Junior Elyse Cusack Answers Your Questions
Monday, September 22, 2008 | Volleyball
Before each home match, a different Florida volleyball player answers fans' questions. They will be posted in the "Features" section of GatorZone.com following the match. Got a question for a Gator player? Send it to SeanCa@gators.uaa.ufl.edu.
Q: You are moving up the UF career digs chart pretty quickly. How does it feel to be on a records list with all of those great names in Florida volleyball history?
A: “I think it's definitely a great honor, but I don't think about awards or rankings too much. I just take it one game as a time and try to do what I can to help the team.”
Q: What are you studying and what would you like to do once you graduate?
A: “My major is event management. I would like to play professional volleyball once I'm done as long as my body can hold up. Then I want to come back to the states and I'd really like to do what [Coordinator of Volleyball Operations] Kelley Kish does for us. I'd really like to be an operations coordinator for a sports team and stay in sports because that's what I know and that's what I love.
Q: Coach Wise has talked about how you are one of the team's strongest players. How important is the team's strength and conditioning program?
A: “It's a huge part of our program. We take strength and conditioning pretty seriously and you can tell, even from your freshman to sophomore years, how much stronger everyone gets. I think that it just makes us tougher and more physical on the court, and it's only going to help us.”
Q: What has been your favorite road trip so far as a Gator?
A: “Going to Hawaii my freshman year was one of my favorites just because it was Hawaii and it was one of the first big tournaments that I had ever played in. We played in front of like 8,000 fans and we ended up beating Hawaii in three games, so that was definitely one of my favorite road trips as a Gator.”
Q: Being from the Gainesville area, were there any former Gators who you tried to model your play after?
A: “Not too much and I think that's just because my position is fairly new. I used to watch Jen Mandes, one of the first liberos at Florida, and she was just a fast, energetic personality. I also took a little bit from Rachel Engel being a very vocal person, so I did take a little bit from each of them, but not too much.”
Q: Is it an advantage or a disadvantage to go to college and play near your hometown?
A: “I think it's definitely an advantage. I had that Gator spirit growing up and the tradition is just in my blood. You just grow up knowing how much tradition this program has and you take it personal. I always wanted to be a Gator and it has definitely been a dream.”
Q: What's the best part of playing volleyball at Florida for you?
A: “I just love being a Gator more than anything and I love my family being able to come watch me play.”
