Merrillville High School

 

Volleyball and tennis

 

At first my friend Lisa and I weren't going to do it. We wanted to play a sport but we didn't know if they had a volleyball team here. Lisa and I decided to try it out a month before the season started and I decided to stick with it.

I was going to be an art teacher in Decatur, and IUN is down the street from my house, so it's very convenient for me.

 

What I did is take homework and study on the game trips. To me, school is my number one priority. If I can't get anything done, I call Omar and tell him I can't make it to practice.

 

I talk to my teachers and they understand. If we have a test on a game day, they might let me take my test a day late. It's a lot easier than it sounds. [laughs]

 

It works when everybody has their heart into it, when everybody is together forming a bond. Last year we weren't quite as skilled as we are this year, but we had a really close bond which made it easy to play hard. We got better last year, and we're even better this year because we're getting to know each other.

 

This year Omar went scouting and I brought a few people in from Merrillville, Kelsey [Barrick] and Tiffany [Robertson]. Leigha [Kaftanic] came back. We met a whole bunch of new people during the summer.

 

It's different… Some days we butt heads, some day I absolutely get what he's trying to do. He's trying to confuse the other team, but it confuses us too sometimes. We have a lot of fun on trips. He's fun to talk to, but very different.

 

When I'm focused on the game, I'm completely focused. If I have a bad hit or a bad set I shake out of it right away, and I try to help other people do that too. I talk a lot on the court.

 

I'm not a good hitter. I can't jump. [laughs] I can barely get an inch off the floor.

 

I've always liked sports and helping sports injuries. I had a scholarship for four years, and I realized physical therapy was going to take seven years. I didn't want to put out the money, but now that I realize how much I love the sport I've changed my mind. I've been an athlete all my life. Ever since I was little my mom and I would play volleyball. Her and my dad used to coach, and my brothers were in sports, like wrestling and football.

 

I have volleyball and my boyfriend Josh. We hang out all the time.

 

We just saw "Paranormal Activity." I love scary movies. We're trying to get into the spirit of Halloween, so we're going to haunted houses. I love going out. I don't care what we do as long as it's outside of the house. Sometimes we just take walks in the park.

 

I like the Saw movies. I like gory movies. I also like romantic movies like "Notebook" and "Walk to Remember." I'm not very picky.

 

I love anything that has carbs in it, like bread and pasta.

 

Right now I'm shadowing at Fitness Point, which is connected to a fitness hospital. I'm applying there, and I should get the job. They offered me the chance to stay there and assist them after I graduate, which almost guarantees you a job. From there, I wanted to take up another sport. I'm really looking into Jujitsu.

 

You take people in, and you know what they are diagnosed with. The doctors let you know what they can and cannot do. Basically they go through the exercises they need to do to build up their muscles again. After they're done you ice them down, and let them know whether or not they're improving.

 

No matter what the coach says and what the players say, play from your heart. Play the sport because you love it. Get to know your team really well because they will be there for you, through thick and thin. The coach might get on your nerves but he only does it because he wants you to get better.

**Written by The Northwest Phoenix Editor-in-Chief: Don Sjoerdsma