Oct. 14, 2008
GoRedbirds.com sat down with junior middle blocker Katie Seyller and asked her to give Redbird Athletics fans an inside look into her life in the new feature series Through the Eyes Of .... The series will give an insider's perspective into the lives of many Redbird student-athletes throughout the coming months.
GoRedbirds.com What is your favorite thing about being part of the Illinois State volleyball team?
Katie Seyller: My favorite thing about ISU's volleyball team is the team itself. We are all family, and get along great together. We have great chemistry on the court and off the court. They are all my sisters, and I love them.
GR: What makes you a successful team player?
KS: I think it takes a lot to be a successful team player. You have to trust others, respect others, make decisions, and help make other teammates get better on a daily basis.
GR: Do you have any rituals you do before every match?
KS: We like to dance in the locker room. We do our cheers and we pray. Then we all talk about the match and about what we should expect during that next set.
|
THROUGH THE EYES OF ... |
|
|
GR: If you could play any other sport, what would you choose and why?
KS: I honestly think I would play softball. I really like it, and played it when I was little. I gave it up to play volleyball.
GR: Finish this sentence; In 2025 I will be...?
KS: I will have a job and be married with kids. I hope to have a great life. I am a business major with a minor in accounting. I hope to work for a firm in Chicago or somewhere around here.
Did being a Bloomington native have anything to do with you choosing to play at Illinois State?
KS: It actually didn't. I never thought about playing at Illinois State until they started recruiting me for volleyball. So when I came and saw the school, I absolutely loved it. I have been coming to volleyball matches at Redbird Arena since I was little. So I knew what the program had to offer, and I was really excited about that.
GR: What is the best advice you could give the new members of ISU's volleyball team?
KS: Be prepared to come in and work hard. You are going to meet a lot of new people you enjoy being around. Be open to everyone, and have fun.
GR: What has been the highlight of your volleyball career?
KS: The highlight has to be making it to the NCAA Tournament last year. We made a great run in the conference tournament, and it paid off.
GR: What has been your favorite place to play volleyball with the Redbirds?
KS: We went to Europe after my freshman year. It was awesome to tour around and play overseas. We got to meet a lot of new people.
GR: Looking back on the NCAA Tournament last season, how did it feel to reach that goal, and what is the team doing this season to continue that path?
KS: One of our main goals is to make it back to the NCAA Tournament. We are hoping to make it past the first-round this year, because last year we didn't play well in the first-round, and it was a quick trip.
