Brittani Oliver and Janae Curnutt's thoughts on being a Senior and the chemistry of the team

Brittani Oliver

How does it feel being a senior (this being your last season at you with USI).

It feels like I'm OLD! But in a strange and crazy way, I see EVERYTHING differently. I step on the court nervous again. I feel like my place is more in the team then in my own performance and playing. Every practice feels like an opportunity to give advice and show up as a leader and a teammate more than ever. I want to walk out of the gym with every part of me on the court. I want my heart and soul into the girls and very ounce of talent and hard work behind me. This is it. That keeps echoing in my ears. There is no "next season records". There are no more do-overs. There is now. And I'd like to think and hope that's how I'll play and help lead the team. There's no point to hold back now. Its a rush. And a huge cross to bare; but its all worth it. Being a senior feels old, but the best kind of old. I've seen everything, started, hated and loved this game called volleyball, gotten my butt kicked, learned new shots, remember punishments and rewards, i have a past that I can give to the underclassmen. Being a senior feels like... I've finally gotten to where I need to be.

2. After practicing and playing with the team these few weeks what are some of the positive aspects of this team.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is our team to win conference. This is the team to go all the way. I see it in everyone's eyes. I can't brag about the freshman enough; they are THAT good. Every freshman on the team is FEARLESS. They don't have the mindset that previous teams I've been on. USI volleyball has continued to get better; and I think a lot of it has to do about where we are mentally. For the first time in a long time if/when we loose games is technical errors. Or the team BEATS us. This is one of the first times that I've been on a USI team that doesn't beat itself. Previously mindsets would be... "oh we've never beat Rockhurst so..." or "U Indy is so good.." and we'd psyche ourselves out before we even get the game going!!! This year we all KNOW were good. And if the girls ever have doubts we have a deep bench to prove them wrong. This is our year. I'm BEYOND proud to be on this team. I can't wait to see everyone excel. I can't wait for Janae to get her 1000th dig. I hope Krista breaks the digs per game record. I want Ashley to continue to grow. I want Danielle to beat mine and others records. This is the year to watch; as well as the next years coming up. We're all behind each other. We're best friends. Positive aspects? Watch and see. ;)

Janae Curnutt

Being a senior is kind of a bitter-sweet kind of thing. It is exciting to spend four years representing a university, but at the same time it means that my volleyball career is coming to a close.

This team is unique because we do get along well on and off the court. I have made some true lifelong friends from being on this team. After practicing with this team, it is very obvious that we have a deep team of talent. This is extremely exciting to see what happens this season.

Thought about being a Screaming Eagle From our New Eagles

How does it feel to be a screaming eagle?

After being a recruit for a few months, I watched the girls play a few times and was so excited to be apart of the team. At camps getting to know them, I was introduced to the close-knit team bonding. All the guys are so nice and outgoing, and when they were together there was never a time off court when they weren't having fun and being themselves. Now that I am here and apart of the USi volleyball family, I am experiencing the things I was only viewing from a spectator seat a few months ago. Being apart of the team is just as fun as they seemed. We all are so close and its like being around a great group of friends all the time. I've only been here for a few weeks and I could consider any girl of the team one of my good friends. We laugh and have a good time everyday, and I'm so glad that I've made the decision I've made, and cant wait for the next four years.

What have you learned since being here?

Coming in as a freshman, it was difficult to understand everything from practices rituals, school stuff, and just knowing the campus. Immediately, all the older girls gave me tips and advice on what classes to take, where to go for certain things, etc. Also, practicing all the time and playing at a faster pace, I have learned a lot about volleyball and myself as a player. Being a student-athlete, it is difficult to miss class due to traveling for tournaments and games and still stay on top of my grades. I have really learned early on that I have to be very smart with my free time and manage this precious time. I have become more responsible, and can see myself transitioning into an adult from this college experience, as I am transitioning from the net in the game. haha

 

I love being a screaming eagle! The team accepted the freshman right from the start, and I feel like everyone meshed together  really well on and off the court.  We're like one big family!  Since being here, coaches have given me new tips to improve my game altogether.  My teammates have also helped me with navigating campus and what to expect from certain classes.  They have filled me in on college life.  Overall, it has been a great experience.  

 

Being a screaming eagle is fun! i love the campus and my classes are going very well. Volleyball is also really fun. I love the girls and the traveling lets the team bond together more. Since i am around the girls all the time i have learned many things from them. They have been very helpful when it come to finding classes and different places to go to if you need help with homework. They also are there if you ever need anyone to talk to. The team is very trustworthy and we all get along. This season is going to be very fun :]

 

 

It feels great to be a screaming eagle! I love the girls on the team, everyone has great personalities and we have a fun time together. Classes are going good and I really enjoy the campus. I am so excited for our games this season, and hope to have a huge crowd at all of our home matches. Since I have been here I have learned that this group of girls are very hard-working. Everyone is excited for each other and we bring a lot of energy and intensity to the court. I have learned to give it my all in everything that I do in practice, not to let the team down. overall, I am very excited for my first year here at USI as a Screaming Eagle!

Team Bonding in Pensacola

TEAM BUILDING:

   

  This year, our team building exercise took a different approach than in past years.  One day, during our Florida pre-season tournament, the coaches took us to the beach with the instructions for us to bring only a pen and a sharpie.  Upon arriving, we were given a poster board and told to write our names at the top.  Next, we were each given 12 slips of paper, one for each player on the team.  Our instructions were to write something positive about each teammate on the paper.  Once we were done, we would glue them on the respective poster boards.  We had free reign to write whatever we wanted and we all took this to heart.  Each girl's reflections about her teammates truly showed the inseparable, unique bond we share.

     I truly enjoyed this team building because I feel that it brought us even closer together and was a nice confidence booster before we began tournament play.  From hearing the responses of my teammates and reading the ones written to me, I felt privileged to be a part of this unit.  Each girl added her own creative spin and approach to the assignment.  Some wrote sentimental responses about a certain player she was particularly close to, others took a humerus approach and wrote about inside jokes and memories, and still others commented about the style of play each player brings to the team.  We are all unique and have such different personalities that we contribute so much to this team and I believe that is why we are all such good friends both on and off the court.