On Tap with ... Liz Dilday

A: The Pre-Rade was a great “welcome to college” moment because we had the elder classes there greeting us, and we had just come from the ceremony inside the Chapel, and it made me realize all over again how much tradition there is at Princeton … That experience was emblematic of Princeton traditions in general.

Q: What was the greatest highlight of your sports career?

A: Our win over Bucknell in overtime in the Southern Championships this past weekend was really exciting. One of my teammates, [senior utility] Claire Jacobson, had scored a shot at the buzzer at the end of the fourth [quarter], so we thought we had won. The goal didn’t count, so we had to go to overtime, but I knew that that shot was a good omen, and we ended up winning the game, which was pretty exciting.

Q: What is the funniest story you have about your coach?

A: This April Fools’ Day, we had morning practice, so I e-mailed my team the night before. Usually [head coach Luis Nicolao] knows that April Fools’ Day is coming up, so with morning practice we thought we could catch him off guard … We had [junior utility] Phoebe Champion come to morning practice, like, 15 minutes late, and she was running down the stairs of DeNunzio Pool totally dishevelled. We were already in the pool … She basically did the walk of shame at morning practice, and our coach just thought it was the funniest thing ever. He completely believed it … The whole day he was trying to figure out who the new guy was … After morning practice, we were talking over bagels, and we were all playing along. He totally believed it. It was awesome, and we were laughing along with it. He thought he was in on the juicy gossip.

Q: Who is your quirkiest teammate?

A: Junior [utility] Carolina Ardila. She’s hysterical. She’s a germophobe, so she wears flip-flops to the edge of the pool and then jumps in … She never walks on the pool deck or in the locker room or in the shower without her flip-flops. Our coach, on many occasions, has stolen them, and she freaks out.

Q: What was your most embarrassing moment?

A: During my sophomore year, Claire Jacobson and I were hanging out in two of our senior teammates’ room goofing around. They talked Claire and me into making a music video to some Missy Elliott song — I don’t remember which. When we were done, we said they needed to delete it. To make a long story short, they posted it on YouTube and sent the link to the women’s and men’s water polo teams. That was pretty embarrassing.

Q: What is the best part about being an athlete on campus?

A: I just think that being on any team and having that structure of friends and the pride of representing your school and going to battle against these other schools — it really makes you appreciate the institution, and it definitely gives you discipline and time management skills. And it’s a lot of fun. Some of my greatest memories have been with the water polo team, in and out of the water.

Q: What is the hardest part about being an athlete on campus?

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A: The time management and the morning practices … Specifically for us, it’s having your hair freeze after practice in the cold. Our season starts in January and February, and that happens often. If you don’t have a hooded sweatshirt, you’re in trouble.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t playing or practicing?

A: I really like just hanging out with friends at the Murray-Dodge Cafe. That’s my favorite place recently. Also, just taking some time away from schoolwork and relaxing with friends. And singing with Jock Jams.

Q: If you didn’t play water polo, what sport you would play?

A: Because of my height, I’d like to say basketball, but I’ve also been swimming for so long. So either of those would be really fun.

Q: What would you do if you were your coach for a day?

A: I’d have to go back to one of the pranks and pull a really great one in response … We’ve pranked him over and over at this point throughout my four years, so I’d have to think of some way to get back at the players. If I were coach for a day, I would come up with some mastermind prank to get back at us for all we’ve given him.

Q: What is your favorite class at Princeton?

A: I really like The Opera, which was MUS 220. And I also really liked POL 317: Discrimination in the Law.

Q: Who gets the most guys on the team?

A: Oh my gosh, I don’t know. Well, Phoebe Champion. Let’s just say that April Fools’ was a believable prank.

Q: Do you have a pre-match ritual?

A: During our home games, like, five minutes before game time, all of us will run back into the locker room, and we’ll play music and do a cheer and bang really hard on the locker doors. They make a lot of noise, and it’s really fun, and it pumps us up.

Q: Is there any music that inspires you for matches?

A: As a team, we’re really into hip-hop. Lady Gaga has been a hit this spring.

Q: What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod?

A: I’d have to say my collection of Spice Girls songs is a little embarrassing. There are a lot of them, but they’re from a long time ago. I went to their concert last year with four friends, and we dressed up as the Spice Girls. So that’s a little more embarrassing than the songs on my iPod.