Wake Forest Athletics
Q&A With Kristen White
9/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2010
This article was originally published in the Sept. 2 edition of Kickoff, the official gameday magazine of Wake Forest football.
Why did you choose to attend Wake Forest?
I chose to come to Wake Forest because when I came to campus I really liked the atmosphere, and the ACC is a really great conference to play in. It's an extremely competitive conference, especially in volleyball where everyone is neck-and-neck. I also couldn't have gotten a better education to go along with the athletics. It's a great combo and was a no-brainer.
Being from Ohio, what have you noticed as the biggest difference in living in North Carolina for the past four years?
It really hasn't been that big of a change. Maybe the biggest change weather wise is that there isn't as much snow, and if it does snow, we'll get days off for just an inch of snow. Other than that, both places have the same seasons. It's been a real easy transition since nothing was drastically different.
What is your major here at Wake Forest, and what are your plans after graduation?
My major is health and exercise science, and I have a minor in chemistry and biology. Right now I am applying to different grad schools to go to P.A. school. Hopefully things will work out, and I'll get to do that next year.
You were in Europe for a month this past summer studying abroad. Talk about your experience and what you felt was the best part of your trip.
I was in Europe from the end of May until the end of June. I was with eight of my classmates and a professor from Wake Forest, and we were studying biochemistry over there. We had class in the mornings from 9-11, and we had an exam every Thursday. It was very fast paced since we had to fit a whole semester into four weeks. My best experience had to be in London, which is where we were first. We were in London then Cambridge then Paris. In London we were in a great location just south of Hyde Park. It's a really nice area with lots of things to do that were in walking distance. I had a great time and would definitely do it again.
What is your pitch to get people to come watch Wake Forest Volleyball this season?
People should come watch this year because admission is free. It's great entertainment for a couple hours. You can bring your family and your kids. We really put on a great show, and we'll be playing great competition. Being in the ACC, there will never be a boring match. We bring a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of energy to the court. It will definitely be a really great experience.
What are your goals for this season, both individually and for the team?
For the team, I feel like an important goal of ours is to finish in the top half of the ACC. We'd really like to finish top three in the conference since we have so much experience on our team. We graduated one senior who played quite a bit last season, but other than that we're bringing back the same group of girls who were on the court. Individually, my goal for the season is to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Being a senior, it will be important for me to make sure everyone is always ready for practice, always focused and always ready to play at all times.
Last year you were voted Wake Forest Volleyball Team MVP. What did receiving that award mean to you?
I feel like it is a prestigious award because it comes from my teammates. That means the other girls on the team were looking up to me, and they thought I was the most valuable player. It's really a great honor, and I'm happy that my teammates think of me that way.
In your first three years, what would you consider your best volleyball memory at Wake Forest?
It happened last year when we were playing North Carolina at home. Our gym was completely packed with over 1,000 people. The atmosphere was incredible, and it was a great match. We took UNC to five sets, and we ended up winning. It was really close, but the crowd helped us out a lot. The atmosphere made it awesome, and I will never forget that.
As an outside hitter for the team, what would you consider your strengths as a player?
My strength as a player is that I'm an all-around player. I don't have just one specific thing that I am good at. I can stay in the front row and hit and mix up my shots, and then I can stay in the back row for ball control and defense. It's really nice to be on the court at all times. I'm also able to make sure that when we have people subbing out that the people replacing them are on the same page as everyone else already on the court.
Having started your first three seasons, how has that helped you personally, and how can you help translate that experience into helping your teammates?
I think since I've started for three years I will be able to help the younger players maintain their confidence after making mistakes. Everyone is going to make mistakes, but the important thing is how you bounce back from those mistakes. Volleyball is a game of mistakes, but you have to be sure not to dig yourself into a mental hole. I can help people out that way since my confidence level has gone up a million points since I started here.
What is the best part about Wake Forest Volleyball?
The best part about Wake Forest Volleyball is how well our team gets along. On the court and off the court we all get along so well. We also know how to hold each other accountable, though, if someone is slacking in the gym. We can tell someone to change their attitude or to start playing better during practice then off the court we'll be best of friends. That is one thing that has changed over the past three years. We know we can be a little mean to each other on the court but still be friends afterwards. It really makes the team fun.
