Four Middle Hitter Volleyball Athletes Answer My Interview Questions

Middle blocker/hitters Megan Campbell, DeeDee Harrison, Loren Thomas and Katie Slay answer my volleyball questions

The college middle hitter volleyball player.

I asked DeeDee Harrison, Loren Thomas, Megan Campbell and Katie Slay four top middle  volleyball players to answer my interview questions about how athletes live learn and excel in Division I. 

Meet Megan Campbell middle blocker volleyball player for the University of Dayton.

Improve Your Volleyball: What makes you special?

"I think what makes me special is my determination to get better.  I believe hard work is crucial to succeeding, and I make it my goal to outwork everyone in everything I do. "

Improve Your Volleyball: What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?

"One of our traditions here at UD is all of our team members always wear some sort of clip in their hair.  This year we have little clip in bows.

Mine is light blue, and this accessory along with a red ribbon need to be in my hair every game."

Improve Your Volleyball: What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?

"My main pre-game ritual is listening to a specific playlist on my iPod.

We also have a team dance party to the same song before we take to court for warm ups."

Improve Your Volleyball: Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?

"My teammates inspire me to play well.  Without them, I would not be standing on the court.  In return, I want to play my best to help them succeed."

What middle hitter volleyball awards did Megan Campbell win this week? 

• University of Dayton volleyball player Megan Campbell was voted the Atlantic 10 Conference Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head coaches.
  
  
• Campbell, a sophomore middle blocker, earns her second weeklyaward of the season after leading the Flyers’ front court with 16 blocks(1.78 per set) to help hold UD’s weekend opponents to a .037 hitting percentage.

• The Versailles, Ohio, native was also named to the All-Tournament Team of the Blue and White Classic in Buffalo, N.Y., as Dayton rolled past Cornell, Syracuse and Buffalo.
  
  
• She opened the weekend with seven blocks against Cornell, before recording four blocks against Syracuse – more than the Orange, the nation’s leader in blocks per set, registered as a team – and five against host Buffalo. Campbell currently leads the A-10 in blocks per set (1.33).
  
  
• On Aug. 30 Megan Campbell was named Offensive Player of the Week and Paige Vargas was the Defensive Player of the Week.

Meet DeeDee Harrison the collegiate middle hitter volleyball player for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Meet DeeDee Harrison middle hitter volleyball athlete for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Improve Your Volleyball: What makes you special?

I believe that my background of having a large family make me special.

I am fortunate enough to come from a family full of athletes which has shaped me to become the competitive, hard working, and determined person I am today.  

It has also allowed me to build strong family values and morals to live by while going through the journey of being a collegiate athlete.

Improve Your Volleyball: What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?

I have acquired a very unique headband that I play with now that gives me the reminder that I play for my teammates.

Also, basic equipment such as shoes, braces, and knee pads allow me to perform my best also.

Improve Your Volleyball: What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?

Before each and every game I listen to music all the way up until I get on the court, then right before I get on the court, like during the National Anthem I pray.

Improve Your Volleyball: Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?

My family is my number one motivator. And secondly, recently my teammate, who I call my sister (Kayla Jeter), tore her ACL and she is also someone I think about each game because I know she would want me to be playing my best.

Lastly, my teammates inspire me to play well every game because without them, I wouldn't be the woman I am today.

What middle hitter volleyball awards did DeeDee Harrison win this week? 

• DeeDee Harrison was voted the Southeastern Conference Defensive  Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head volleyball  coaches.

• In the two matches for the week, Harrison blocked a total of 12 shots, with an average of 1.33 blocks per set

• She also set career-highs in blocks assists and total blocks against South Carolina 

• Offensively, she notched double-digits in kills in both matches

Meet Loren Thomas middle hitter volleyball player for Liberty University.

Meet Loren Thomas middle hitter volleyball player for Liberty University.

Improve Your Volleyball: What makes you special?

I think what makes me special is my determination to be the player that I want to be, and to play my hardest for Jesus. I get the opportunity to play volleyball every day, and to play for my Maker. Playing for the Lord makes me want to give Him all that I have daily.

Improve Your Volleyball: What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?

I do not have any equipment or accessories that help me play my best.

However, my teammates make me want to play my best daily. I want to play in a way that will help my team, and be the player that they need me to be.

Improve Your Volleyball: What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?

I do not have any superstitions, because I do not really believe in them.

However, I do like to listen to music before every game to pump me up.

Improve Your Volleyball: Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?

My team and coaches inspire me to play well every day. Also, my mother inspires me to want to play well. She has never seen me play college volleyball, but I try to play in a way that would make her proud if she were still here.

What volleyball awards did Loren Thomas win this week? 

• Loren Thomas was voted the Big South Conference Choice Hotels Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head volleyball coaches.

• Junior middle hitter volleyball player Loren Thomas repeated as Big South Defensive Player of the Week, for the week ending Oct. 2.

• Thomas paces the conference in blocks this season, and has been tabbed the Big South’s top defensive player for the second week in a row.

• Loren is the first player in two years  to earn back-to-back Big South Defensive Player of the Week awards 

• Thomas, leads the Big South Conference in blocks and registered 12 total blocks during the pair of wins, good for a 1.50 blocks per set average.

• Loren began the weekend with five block assists as Liberty swept UNC Asheville

• She added one solo block and six block assists in the Lady Flames’ 3-2 win Saturday over  Gardner-Webb

• Loren currently ranks ninth at Liberty with 269 career blocks.

Meet Katie Slay middle blocker volleyball hitter for Penn State University.

Meet Katie Slay middle hitter volleyball player for Penn State University.

Improve Your Volleyball: What makes you special?

"To me, what makes someone special is when they find something about themselves that is different from everyone else and they embrace it. It could be their personality, a special talent, a physical difference, or anything. The possibilities are endless."

Improve Your Volleyball: What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?

When I play volleyball all I need are some workout clothes, running shoes, and ankle braces. One thing I can never play without is a headband!"

Improve Your Volleyball: What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?

Before every game I eat a meal with the team, I always get my left ankle taped first, and the freshmen do a skit for the team.

Also, like I said before, I always have to have a colorful headband on for the match.

Improve Your Volleyball: Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?

"I would say that my teammates inspire me to play well. After all, volleyball is a team game and I know what my teammates expect from me.

To give them anything less, to me, is a big disappointment. So I want to play well for them."

What volleyball awards did Katie Slay win this week? 

• Katie Slay was voted the Big Ten Conference Defensive Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head volleyball coaches.

• Katie recorded 2.0 blocks per set in No. 9 Penn State’s three-set wins over Wisconsin Slay had eight kills in nine swings and had a match-high five total blocks, including two solo stuffs.

• In the victory over No. 10 Minnesota Gophers she had nine kills in 12 attempts and Slay made herself into a "wall at the net with a match-best seven total blocks, including two solo"

• Notched five total blocks (two solo), adding eight kills and a dig against the Badgers

• For the weekend, Slay was second on the team with 17 kills on a team-high .714 attack percentage. She also led the Nittany Lions with 12 total blocks. Katie averaged 2.83 kills per set and 2.00 blocks per set.

• Katie earns her second weekly award of the season and the fourth honor of her career.

Follow me on Instagram @coach_apchap to improve your game even faster!

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. 

1. Improve Your Volleyball
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2. Learn From Womens College Volleyball Player Interviews, Highlights and Photos
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3. 31 Volleyball Interviews of College Volleyball Players To Inspire You
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4. Four Middle Hitter Volleyball Athletes Answer My Interview Questions

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