Women's Volleyball Q&A: Jasmine Gross
11/7/2016 10:12:00 AM | Women's Volleyball, Competing With Purpose Blog
It's not easy to adjust to a brand-new school and team as an incoming freshman -- let alone to do those things successfully enough to break a school record within your first three months. Despite these odds,freshman women's volleyball player Jasmine Gross set the all-time Pepperdine record for most blocks in a single match, leading to her first career West Coast Conference Player of the Week nod. Gross has provided us with some insights into her time at Pepperdine, and how she perceives her role and accomplishments on the team:
Q: What was the transition like for you, coming to play at Pepperdine versus playing in high school?
A: It has been a big jump playing in high school to playing in college. The girls incollege are much stronger and more developed than they were in high school. The levelof play is faster which took time to get used to.
Q: How do you accomplish the lifestyle balance required to be a student-athlete at Pepperdine?
A: I have a lot of support when keeping up with my academics. I meet with my academic advisor once a week to make sure everything is under control. Traveling for volleyball and keeping up with school is difficult, but is manageable with the support system I have around me.
Q: What were you thinking as your number of blocks against Pacific kept going up?
A: To be honest, I didn't know how many blocks I had throughout that match. I knew that my teammates were making some great plays setting up the block for me and my job was to get there.
Q: Did you know you were close to breaking a school record?
A: To be honest I had no idea I was going to break a school record and I didn't actuallyknow there was a school record to break.
Q: How did it feel to earn Pepperdine's first WCCÂ Player of the Week honor of the season?
A: I feel very humbled to be able to represent the school I love and my teammates who work so hard.
Q: How is it to have such a big role as a freshman?
A: I think it has brought out the best in me. Having to step up to the plate and to always be on my A game and compete my hardest has pushed me and made me better.
Q: Who inspires you to compete at such a high level?
A: My parents inspire me every day. They both work so hard and competed at the highest level themselves in tennis. They have pushed me to be my best in everything that I doalong with giving me the freedom to pursue my dreams, which has helped me become a hard worker.
Q: How will all this record-hype translate in the matches to come? Will it at all?
A: It fuels me to become better. I still have so much to work and improve upon. It isawesome that my hard work has translated into some success but I'm not even close to where I want to be.
Q: What has been your favorite match so far? Why?
A: My favorite match was against Pacific,for sure. Our team came together like never before and pulled out the win, which was a huge moment for us.
Q: What has been your favorite moment off the court this season so far?
A: My favorite time off the court was the trip to Hawaii when we went to the beach and got to explore. That was by far the best trip this year.
Q: Do you have any pregame rituals or traditions that you do that you'd like to share?
A: I normally listen to music on my headphones as well as visualizing the match. I do quick meditations before and in-between games.
