Colorado University Athletics
Getting To Know: Alexis Austin, Volleyball
June 13, 2015 | Volleyball
Today we are 'getting to know' Alexis Austin, a senior outside hitter from Houston, Texas.
Question: What have you and the team done this off-season to reflect and build off of last season's efforts?
Answer: I feel the team and I have definitely improved on our bond/togetherness on and off the court. Now, we're able to communicate with one another without anyone getting offended and even able to give advice to one another without a person avoiding what they are saying.
Q: What can the team do to replace the efforts of the seniors that you lost?
A: Since we did lose four seniors who had a big impact on the team, it's very important that each person is coming into practice every day ready to work and get better. Being focused is essential.
Q: How did spring drills and practices go? What was the best part?
A: Spring ball was a little tough since we had only 10 girls but at the same time it's made us stronger players. The best part about having a smaller group definitely has to be that no one can slack off because it's ridiculously noticeable. It's not as easy for us to just take a break when there is a larger group in the gym. So we have had to work every single day and the competitiveness in the gym has picked up as well.
Q: What are you looking forward to this upcoming season?
A: This upcoming season I'm looking forward to the new girls that will be joining us and I am hoping that they are ready to work! I'm also looking forward to our non-conference schedule as we have a lot of good competition coming our way.
Q: What is one thing no one knows about the team as a whole or an individual teammate?
A: I think one thing no one knows about the whole team is how hard we work day in and day out. I think a lot of people kind of overlook athletes, especially volleyball players, and they don't know how passionate we are about the game and how a part of our lives it is. It's not just a sport or hobby; it's a full-time job to be a student-athlete as well as a part of this team.
Q: What team do you look forward to playing the most during the Pac-12 season? Why?
A: I really look forward to playing Stanford this year because that's the one team we have yet to beat other than USC. When we play them, it's some of the best volleyball that we produce/perform and it kind of gives us a perspective on where we stand in the conference and what we need to improve on.
Q: Do you have a favorite non-conference opponent? Who and why?
A: I do not have a favorite non-conference opponent, but I did enjoy playing Baylor since they were in my top-5 schools I was looking at when I was getting recruited back in high school. It was also close to home, so I was able to see a lot of my family that weekend, which was definitely nice.
Quick Hits
- Favorite Athlete: I honestly don't have a favorite athlete, but I'll go with Michael Jordan
- Favorite Food: Crawfish
- Favorite TV Show: at the moment it is “Being Mary Jane”.
- Favorite Movie: Either Take the Lead or Monster-in-Law
- Favorite Music: Neo-soul and R&B.
- Favorite Hobby Outside Of Volleyball: Dancing.
- Favorite Vacations Spot: My favorite vacation spot would be China even though I went to play volleyball.
- What is your career plans after volleyball? I plan on playing professional volleyball overseas somewhere, but not quite sure where I would want to go yet. Then after that probably get into coaching and mentoring young girls.
- Biggest Fear: My ultimate fear is the Lord our God, along with losing someone who's really close to me when I'm not around because I am here at school or even when I hopefully go and play overseas.
- Where do you like to eat in Boulder: BJ's
- If you could play another college sport, what would it be? track (my first love)
- If you could have dinner with 3 people, dead or alive, who would they be? Jesus, Beyoncé and Michael Jackson
- Best Volleyball Player Of All-Time: I would have to say, Destinee Hooker or Tara Cross-Battle.
- One word to describe yourself: Observant
- Who is your biggest influence? Definitely my parents because of how much time I spend around them and I see a great deal of both of them in myself daily.
- Favorite thing about CU Volleyball: I would say is the team because even though we have our ups and downs, we're able to handle them just as if we were sisters, and we have become a lot closer because of that especially since I've been here.
- Who are the best singer and dancer on the team? The best singer on the team I would have to say Joslyn Hayes and as for best dancer, me by a long shot! Lol
