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I'm A College Volleyball Setter
The Rachel and Hajnalka Interview
Rachel Vukson and Hajnalka Molnar talk about life as college volleyball setters
The college volleyball setter is the quarterback of their team responsible for running the offense, calling the plays and delivering the ball to their hitters to score points and sideouts.
I asked Conference USA setters Rachel Vukson and Hajnalka Molnar two top setters in volleyball to answer my interview questions about how athletes live learn and excel in Division I.
The College Volleyball Setters from the Conference USA Answer Interview Questions
Meet Rachel Vukson one of the top college volleyball setters in the Conference USA.
Improve Your Volleyball: What makes you special?
"I don’t know if I would consider myself special. I have been working hard my entire life in order to get where I am today. I am very determined, and set high goals for my team members and myself. I believe my family acts as a great supporting cast, and my team/coaching staff has definitely helped with my own personal success."
Improve Your Volleyball: What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?
"Like I mentioned previously, my teammates are the best accessories in order for me to perform to my potential. I believe that the whole team brings out the best in each other. When I am not playing my best, I know someone will be there telling me what I need to do better, and encouraging me to push."
"Likewise, I am always pushing others on the team to perform their best. I believe that the coaching staff is another great accessory to use in order for me to play my best."
"Since practice is where our team gets better, the coaches are very hands on and are great at teaching. With their guidance, the team as a whole is able to learn and improve in all aspects of the game. The coaches put players in position to be the best they can be."
Improve Your Volleyball: What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?
I am a very superstitious person, so I try my best to do the same things before every game. Usually our team will play a certain song in the locker room that is “good luck”, or we will play a pre game speech from a famous coach.
I usually wear a certain hair band while I play. For warm up, we like to keep everything the same and on time. Rituals are very significant because it is important to be consistent before each match.
Improve Your Volleyball: Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?
Personally, the goal of winning conference, and going to the NCAA tournament is always in the back of my mind when I play. Although it is not something I constantly think of during play, it is why I try to perform so well.
It is important for every team to set goals and aspirations, because I believe it causes people to work harder.
In practice, games, and even in our social life, we push hard towards our goal of being successful in conference and going to the tournament.
Everything our team does on the court or off the court is geared towards our objective. I think having a definite goal is what inspires us all to play so well.
Volleyball Quote about UCF Volleyball Player Rachel Vukson
“We are very excited for Rachel to receive the honor two weeks in a row,” head coach Todd Dagenais said.
“It is nice that the conference office recognized her despite our blemish on the record over the weekend.
It shows that our team continues to head in the right direction when we put ourselves in position to win these awards.”
-Head Volleyball Coach Todd Dagenais
What volleyball awards did Rachel Vukson win this week?
University of Central Florida Rachel Vukson was voted the Conference-USA Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head coaches.
- Assisting the UCF volleyball team to a 3-1 record this past weekend in the Residence Inn/UCF Invitational, senior Rachel Vukson (Oakville, Ontario) earned her second-straight Conference USA Setter of the Week award.
- This is the fourth time Vukson has won the C-USA award and third in a UCF volleyball uniform.
- Rachel also won the Sports Imports/AVCA and CVU.com National Player of the Week in addition to the C-USA award
She garnered 163 assists over the four-game span with 38 digs and eight service aces. - Vukson also ended the weekend with two double-doubles in assists and digs against two Big East opponents, Pittsburgh and USF.
- Vukson’s presence on defense enabled the Knights to hold their opponents to .122 on the attack and just 9.5 kills per set.
- Vukson was named to the all-tournament following the USF match, her third tournament award of the season.
Meet Hajnalka Molnar the college volleyball setter for the University of Memphis team.
Improve Your Volleyball: What makes you special?
I don't know if it makes me special or not, but I always seek for perfection on and off the court. The worst feeling is if I know I could have done better but I didn't because I didn't work hard enough in order to succeed.
My coach told me that hard work is that makes athletes special, and that is what I try to keep in mind.
Improve Your Volleyball: What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?
The team as a whole, including the coaches is definitely the best accessory that helps me play my best. I think we all need to work and play together as a unit in order to be successful.
We help and push each other to get better as a team and also as individuals. Also, my family has always been a great support for me. It is good to know they are always there for me whatever happens.
Improve Your Volleyball: What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?
I don't have a lot of pre-game rituals, but I usually start thinking about the game about 2-3 hours before we start warming up so I can get ready in my head as well. Also I always wear my hair the same way for games.
Improve Your Volleyball: Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?
My team.
I want to play my best in every single match because I know everyone on the team is giving their best in order to us to succeed.
What volleyball awards did Hajnalka Molnar win this week?
Hajnalka Molnar was voted the Conference USA Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head volleyball coaches.
Molnar, who ranks third in the NCAA in assists per set (12.15), registered back-to-back double doubles in Memphis’ 3-0 wins against Southern Miss and Tulane. This is Hajnalka's third college volleyball Setter of the Week award
Molnar guided her team to a Conference-USA weekly best .259 hitting efficiency
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I share alot of individual, partner and easy-to-do volleyball serving drills we do in class with my followers.
Many of these volleyball practice drills you can do at home by yourself or try at your next practice with your teammates.
If you're a B team or JV player trying to make varsity next year...your goal should be to complete 1000 reps a day of at least three of the basic skills on your own...volleyball passing, serving and setting should be at the top of the list.
You might like these college volleyball player interviews
31 Volleyball Interviews of College Volleyball Players To Inspire You
Find motivation with over 30 volleyball interviews of top collegiate players including Kendall Bateman, Katie Slay, Lexi Danemiller and Kristin Winkler.
If your athlete struggles with consistent serve receive, gets subbed out, or is overlooked for playing time—this is the fix you’ve been looking for.
Struggling with passing consistency?
I help talented passers tired of getting pulled from games because of inconsistent serve receive skills BUILD passing confidence without expensive private lessons using the same 3-step system that's helped dozens of my athletes get recruited.
Download my eBook for $17.99 and start building the passing confidence that keeps you on the court—and gets you seen by college coaches.
AUTHOR BIO
April Chapple is an elite private volleyball trainer, former USA National Team member, and University of Tennessee Hall of Fame inductee who has coached in Las Vegas for 15+ years, training hundreds of athletes and helping numerous players reach college volleyball, including Division I standouts.
She's also the head coach for girls and boys 18s at Squad VBC and offers coaches consulting on technical teaching and player development. Connect with April on LinkedIn or at ImproveYourVolley.com, where her eye for overlooked talent sets her apart.
From Lady Vol to Legend: Coach April Honored At UTK Champions Weekend
Lady Vol volleyball legend and record holder Coach April Chapple a University of Tennessee, Knoxville Hall of Fame Inductee, 3-time All American, 3-time SEC Champion, SEC Tournament MVP, 2-time All SEC Team is celebrated with her 1984 SEC champion teammates at Neyland Stadium during Champions Weekend on November 1-2, 2024.
- the first First Round Draft Pick for the first American pro indoor women's league
- named to the first First Team All-Pro team for Major League Volleyball in USA volleyball history
- former USA National team member
- one of the few American women players named as an Italian Pro League D-I Championship Finalist, Italian Cup Finalist and Cup of Cups Tournament Finalist
April Chapple The first First round Draft Pick For Major League Volleyball the first American Women's Pro League Honored At Athlete Unlimited Pro Volleyball Match
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Congratulations to my seven Boys-18s Vegas Volley club players who played in two state championship finals yesterday, the 3A and 5A State champinship finals at Sunrise Mountain High School.
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS!
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In It To Win It Tournament
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