My Outside Hitter Volleyball Questions Answered By 3 College Spikers

Three top spikers answer my outside hitter volleyball questions

Lauren Wicinski answers my outside hitter volleyball interview questions.

My outside hitter volleyball questions are answered by three top spikers in Division I Lauren Wicinski, Faimie Kingsley, and Katie Norris which should give you a peek into Division I college volleyball life.

Mid American Conference Spikers Answer Outside Hitter Volleyball Questions

Lauren Wicinski answers my outside hitter volleyball questions.

What makes you special?

I think what makes me special is how I have always grown up with the love of volleyball. My mom played volleyball at NIU.

So from a young age I would always watch her play in adult leagues and she would take me to NIU matches.

She showed me her love for volleyball and I wanted it to be my love as well. I also think what makes me special is the way that I can keep improving my game to help the team. I think that I am able to learn new things about the game and I am able to take that to the next level.

Another thing that makes me special is my mentality during a game. I am there to win and I will do everything that I can so that our team can get a victory.

What accessories and/or equipment help you play your best?

My headband, ribbons, kneepads and ankle braces.

What pregame habits, rituals, or superstitions do you have to do before every game?

I always listen to the same songs on my iPod to get me pumped up for games and I always have to wear my ankle braces on the same foot.

They can never change feet. Also, one important pre-game ritual is the dance party that goes on in the locker room. It has to happen before every match.

Who or what inspires you to play well in each match that you play in?

I think my team inspires me to play well in each volleyball match because I want to win the match for others. I want the team to work together as a unit to win the match. I also think the goal of winning a MAC championship is always in my mind and makes me try to perform my best.

Quote by outside hitter volleyball player Lauren Wicinski

“It’s nice to see Lauren and the NIU volleyball program honored like this,” said NIU head coach Ray Gooden. “Lauren played really well in our first conference weekend against two solid teams in Central and Eastern. Her teammates did a nice job of creating opportunities for her to score and she was able to put balls away like she’s been doing her whole career.”

-NIU head coach Ray Gooden

What awards did NIU outside hitter volleyball player Lauren Wicinski win this week?

Lauren Wicinskiwas voted the Mid American League Volleyball Player ofthe Week by the leagues head volleyball coaches.

Wicinski led the Huskies to a 1-1 record in their first conference weekend as she totaled 48 kills (6.86/set) and spiked for .287 addingfour aces in two matches. In a 3-0 victory over Central Michigan

Lauren registered 21 kills andscored a .452 hitting percentage, in addition to adding two aces. In Northern Illinois' four set loss to Eastern Michigan, she garnered a season-high 27 kills and served up two aces.

With back-to-back 20-kill matches, Lauren has reached the 20-kill mark seven times this season.

As a 2010 All-American and CVU.com Freshman of the Year honoree, Wicinski currently, leads the Mid American Conference in kills (5.40/set)and aces (0.62/set), while ranking 10th in hitting percentage (.309).

As of Sept. 18, she ranks second in the nation in kills and sixth in aces.

Lauren Wicinski, was named the West Division Offensive Player of the Week

Wicinski came up huge for the Huskies in their first conference road weekend as she totaled an astounding 64 kills (7.11/set), hitting .420,along with 29 digs (3.22/set), and six aces in nine sets over two matches.

In a tough 3-2 loss at Ball State, she had 25 kills, hit .345, notched aseason-high-tying 19 digs, and added three aces. In a 3-1 win at Toledo, she registered a career-high 39 kills, hitting .484, while adding 10 digs and three aces for her third straight double-double and 10th of the season.

Her kill total against UT was one shy of the NIU record set in 1999, six short of the MAC record and most in the league since 2003, and eightaway from the NCAA record established in 1997.

Sun Belt Conference Faimie Kingsley answers my hitter volleyball interview questions.

Improve Your Volleyball: What makes you special?

I am a 5’9” middle blocker who, on a good day, can touch 10’7”.

Before coming to Denver, I probably had less than 2 years of volleyball experience under my belt.

I never had the opportunity to play club volleyball before or during high school.

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

My very, very worn in sneakers are definitely what help me play my best.

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

"After every serve and pass and before every game, I take a shower.

Now, this may sound a tad trivial but taking a shower makes me feel as if I am washing away any negative thoughts and inhibitions I may have.

After showering, I always feel refreshed, confident in my abilities and ready to play.

Along with my ritual, my team and I have a pre-game dance party in our locker room to get even more amped up for our game."

-Faimie Kingsley, Volleyball Quote

“CSU was one of the best matches I’ve played in all year and I’m just glad we pulled out the victory,” Kingsley said. “This is a team award in my opinion because I wouldn’t have been able to do it without any of my teammates.”

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

"My teammates and my family inspire me to play well in every match that I play.

Without the love and support of both, I wouldn’t be half the player I am today.

Every time I talk to my dad, he always tells me to remember my goals which I relay to my team because we all have team and individual goals that continue to inspire us to play our hardest no matter what the score is."

What awards did Faimie Kingsley win this week?

University of Denver junior Faimie Kingsley was voted the Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head coaches.
Faimie posted 25 kills and had a 3.57 kills per set average through two matches Kingsley earned Denver’s first Player of the Week honor this year.

Kingsley started the week with a 10-kill, four-block performance in the University of Denver loss to the UNC Golden Bears In DU’s first ever program victory over a ranked opponent, Faimie totaled 15-kills and seven-blocks Faimie finished the week with a .571 hitting percentage helping Denver beat No. 19 ranked Colorado State Rams volleyball team

Faimie Kingsley is the first Pioneer to earn the SBC Offensive award since Emmy Davidsmeyer earned the award on Sept. 21, 2009.

Conference USA
Katie Norris answers my outside hitter volleyball questions

Conference USA Katie Norris answers my outside hitter volleyball questions

Improve Your Volleyball: What makes you special?

"I don't really think there is anything that makes me more special than anybody else on the team. I find myself extremely privileged and blessed to be able to play for this team and to be able to do what I know how to do to help make U of H a successful volleyball program."

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

"I'd definitely say that the things that help me to play my best are my teammates and coaches. Without them, I would not be able to get better as a player and I would not have had the opportunities that I have had.

The girls on the team are great and we're always pushing each other to be better so I would definitely say that they are the most important thing that help to make me a better player."

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

"There are a lot of pre-game habits and superstitions that girls have in this sport. But for me, things are pretty simple. The most superstitious thing that I do before a game is straighten my hair.

I know it sounds silly, but ever since I have gotten into college I have straightened my hair before every game I have played in. As for the team, we always like to listen to some music and dance before we go out for warmups.

And in warmups we always do things the same way and next to the same people."

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

"In the past, my number one reason for playing well was for my team.

They always pushed me to do my best and I did not want to let them down. And although that is a very important reason for me to play well, I now have another inspiration for my performance.

I always want to go out and play my best for my daughter. She is the most important thing in my life to me and without her I would not be playing here today.

So, when I go out on the court to play I always have her in the back of my mind."

What awards did outside hitter volleyball player Katie Norris win this week?

Katie Norris was voted the Conference USA Offensive Volleyball Player of the Week by the leagues head volleyball coaches.

The Cougars opened C-USA play with a 3-0 record for the first time since 2007, defeating Rice, Southern Miss and Tulane.

Norris established a .323 hitting efficiency with 39 kills on 96 attempts with only eight errors in 12 sets played.

Do You Follow Me on Instagram?

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.