Junior Marcie Hampton Answers Fan Questions
Monday, September 11, 2006 | Volleyball
Q: What does it take to be a top-notch volleyball player? How many hours do you work out? Are there specific drills you work on and which ones do you like the best? How many years have you been playing? How do you work school into all of this? What is your favorite food?
Shannon (Gainesville, Fla.)
A: I'll answer your questions one by one: I think it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be a top-notch volleyball player. It sounds like a cliche, but I think that it is very important to really love the sport and play it and watch it as much as possible.
We practice around two and a half hours a day and usually there is a 30 minute pool or weight room workout afterwards.
As far as drills go, we work on everything! The coaches usually will watch video on us or our opponent and determine from our strengths and weaknesses what we need to do. I personally like the drills where we get to compete and play.
I've been playing since I was nine - I'm getting old!
It's very hard to work school into our schedules, but, of course, we have to. I think just being able to manage your time is the most important thing.
My favorite food is anything edible! Well, not really, but I have many favorites. Cereal, ice cream, icees (I don't know if that's a food or not, but I love them) and anything that my mom makes.
Q: How would you compare your strength and conditioning today versus when you first arrived on campus?
Allan (Gainesville, Fla.)
A: I'm a completely different person! I'm especially different this year because I stayed in Gainesville this summer to work out. I am in the best shape of my life. Our strength coach - Matt DeLancey - and our nutritionist - Maureen Mason - did great jobs of whipping me into shape.
Q: What did you do during the summer to improve yourself for the benefit of the team?
Ada (Gainesville, Fla.)
A: This summer I worked out a ton so that I can stay in the matches and still be at my best on the last serve.
Q: You always seem to be in such a great mood with a ready smile for everyone. What's your secret?
Lindsay (Gainesville, Fla.)
A: Oh if only you could see me in the mornings! I just really enjoy playing volleyball, so when I'm on the court, I'm having fun.
Q: When you go up for a kill, how do you decide where to hit the ball and what type of shot to hit?
Thomas (Interlachen, Fla.)
A: Depending on what kind of pass we get, I can usually sense if I am going to have two blockers on me or just one. If it's a perfect pass and Angie has the option of setting a middle or dumping, the other team's middle has to stay and defend that because our middles are so good. So, if Angie sets out to me, I'm usually 1-on-1 against one blocker. Also, I can usually see the blockers' hands out of my peripheral vision and that allows me to decide where to swing and how hard to swing.
Have a question for a Gator volleyball player? E-mail it to mikev@gators.uaa.ufl.edu and look for an answer in an upcoming home match program!
