Q: Is it tough for you to stay upbeat all the time?
A: It's something I'm working on. My coach [Chris Sheppard] still says that sometimes in practice I'm a 'mopey dog.' I'm getting better at it. I played club [volleyball] for the first time last winter, and that really helped my confidence.
Q: Do you want to play volleyball in college?
A: Definitely. I'm considering Stockton, but I'm not sure yet. But I definitely want to play in college.
Q: Do you know what you'd like to study?
A: Special education and elementary education.
Q: What's your favorite subject in school?
A: English. I like to read.
Q: What are you guys reading now?
A: We just got done Beowulf. It was good, but it was kind of hard to follow because of the [Old English] language.
Q: Who is your favorite author?
A: Sarah Dessen [young adult fiction].
Q: What's your favorite movie of all time?
A:Ten Things I Hate About You.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
A: Anything, really. I like country a lot, but I listen to pop, too.
Q: Who is your favorite country artist?
A: Jason Aldean.
Q: Who has been the biggest influence on your athletic career?
A: My brothers [Andrew and William]. They were both volleyball players, and I guess that's why I took up the sport. Now I love it.
Q: What's the best thing about volleyball?
A: It's very team-oriented. You can't just have one good player. Everybody has to be good, and everybody has to play together and help each other. To me, the team is like a family.
Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @PhilAnastasia. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
