Men's Volleyball Q&A: David Wieczorek
10/24/2018 9:01:00 AM | Men's Volleyball, Competing With Purpose Blog
Senior outside hitter David Wieczorek of the Pepperdine men's volleyball team tells us about his experiences playing for the USA Volleyball team abroad this summer and how it will translate into a great final season for the Waves:
Q: What are some of the highlights from your volleyball career at Pepperdine so far?
A: Some of the highlights include beating BYU at their place, sweeping UCLA at home, being able to play for Marv Dunphy and David Hunt, being named an All-American, being named MPSF Player of the Year, and being able to build awesome relationships with all my teammates and coaches. Also, a huge highlight is that my dad, mom, and close friends and family all have gotten to see me play volleyball at my dream school.
Q: You played for the USA Volleyball team this summer, how was that experience?
A: Playing for the national team and representing the USA was an amazing opportunity and a great experience. This was my second summer with the USA team. Training at the highest level and competing against the top players in the world was incredible. I learned so much from the coaching staff and all the veterans. Also, being able to hang with them and compete with them was awesome; it showed me I can play with the top dogs.
Q: What were some highlights from traveling to Argentina?
A: Traveling to Argentina was a great experience. I traveled with the senior team and we played three matches against the best from Argentina. Playing in a match against one of the top setters in the world was amazing. It showed me both what it takes to compete against national teams from other countries, and that I could do it.
Q: You also played in Mexico for the Pan Am Cup, what were some takeaways from that experience?
A: There were a lot of great takeaways from the Pan Am Cup. For example, I learned a lot about my game and what I need to do to be successful at a high level, both mentally and physically. Also, I learned that at the highest level of play, teams fight to the end, and that the margins for error are so small. It is always a dogfight until the end of the set/match.
Q: How was it having David Hunt as your coach for the Pan Am Cup as opposed to having him here at Pepperdine?
A: It was different seeing him in USA gear as opposed to Pepperdine gear. At the end of the day, it was cool to have him coach the team. It was awesome to have a familiar face on the sidelines and I knew what to expect from him as a coach, and what he expected from me as a player.
Q: What was the most memorable experience from your games this summer, both in volleyball and just with traveling?
A: The most memorable experience was playing in Argentina. We had to travel an hour to get to the gym, it was winter down there, and the gym was not heated. People were in the stands with winter jackets while we were playing in cut off jerseys and shorts. Additionally, it was a packed arena with an energetic and loud environment. Also, every night, a stray dog would sneak into the arena and wander the stands. On the last night, the dog rushed the court in the middle of the match and we had to stop playing.
Q: What are some things that you learned this summer that can translate to this upcoming season?
A: I learned a lot about volleyball that will translate into my game this season. I trained hard every day of the summer and worked on every aspect of my game in order to fine tune and better each skill.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: I am looking forward to competing for Pepperdine one last time. I am excited to put on the jersey and battle each night. I love playing for Pepperdine, and ever since seventh grade it was my dream to come here and play. I cannot wait for the season to get started, it is my favorite feeling to be playing volleyball for Pepperdine whether we are at home or on the road.
Q: What can we expect from the men's volleyball season this year?
A: Everyone can expect a tough Waves team that battles every night and competes hard. We strive for the highest standard every day, and I believe that our training will show and translate into a great season for the Waves.
Q: What are some of the highlights from your volleyball career at Pepperdine so far?
A: Some of the highlights include beating BYU at their place, sweeping UCLA at home, being able to play for Marv Dunphy and David Hunt, being named an All-American, being named MPSF Player of the Year, and being able to build awesome relationships with all my teammates and coaches. Also, a huge highlight is that my dad, mom, and close friends and family all have gotten to see me play volleyball at my dream school.
Q: You played for the USA Volleyball team this summer, how was that experience?
A: Playing for the national team and representing the USA was an amazing opportunity and a great experience. This was my second summer with the USA team. Training at the highest level and competing against the top players in the world was incredible. I learned so much from the coaching staff and all the veterans. Also, being able to hang with them and compete with them was awesome; it showed me I can play with the top dogs.
Q: What were some highlights from traveling to Argentina?
A: Traveling to Argentina was a great experience. I traveled with the senior team and we played three matches against the best from Argentina. Playing in a match against one of the top setters in the world was amazing. It showed me both what it takes to compete against national teams from other countries, and that I could do it.
Q: You also played in Mexico for the Pan Am Cup, what were some takeaways from that experience?
A: There were a lot of great takeaways from the Pan Am Cup. For example, I learned a lot about my game and what I need to do to be successful at a high level, both mentally and physically. Also, I learned that at the highest level of play, teams fight to the end, and that the margins for error are so small. It is always a dogfight until the end of the set/match.
Q: How was it having David Hunt as your coach for the Pan Am Cup as opposed to having him here at Pepperdine?
A: It was different seeing him in USA gear as opposed to Pepperdine gear. At the end of the day, it was cool to have him coach the team. It was awesome to have a familiar face on the sidelines and I knew what to expect from him as a coach, and what he expected from me as a player.
Q: What was the most memorable experience from your games this summer, both in volleyball and just with traveling?
A: The most memorable experience was playing in Argentina. We had to travel an hour to get to the gym, it was winter down there, and the gym was not heated. People were in the stands with winter jackets while we were playing in cut off jerseys and shorts. Additionally, it was a packed arena with an energetic and loud environment. Also, every night, a stray dog would sneak into the arena and wander the stands. On the last night, the dog rushed the court in the middle of the match and we had to stop playing.
Q: What are some things that you learned this summer that can translate to this upcoming season?
A: I learned a lot about volleyball that will translate into my game this season. I trained hard every day of the summer and worked on every aspect of my game in order to fine tune and better each skill.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: I am looking forward to competing for Pepperdine one last time. I am excited to put on the jersey and battle each night. I love playing for Pepperdine, and ever since seventh grade it was my dream to come here and play. I cannot wait for the season to get started, it is my favorite feeling to be playing volleyball for Pepperdine whether we are at home or on the road.
Q: What can we expect from the men's volleyball season this year?
A: Everyone can expect a tough Waves team that battles every night and competes hard. We strive for the highest standard every day, and I believe that our training will show and translate into a great season for the Waves.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Volleyball
