Nov. 9, 2005
1. Heading into the National Independent Tournament - what does the team need to do in order to be successful against some pretty tough competition?
CC - "I think that our defense is our strong point. If we have to play good defense then good things will come from our offense. We've had trouble this season getting off to a good start then we play well during the middle sets so we need to eliminate that slow beginning."
2. The team has won seven of its last nine matches - has this team hit their stride in terms of experience and playing ability?
CC - "I think that we're getting there, but we're not entirely there yet. We had some good mental victories against Texas A&M - Kingsville and Texas A&M - International, but I still think that we can play better."
3. How has the team grown, especially the newcomers, from the first day of practice until this point in the season?
CC - "I think that we know each other's tendencies more now then we did at the beginning of the season. At first, we were a little hesitant because we have so many freshmen and position changes that we had to get adjusted to all of those things. We now know more about each other on the floor."
4. You made the switch from the outside hitting position to libero - how was the switch initially for you, and how do you like it right now?
CC - "I've always been a better defensive player and passer so I knew that we needed to make the change after Carol (Marcengo) left and I was the obvious choice. It was difficult at first because every ball that comes over the net is mine, and you are constantly running around trying to get everything. I'm starting to get use to it right now."
5. You came recently cracked the top 10 in the all-time digs category, what's the secret to being a great defensive player out there?
CC - "Reading the ball is extremely important and anticipating where the hitter's is going also helps. You need to constantly keep your feet moving because every ball that comes over is yours, and you can't give up on any play."
6. What were your goals coming into the season, and have you accomplished them or are you close to accomplishing them both from a team and individual standpoint?
CC - "Our goal as a team was to win 20 games, but we can't do that right now. With having half of our lineup as freshmen and a change in setters in the middle of the season, I think that we have a new goal which is to play as well as we can. Individually, I really didn't know what position I was going to play, but I figured that I would be the libero. I really feel that I don't make that much of an impact during the match, but it's my job to keep the energy up and try to make plays that will get us back focused."
7. What was the biggest attraction of UTPA to made you want to come down here and play volleyball for this program from Canada?
CC - "I wanted to go to a school that had a different environment than what I was used to. I could've gone to any school in Canada, but I wanted to try something new and gain new experience."
8. What's the biggest obstacle that you've had to overcome in order to reach this point in your life?
CC - "I would say my mental game. I've had problems being positive, and I have a tendency to get down on myself. This has been the hardest thing for me to do is stay positive."
9. What would you say would be something that the everyday student wouldn't understand about life as a collegiate volleyball player?
CC - "From a freshman's standpoint - it's very overwhelming because it's your first year away from home, first semester in college, putting 20 hours a week into practice and playing and traveling so it gets hard. As an upperclassman, your classes are harder and you have to put more effort into them plus you're missing a lot more classes. I'll be at class when some of the other students will be talking about going to sleep after class because they're tired, and I might be tired too, but I still have three hours of practice to go. You have to have good time management and try to have enough energy to get through the day."
10. Who has had the greatest impact on your life and why?
CC - "My parents because they are both hard workers, and they're so supportive and proud of me."
1. What was the first car you drove after getting your license?
CC - A 1989 Honda Civic Hatchback... it was my mom's and I totally wrecked it about a month after getting my license.
2. What is the first website that you check out everyday?
CC - Facebook
3. What is the first Christmas present that you wanted so badly as a child, but never received?
CC - An Easy Bake Oven
4. What is the first thing you pack before going on a road trip?
CC - My uniform and all of my equipment because if we don't have it then we have to run... so I'll pack anything first that involves running if I don't have it.
5. What is the first thought that runs through your head in the morning?
CC - I don't want to get up
6. What was the last DVD you bought?
CC - Viva La Bam, Season I
7. What was the last movie that you watched at the theater that you couldn't wait for it to be over?
CC - The Ring II
8. What was the last magazine you read on a road trip?
CC - Vogue
9. What was the last job that you held that you absolutely regretted?
CC - Working at McDonald's
10. What was the last thing that you remember being absolutely obsessed with?
CC - Clothes
1. Better College Movie - Animal House, Old School or Van Wilder?
CC - Old School... Will Ferrell is great in it
2. Better Musician / Actor - DMX, Tim McGraw or Jessica Simpson?
CC - Tim McGraw... I don't think any of them are very good
3. Way to Predict the Future - Crystal Ball, Tarot Cards or Palm Reading?
CC - Tarot Cards
4. Board Game - Connect Four, Sorry or Monopoly?
CC - Monopoly
5. Cartoon Troublemaker - Stewie Griffin or Bart Simpson?
CC - Bart Simpson... he was the original
6. Best Comedian from the Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live - Adam Sandler, Chris Farley or David Spade?
CC - Adam Sandler
7. Store - Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle or Gap?
CC - Abercrombie & Fitch
8. Hockey Team from Canada - Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Edmonton?
CC - Vancouver
9. Best Dancer from the Junior Class - You, Heather Bravo, Kim Mora or Karen Lyons?
CC - Definitely... Heather
10. Musicians from Canada - Alana Morrissette, Nickelback or Simple Plan?
CC - Hot, Hot, Heat is the best... they're from my hometown
1. The best advice that I ever received from somebody?
CC - "Be Yourself"
2. The worst advice that I ever received from somebody?
CC - Somebody once told me that I don't have the stature for collegiate volleyball
3. The best trash talker on the team?
CC - Kellie Phillips... not to us - but it's funny when she talks to the line judges
4. The worst trash talker on the team?
CC - Ytszel Trinidad
5. The best road trip as a Lady Bronc that you've taken?
CC - The last time we went to Greeley, CO, was a blast
6. The worst road trip as a Lady Bronc that you've taken?
CC - Last season to Laredo
7. The best concert that I've ever attended?
CC - I've never been to a concert, but I've been in enough when I was playing the Tuba.
8. The worst concert that I've ever attended?
CC - I was playing the strings in the orchestra in front of a lot of people, and I had no idea what I was doing... that was pretty bad.
9. The best class that you've taken since being at UTPA?
CC - Drawing II
10. The worst class that you've taken since being at UTPA?
CC - College Algebra
1. If you could pick one celebrity to play your life in a movie?
CC - Angelina Jolie
2. If you weren't playing volleyball at UTPA, were would you be and what would you be doing?
CC - I would say living in Europe, hopefully having a job in fashion.
3. If you were a superhero, what would be your superpowers?
CC - Invisible
4. If you could be at one place anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
CC - Costa Rica
5. If you were a musician - what would your sound be?
CC - It would be all instrumental - I'm talking the tuba, flute, baritone, French horn... all of the instruments that you never hear on a CD. It would be platinum.
6. If you had the power to change one thing in your life (past or present), what would it be?
CC - I would give my parents more money.
7. If you could change one thing about your stay at UTPA, what would it be and why?
CC - I would have a car.
8. If you have to select a cast to play the coaching staff in a television show, who would that cast include?
CC - The Three Stooges
9. If you could have dinner with any three people (dead or alive), who would you invite?
CC - Steve Nash, Wayne Gretzky and Oprah
10. If you could bring one thing from Canada down to the Rio Grande Valley, what would it be and why?
CC - My parents... I only get to see them twice a year.
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