thirtysomething Q&A with Erin Lindsey

June 30, 2008

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Redbird All-Access members, watch Erin Lindsey's full interview (30 questions) on Redbird All-Access, your exclusive home to full student-athlete video interview's during this summer's "thirtysomething" series.

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GoRedbirds.com: How has your summer been going? Have you had much chance to get into the gym with any of your teammates?
Erin Lindsey: Well, my summer has pretty much consisted of weightlifting, open gyms, class and a little bit of work as well. We actually have had a lot of contact in the gym; we get together to play about three times per week, and lift as a team three times a week also. It's been good to get a chance to get some of the rust worn off.

GR: The loss of Kari Staehlin in the middle is obviously a significant void that will have to be filled. Talk a little bit about the importance of Katie Seyller and Hailey Kelley to the lineup this season.
EL: I think Katie and Hailey each know that they have pretty huge holes to fill, and they are taking that role very seriously. Hailey had an incredible spring season, and is realizing that she may be one of our go-to players. Katie is just starting to be able to play again after undergoing her shoulder surgery, and she looks good out there. Both of our middles are really embracing their new roles.

GR: Give us a summary of the trip to Ecuador that you made with some of your teammates earlier this summer.
EL: It was such an incredible experience. It's actually really hard to put into words, but it is so neat to see how little the people we worked with had, but yet they had so much joy. I truly feel like they all blessed me more than I blessed them. It was an incredible experience, and was certainly life-changing.

GR: You and your teammates made a pretty incredible run to the championship match of the Valley Tournament last year. When you look back on that day when you beat Missouri State and Wichita State to advance, what is the biggest thing you remember?
EL: One thing that immediately sticks out to me is how Mallory (Leggett) just continued to get kill, after kill, after kill in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Being a freshman, but yet being able to step in and take veteran swings and a senior attitude, was pretty incredible. Also, our excitement as a team at that point was pretty cool. We gelled so well together, and truly enjoyed ourselves out there. I thought that definitely showed.

GR: I know you just got back from a camp you were working, but enlighten Redbird fans a little more as far as your summer plans in Bloomington-Normal
EL: I don't have an "official" job I guess you would say, but I am working a lot of volleyball camps, and am doing some yardwork for Doris Henderson, who is a big Redbird volleyball fan. Then I'm also taking spring and summer classes. So it is a little more of a laid back summer than I have had in the past, but still pretty busy!

GR: Illinois State has broken the single-season digs record in each of the last two years. What do you attribute that to?
EL: Well that certainly starts with Kasey (Mollerus). She is an incredible libero, and has a great presence running the back row. She is really the player that leads the defensive pack and deserves most of the credit for the records we have broken the last couple of years.

GR: M.C. Richmond has a chance to be one of the only three-time first-team All-Valley players in this program's history. What specifically about her game and individual talent impresses you the most?
EL: Her speed and jumping ability is an advantage anyone can see out there. But the most impressive thing I see is M.C.'s ability to not only see the block in front of her, but also the defense behind her. It's one thing to be able to hit through a block, but you may hit right to a defender in the back row. M.C. can hit through a block, and still find an empty spot on the court. Very few players in our league can do that.

GR: You are scheduled to do a weekly blog for GoRedbirds.com when preseason starts in August. Have you dabbled at all in blogging, and are you feeling any pressure???
EL: Well I'm not feeling too much pressure yet, but that may change soon! I actually just started a blog for one of my classes a couple of weeks ago, but other than that, that's the only blogging I've dabbled in. I'm hoping it will come naturally!

GR: You are a regular attendee at the Illinois State women's basketball games. How much do you miss playing the game, and could you see yourself out there on the court at the Division I level?
EL: I definitely miss basketball alot. When I am at Redbird Arena watching the games, it makes me realize how much I really enjoyed it during my playing days. I could see myself playing at a smaller Division I school or perhaps in Division II, but our team is very good. I wouldn't be able to just step into that situation, but I have always wondered what it would have been like to play college basketball.

GR: What is going to be the most difficult thing about duplicating last season's success?
EL: I think one of the biggest things is going to be trying to fill those shoes that we lost in Kari (Staehlin) and Kristin (Dziubla). Kari was an amazing player, and was obviously our go-to hitter. Kristin brought a lot of energy off the court that is going to be tough to replace. But as I said before, people are really stepping into their roles, and embracing them.

GR: You still have one year left, but heading into your senior season, what has been your most memorable moment as a student-athlete at ISU?
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