Q: What was your first welcome-to-college moment in volleyball?
A: We had a team meeting with the captains my freshman year. We all bonded over scones and watched “Side-out,” one of maybe three volleyball movies ever made (the others are “All You’ve Got,” featuring the always-hot Ciara, and “Cloud Nine,” starring Burt Reynolds and a charming cast of strippers). Few people know this, but “Side-out” was actually nominated for three Oscars.
Q: What would you say has been the greatest highlight of your sports career — at Princeton or before?
A: Last year we made it to the EIVA Final Four, which means all members of last year’s team are now proud owners of the EIVA Final Four T-shirt, my greatest achievement in volleyball thus far.
Q: What is the funniest story you can tell about a coach?
A: Our coach is a strictly business, zero-sense-of-humor kind of guy.
Q: Most embarrassing moment with the team?
A: Showering. It’s not my fault, everyone is like 6’5” or taller.
Q: Best part of being an athlete?
A: Pretty much everyone knows me, respects me and worships the ground I walk on — except the vast majority of campus that doesn’t realize how utterly exciting a men’s volleyball match can be. If you haven’t been [to one], we encourage you to come and tell the players on the other team exactly what you think of them.
Q: And the worst part of being an athlete?
A: Getting around all the NCAA gambling rules so I can participate in March Madness. Erin McDermott, I’m lying.
Q: Pre-game ritual?
A: Generally, in lieu of warming up, I rub Bengay all over my body.
Q: What music gets you pumped up before games, if any?
A: Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.”
Q: Most embarrassing song on your iPod?
A: Pretty much my entire Raffi library, including “Baby Beluga” and “Banana Foam.”
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