Some of your favorite players are back for another season of volleyball as they compete on the U23 National Team. These women are gearing up for an intense competition which will begin on July 20th. We met with some of the players this morning during their warm up and they spoke to us about their expectations for the upcoming games.
Gareth Bruce, U-23 Team Captain:
"Just practice keep them motivated and use what I have learnt in college in America and bring it home just as other players I have tried to make them feel like they are in a safe space and it is okay to make mistakes, you know you can bounce back rom it, dont dwell on it and just try to have a positive mindset for like everybody."
"With this tournament I think Guatemala is probably going to be the team with the most challenge I won't say the other teams are not going to be challenging but there is just that one team that stands out that has us like okay this one might be a harder battle and it is Guatemala."
"Its a nervous but exciting experience I mean we love the fans we love the crowd and the support we do like ive said to everybody before and I will say again the fans is also like one of the team members on our team like we can't do it without them and we really need you all to be out here supporting and cheering us on."
Fatima Ramirez, U-23, Outside Hitter:
"Well we practice and twice a day we do weight training and we also do mental stuff like meditation breathing and just debriefing as a team and talking as a team."
"I think the most challenging thing is playing through injuries and playing even when you're tired, giving 100% even when you are tired. Which game are you looking forward to the most? The Guatemala game I think everyone is looking forward to that game and that is going to be our last game so that Is the game I am looking forward to because I really want to beat them."
Diane Henderson, U-23 Setter Position:
"You know we put in the work everyday, everyday we come warm up, get ready and play you know its a lot but I think we are ready."
"The most challenging thing I would think its to wake up and come here because some days, well before this week we had workouts early in the morning and so it was kind of a challenge waking up early and going to practice and putting in the work in the morning but we did it."
"I played in U-21, I played in a previous U-23 and I played in U-19."
"Well I mean it is always and experience to play home games and this will be my third home game and the previous games were all away which you know the fans were against you but with home games all the fans are with you in the stadium so it's really fun."
Samantha Jones, U-23, Outside Hitter:
"Im excited its just more experience and more exposure to the sport I love so yeah."
"It's more of a mental state playing for a national team im physically capable of playing but sometimes I get in my head so ive been able to lean on God or ive been able to grow a sisterhood with these girls so whenever any of us are in our head it takes a lot of communication through it and to like one of my teammates she will tell me Sam just pass the ball and dont even think about it so I l am like okay. I think it is leaning more on family, God and my team mates to push me out of my mental state when I am down or in my head."
"Im looking forward to the Guate because I played in nationals before this and I went back to Chicago because one of my family members passed and they asked me to come play last year when they won gold and I didnt come play and they got gold so I am looking forward to them just dominating the whole competition."
The competition will be held at the Civic Center.
