Q: What is your role on the volleyball team at Princeton?
A: I think I’m one of the more verbal players on the team. There are a couple of us who try to step up and be leaders. We have a lot of freshmen playing, and I think it’s up to the older girls to be leaders on the court. Hopefully I contribute to that.
Q: Who is your professional athletic role model?
A: I’ve always had a secret desire to be [racecar driver] Danica Patrick.
Q: The volleyball team is reputed to have a cult following of fans on campus. Can you tell me more about this?
A: We have an amazing cult following headed by our lovely wrestling friends — namely, junior Luis Ramos — and junior swimmer Kila Pickering. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the volleyball groupies?
Q: Where are you from, and what is it like there?
A: I’m from southern California, and it’s the most amazing place in the entire world. It’s beautiful and sunshiney, and we don’t get depressed in the winter. West coast, best coast.
Q: What was your “welcome to college” moment?
A: I loved getting here early as a freshman and having a month to get acclimated to Princeton. Walking into the dining hall in Whitman and seeing all of the other fall athletes around eating gave me a chance to get my bearings before everyone else arrived on campus.
Q: How long have you been playing volleyball, and how did you start?
A: I started playing in eighth grade because that’s what tall girls do in southern California — they play volleyball.
Q: Bump, set or spike?
A: Spike.
Q: If you didn’t play volleyball, what sport would you play?
A: If I didn’t play volleyball, I would be doing musical theater, not playing another sport.
Q: What has been your favorite class at Princeton so far?
A: I just started taking ENG 403: Forms of Literature: Literature and War, and I’m in love with it. I actually start crying when I do the readings — they’re so amazing. That’s my favorite class so far.
Q: At 6 feet 2 inches tall, you are by all standards a tall person. What is it like being tall?
A: It’s something you have to own. Growing up and being a sixth to eighth grader isn’t so easy, and I think people forget that. I’ve grown to absolutely love it — I love standing out, but you just have to own it.
Q: What was your 15 minutes of fame?
A: We were playing for the league championship in high school, and I got a beautiful, huge block — the epitome of a perfect block — and I came running off the court to high-five all my teammates since it was my turn to rotate out. I slipped on water and ended up seal diving literally 20 feet. I rolled out of it and landed like a gymnast with my arms up. That one got talked about for a while.
Q: Do you have any pregame rituals?
A: Before getting with the team, I always take some time by myself to get in the right frame of mind. I always pray, quiet my heart and pick a few things I want to focus on before the match. My favorite pregame ritual is when our team dances to a remix of “Sweet Caroline” before the match, and nothing gets me more pumped up than that.
Q: Kill, block or dig?
A: Kill.
Q: What’s the best thing about being an athlete at Princeton?
A: The community. Princeton is such a small campus, and the athletes are an even smaller group. It’s nice because our team is friends with the men’s volleyball team, the water polo teams and a bunch of other teams.
Q: What’s the worst thing about being an athlete at Princeton?
A: It’s time consuming, but that’s not even an issue — I look forward to going to practice after class. You get tired, but it’s a small price to pay.
Q: Considering that you’re from California, was Princeton the first time you ever saw snow?
A: It wasn’t the first time I ever saw snow, but it was the first time I ever had a snow day.
Q: What’s the most embarrassing song on your iPod?
A: It’s definitely something by Celine Dion. Choose whatever the most embarrassing song of hers is, and it’s on my iPod, guaranteed.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you’re off the court?
A: It sounds generic, but I love hanging out with my friends, watching shows, dancing and singing.
Q: If you were a T-shirt, what color would you be?
A: Pink.
Q: What would your superpower be?
A: To fly.
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