June 14, 2007
GoRedbirds.com: You and your team just embarked on a 13-day tour of five countries in Europe. Now that you've had almost three weeks to soak it all in and take a look at those pictures, what was your favorite part, and what was the biggest thing you took away from the trip?
Kasey Mollerus: My favorite part was probably the beach in Pula, Croatia, where we got to jump off the cliffs into the sea. That was really cool. I really enjoyed the sightseeing in general; the scenery was so pretty. Pictures can't describe the experience we had!
GR: I know that in your club days, you used to play setter in a 6-2 offense. What specifically converted you to more of a defensive player, and eventually a libero?
KM: My height. When the balls were tight, my lack of height prevented me from making some of the tough sets. I made the switch to libero for good heading into my sophomore year of high school.
GR: What's the most played song in your iPOD right now?
KM: Actually, I use (ISU football player and boyfriend) Brent's [Holtz] iPOD, so I don't have my own. But right now, it would probably be anything country. I really like Josh Turner's "Would You Go with me."
GR: You're one of three ISU volleyball players from the St. Louis area. How much did you play with Erin Lindsey and M.C. Richmond growing up? Did that connection make the transition to college volleyball and Illinois State itself any easier?
KM: Erin (Lindsey) and I actually played together on the same team from 14's through 18's in our club days. I've known Erin since I was really little, and we actually set together on the same team. We played against M.C.'s (Richmond) team every year at regionals, but we didn't know each other personally throughout those years. After I signed at ISU during my junior year, I introduced myself to M.C. because I knew that she had also committed.
GR: I hear you're working at a car wash this summer. You know I can't let you out of here without details! What specifically will you be doing?
KM: I actually just went in for orientation today (June 11)! It was supposed to last an hour, but our boss ran through the procedure pretty fast. They gave me a shirt, and told me to show up on Wednesday for my first day. So I don't know exactly what I'll be doing, but it will definitely be washing cars. Amy (Olson) and I are working there together, so I'm actually pretty excited.
GR: You had one of the most successful seasons in ISU history, falling just five digs short of the single-season record. Explain the mentality of being a libero, and what's your secret to covering so much ground out there?
KM: I know, I was so mad that I was that close! It's definitely a mentality. You need to be focused throughout the entire play, and you really have to be a vocal leader out on the court. I'm responsible for calling shots, and calling the serve, whether it is short or deep. I really enjoy the defensive side of things. When a hitter gets a big kill, they get really pumped up, and that spreads throughout their team. I'm the same way with a big dig; it really pumps me up.
GR: You were a three-time state champion in high school. Explain what it is like to come from such a highly successful high school program at Incarnate Word.
KM: Yeah, we went to state all four years, and then won the championship the last three. We had a really talented class; four of my classmates also went on to play college volleyball. So it definitely helps with the transition, having come from a program that had a winning tradition.
GR: What are the major differences between high school and college volleyball?
KM: Everything! The way the game is played in general is so much different and at a higher level of intensity. The tempo of the game is much faster, you have to be much smarter out there on the court and anticipate a lot more, and it is so much more mental than it was in high school.
GR: How much do you feel playing that tough competition over in Europe will help the team the season?
KM: It's going to help us a lot; the teams we played were amazing. Our serve-receive is going to be much more consistent after experiencing some of what those European teams threw at us; their serves were much faster, and they floated a lot more. We won't see those good of serves this season, so it was really beneficial for us to face that. Their hitting was much harder too, but when our block was on, I thought we played pretty well against it. The biggest thing was definitely the consistency of those teams' serves.
GR: What's the last movie you saw at the theater?
KM: Pirates of the Caribbean 3. I actually went the day we got back from Europe, and that was a huge mistake! I didn't realize how long the movie was; it's like three and a half hours long. It was like 3 a.m. in Europe, and 8 p.m. here, so I was all mixed up time wise. So I slept through most of the movie! The whole movie was confusing to me anyway, so I don't think I missed much.
GR: What's your favorite reality show?
KM: I really like the Real World, but I enjoy a lot of them.
GR: I remember all the great dorm food I ate during my freshman year of college? What's your favorite dish provided by ISU Dining Services?
KM: None of it! No, if I had to pick, it would be the cookout days. There was one day when we got a whole turkey leg, and it was really good.
GR: You're the youngest of three girls, but all three of you are pretty close in age. How close are you with your sisters, and how did they influence your volleyball career?
KM: Yeah, I'm actually really close with all of my sisters. We laugh and have fun just like I do with all of my friends. They were actually the reason why I started playing volleyball. My sister Kim played growing up, so I was in the gym as far back as I can remember just bumping a ball and practicing. They influenced my career a lot.
GR: Your practices will be moved from the morning to the afternoon this fall. How will that differ from last year's in-season routine?
KM: We'd be fine with either, but it could be better for us, because a couple of the girls struggled with the early morning practices, just because they weren't morning people! Sometimes it would affect the rest of your day having to get up so early. We won't have the rest of the day to ourselves after class anymore, but I think it will be easier to get into a routine practicing in the afternoon.
GR: What is the biggest area of your game you think you can improve on from your freshman to sophomore season?
KM: I would say my serve-receive, and I need to be more aggressive both defensively and on the first contact after an opponents' serve.
GR: Do you have any superstitions before a match?
KM: Not really. I pray before every match, but that's about it.
GR: What are three items you could not live without?
KM: Oh boy, that's tough. I know it's more than one, but I couldn't go without my family. I know it sounds bad, but I would need my cell phone! And of course, you can't go without food.
GR: Your team has a lot of experience coming back from last team, including adding five talented newcomers. What are your expectations for the Redbirds this season?
KM: I think we're going to be really good this year. We have really strong juniors and seniors, and our class is going to be that much better because we all got any opportunity to play a lot last season. And then you add in our freshman class, which is going to be really good. I'm really excited about it, and we're looking forward to having a good year.
GR: What's the most valuable piece of advice you have taken away from coach Dingman?
KM: I really like Sharon's coaching style, because I don't just look at her as a coach. She's really easy to get along with, and is very understanding of things that aren't associated with volleyball. She's a great friend, and helps us in life, not just volleyball. I really admire that about her.
