2018 Alabama Volleyball Newcomer Q&A: Erin Curl
8/18/2018 3:00:00 PM | Volleyball
We will be posting Q&As with each of the six newcomers on this year's Alabama volleyball team heading into the 2018 season. Our third Q&A is with Erin Curl from Flower Mound, Texas
When did you start playing volleyball?
"The first time I played was in middle school. I liked it more than any other sport I had played so I decided to play club and at that point I really loved it. I did basketball, cross country track and soccer too. Volleyball was always the one I was most passionate about though."
When did playing in college become a goal for you?
"When I started playing in club, that was what everyone else did at that level. I was so passionate about the sport I knew I wanted to keep playing after high school. The goal of my club specifically was to develop its players into Division-I level athletes so that was just the norm for the players. Some schools started to show interest in me after my first club season. It started to become more real and not just a goal at that point. It was more concrete once I saw that."
What schools were you looking at initially?
"Half of me wanted to stay in Texas but the other half wanted to live somewhere else and experience new things. I lived in Texas all my life, in the same town I was born in. Alabama first came into the picture my junior year. When I was looking at schools Alabama was always one I was interested in, so I asked my club directors to ask if they had any connections. They did, so they reached out and I got a call from Coach Ed Allen and he said they were interested. I came down on an unofficial visit and committed on the visit."
What were you first impressions of Alabama when you visited?
"I had visited a few other schools before I came here but Alabama was the prettiest school I had visited. I just loved the atmosphere and culture here. It felt like a home away from home. Some of the other schools I was looking at were up north or on the west coast, but Alabama just felt like the right balance where it felt close to home but was still a new experience. I grew up in a big football family too, so I wanted to go to a big football school. None of the other schools I was talking to had that. I love the pride the school has, that was something I didn't have in high school."
Was there any hesitation moving outside of your home state?
"It didn't hit me until right before I left for college. Right when I committed, I knew I loved it and it was a sure thing but like anyone moving away from home for the first time there is always some hesitation. Now that I'm here though, I feel a lot more comfortable."
How has the transition to college life been so far?
"At first it was kind of tough but that's just how it is when you leave home. The girls on the team are so connected and really make me feel involved. Those friendships grew really fast so that made everyone feel more comfortable early. On the court, it feels so many steps above what you do in club. The game is so much faster and everyone is so much more experienced. It makes you work that much harder to catch up with everybody else. For some people that can make you or break you. Whenever you get to college you're not going to be at the level you need to be, so you just need to work as hard as you can to get where you need to be."
What improvements have you seen in your game so far?
"I switched positions when I got here from middle blocker to a right-side hitter. I'm not the biggest person on the court so I have to learn to be smart with the ball. The size difference can be a disadvantage but I have to find ways to make it an advantage and be smarter with my game and be faster than everyone else."
What are your goals for this season?
"As a team we want to make the NCAA Tournament. Individually I just want to be the best teammate I can, whether I'm playing or not. In practice I want to be pushing the people that need to be pushed as well as myself to make the team better."
What advice would you give to aspiring young volleyball players?
"Take every opportunity you get and run with it. Don't get too nervous when coaches come and watch you but you have to step up and play hard and take advantage of all those opportunities. You never know who's watching."
