volleyball summer camp several years. Just this past summer, I helped coach their camps. This was such a great experience for me. I learned a lot from the coaches, the Michigan head coach and the players. Also whenever the coaches (mostly Michigan volleyball players) were on a break, we would play around a little. For them, they were just “messing around,” for me it was some of the most competitive volleyball I have ever played. Playing with a top 10 Division 1 team was an amazing experience. I definitely grew a lot as a player through this experience alone.

Q: How did you become interested in attending Wesleyan?

A: I first learned about Wesleyan through friends from my high school who are now seniors at Wesleyan. They all spoke so highly of Wesleyan, and often compared it to our high school, which I was really fond of. When I visited Wesleyan, the thing that struck me most about Wesleyan was the student body. Everyone seemed so intelligent, unique and approachable. I knew Wesleyan was a great school academically, but also that the students were not competitive with one another. People at Wesleyan are more concerned about learning and less about the grades they receive. This was incredibly appealing to me.

Q: What other colleges did you consider attending?

A: I applied early decision to Wesleyan. I was pretty much set on coming here.

Q: How do you like it here at Wesleyan?

A: I absolutely love it here. I have loved everyone I have met here. I have made great friends. I can not imagine playing on a team anywhere else; our team is like a family. I have really liked (almost) all of the classes I’ve taken, and professors I have had. I haven’t decided on a major yet, but I am leaning towards Environmental Science and Psychology.

Q: You played softball and basketball at the Greenhills School in
Michigan along with volleyball. What other sports do you play now?

A: I would like to play intramural softball, and I am going to try out Ultimate Frisbee this spring.

Q: Tell us about your parents John and Lyn.

A: My parents have always been so supportive of everything I do, volleyball and everything else. They are such amazing people, and certainly my number one role models. I get along so well with my parents, and am so thankful for their unconditional love and support. During high school they came to every one of my volleyball, basketball, and softball games. Not to mention, my dad was my softball coach for several years. I was worried that by coming all the way out to Connecticut they would hardly ever get to see me play. This has not been the case at all. Last year and this year they have made it to a lot of games, including the NESCAC quarter finals and semi-finals this year. My dad came all the way out to Maine last year for NESCAC finals. We lost in the quarter-finals on Friday, and so my dad was stranded in Maine for the rest of the weekend! My whole family, not just my parents have been so supportive of my volleyball. I have an older brother and sister who were able to make it to several games this year. My family is so supportive of me, and I think I play even harder when they are here watching me, because I want to show them my thanks for all of their support.

Q: If you had to credit one person with helping you get to this point
in your volleyball career, who would it be?