July 31, 2008
Redbird All-Access members, watch Jessica Pratapas' full interview (30 questions) on Redbird All-Access, your exclusive home to full student-athlete video interview's during this summer's "thirtysomething" series.
Redbird Athletics fans who would like to see the full interview must click on the link below and login to Redbird All-Access. If you do not have a Redbird All-Access account, one can be purchased for $6.95 per month, or annually for $49.95. Redbird All-Access provides fans with live and on-demand audio and video coverage of Redbird Athletics.
GoRedbirds.com: You suffered a knee injury last year that prevented you from playing during the 2007 season. How is the recovery process going? And what have you done to make sure you are in top physical condition for next season?
Jessica Pratapas: I am pretty much 100 percent. I saw my doctor a few months ago. It was actually in March, and he told me I can play full out. Throughout the season, I just did rehab, and in March, I started to play. I played all spring, and I've had no trouble at all. I haven't had to wear a knee brace. I held back playing full out about two more weeks so I wouldn't have to wear my knee brace. It's good because if you think about it, wearing a knee brace might make you think more about your injury, and you'd become more dependent on your brace instead of getting stronger. So yeah, where I'm at right now, I have no problem with it. I'm 100 percent back, and I'm ready to go for the season.
GR: What do you expect from the upcoming 2008 season?
JS: I really think it is going to be a great season. We were looking at some of the other teams. We have a lot of our returning players coming back, and we have a strong senior class. We definitely think we will make it to the conference tournament, and hopefully, we'll finish first in the conference (during the regular season). I really think it's possible.
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REDBIRD ALL-ACCESS EXCLUSIVE - Jessica Pratapas "thirtysomething" interview |
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GR: What lessons from volleyball have you learned that you will take with you in the future?
JS:This makes me think of my job interview, my mock interview. I would just say, obviously, hard work, perseverance and definitely working as a team. We have such great team chemistry, and you can tell that it pays off on the court. Sometimes, we'll be down, and if we come together, we can really pull through it. Those are probably the main things that I will definitely take with me. And also organization; we have to juggle school work and volleyball all at the same time.
GR: How do you balance the responsibilities of school, volleyball, family, and friends?
JS: It can be hard. With friends, it's easier because we're all friends on the team. Those girls are my best friends. So I don't really have to juggle anything like that because we're always together. With family, during the season, it's difficult. You miss out on holidays, like Thanksgiving because of the (State Farm Missouri Valley Conference) Tournament. I'm really close with my family. I always have been. So it's hard, but every once and awhile, we'll get a weekend to go home, or we'll get to see them at a match. You're so busy with the sport that you almost kind of forget about all the other things that would normally make you struggle during the school year.
GR: What made you choose or want to play volleyball?
JS: I started playing volleyball when I was in junior high. I guess because my sisters played volleyball, and I thought that it was a sport that I could play, too. I just tried out, and from the start, they made me a setter. I've been a setter my entire life! It ended up being really fun and I enjoy it. When I got to high school, I started playing at the club level. I really got into it and started getting serious about the sport.
GR: Where is your favorite place to play on the road with the Redbirds?
JS: It is always fun when you get to fly. So I would say Missouri State or Wichita State. Those are always great matches, especially when we play there. We go there, and we really just challenge them. They are intense matches, and the crowds are great. So, that is always fun. It's just fun to travel; I enjoy traveling.
GR: Ok, the next couple of questions are about your teammates. Who is the comedian of the team?
JS: You know, they are all funny in different ways. Casey (Mollerus) is just a goofball in general, and she always has a smile on her face. I'm always laughing around her. M.C. (Richmond) is just M.C. She's just her own person; she just always makes you happy. She takes everything lightly, and you feel more at ease around her. Everyone just has a great sense of humor, but I don't think we have a team clown. We all goof around.
GR: Who are you most like on the team?
JS: Most like? Probably Erin (Lindsey). As setters, we can both be stubborn, but more like we just tend to agree on everything. We're kind of funny, like every time we say something at the same time, we do this whole "setters" thing. We get along really well.
GR: Some athletes are superstitious before a game. Do you fall into that category?
JS: No, I'm not superstitious, at all. I always joke around, like when I was doing me rehab. I would walk under ladders, and the trainers would freak out on me. They are extremely superstitious. They would say, "You are going to tear your other ACL."(Ed. note: Pratapas tore the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in her right knee prior to the start of the 2007 season)
GR: Even though you did not play last season, what did you learn from the whole experience? And what advice would you give to other injured players?
JS: It put a lot of things into perspective for me. When people go through challenging times, they have to have something to rely on. I obviously put my faith in God. I worked hard every day, and I knew this was a trial. Now that I'm through it all and I'm back 100 percent and having no trouble, I don't take any of the credit. I knew that because I had that faith and worked hard, it was going to work out. The advice I can give is don't worry about it. Just know that it is a part of your life that is going to make you stronger. Just make the most of it, because it definitely helped me in the long run.
thirtysomething will return Aug. 4 with an interview with junior football player Eyad Salem.
