Alabama Volleyball Newcomer Q&A: Jennifer Casillas
8/15/2016 2:03:00 PM | Volleyball
Alabama Volleyball welcomes eight newcomers to the 2016 team and all eight will have Q&A features posted on rolltide.com over the next eight days heading into the season. The sixth featured newcomer is junior Jennifer Casillas from Escondido, Calif., who played the previous two seasons at Loyola Marymount University.
How did you get your start playing volleyball?
"I played a lot of sports growing up. I tried soccer but it was too much running. I tried swimming but I ended up sinking. I tried tennis, gymnastics and a lot of things but none of them really worked out. I watched my older brother Alex play volleyball and I really like the sport so I figured I would give it a try. My freshman year was my first year doing it competitively for my club team. I didn't play much but I really learned a lot that year."
Was volleyball always your favorite sport to play?
"I would always end up coming back to volleyball. I might take a season break from YMCA but I would always end up coming back. By high school, it was an easy decision to play volleyball."
When did playing volleyball in college become a goal for you?
"I had that goal from the beginning. I wanted to play a sport where I could continue it into college and eventually I realized volleyball was the way to go. Right off the bat, I knew I wanted to play college volleyball. A lot of coaches doubted me and thought I couldn't play college volleyball but I was determined. I put in hours and hours of work. My dad and I would go out before my club practices to get extra work in. He built a net in a grass area and we had one ball and would work all day long."
How did this adversity mold you as a volleyball player?
"It gave me a very good work ethic. If I'm not happy with how I'm playing or the way things are going, I'm willing to put the extra work in. I won't second-guess it. I know that I can put in 10 extra reps and that puts me 10 ahead of someone else. I'm always trying to keep moving forward and figure out other ways I can get ahead."
How did your recruiting process begin and how did you decide on Loyola Marymount?
"Originally I played a lot of positions: outside, right side and middle. I had colleges looking at me from all over but going to LMU was nice that I was sort of close to home. It was only a two-hour drive so I could go home on weekends but it was far enough away where I still felt independent. I was open to go anywhere but LMU was one of the first ones I looked at and one of the first to offer me."
How did this process as a transfer differ than your initial recruiting process?
"I was a lot more knowledgeable looking at schools this time around. I was really looking into the type of coaches and a lot of the little things I was seeing. If the coach was telling me right off the bat I was going to play no matter what, that was a red flag to me. Coach [Ed] Allen was very straightforward and every time we talked, it was always the same message. Other schools would say one thing to me and then may say something else to my parents. I was able to ask deeper questions this time around because I had a better idea what I was looking for in a coach."
What were your first impressions of campus?
"It was a whirlwind. My old school was very small so coming here I was shocked you had to take a go-cart to go places instead of just walking. Everyone mentioned the humidity too. When I visited it wasn't bad, but now it's crazy."
Did having two years of collegiate experience make for an easier transition to Alabama?
"I think it did make it easier. I'm less intimidated in classes and I know how to approach them. On the court, I just realize how blessed I am to have this opportunity to play. Having had coaches tell me I wouldn't be able to play at a Division-I school, it's just a blessing to earn this opportunity."
What are your goals for this season, both individually and as a team?
"I just want to go out and do whatever I can for the team. I want us to be relentless. I like winning and hate losing so I want to do whatever it takes, whether it's on the court or off the court. Whatever this team needs, I'll be there. I want us to win a ring and I want to play in the NCAA Tournament."
What advice would you give to young volleyball players who want to play in college?
"Don't let people define what your capabilities are and don't give up. You may get tired and not feel like practicing some days but it's those extra minutes that count and those extra minutes are what other people aren't doing."
