Colorado University Athletics
Getting to Know Lydia, Nikki & Alyssa
Getting to Know Lydia, Nikki and Alyssa
Lydia Blaha
What is your favorite part about living in Colorado? I love being close to my family. It is particularly special since I have such a big family. We have one newborn baby and one on the way so it's nice to be around and close to everyone.
What is the best part about playing at CU? I think it is great that I get to play for the state that I grew up in.
When did you start to play volleyball? I started in eighth grade when I became too tall to be a ballerina. All of my friends were going to try out for the volleyball team in our freshman year, so I gave it a shot and immediately loved it. It was funny because as a complete beginner, I was still pretty tall and I immediately made the JV team and even swung up and played on the varsity team some.
What is the biggest lesson that you have learned from volleyball? Particularly here at CU I have learned to push yourself farther than you think you can go. That's something I'm never going to forget.
If you could be on stage with any band in the world as the lead singer or guitarist, who would you choose? I would say Lady Antebellum ... or maybe U2; it would be so cool to sing on stage with Bono!
What it the strongest character trait that your teammates would describe about you? No doubt they would say I'm competitive. I want to win at whatever I'm doing whether it is during a match or even just during a drill in practice.
What is your most embarrassing moment? I'm definitely not going to share that one. I have to be honest; it takes a lot for me to be embarrassed so mine is a real doozy ... and I'm not telling anyone!
Fun Facts by Lydia Blaha
Why I chose CU...Because I wanted to play volleyball for my home state and be close to my family
If I wasn't playing volleyball, I would be playing .... Well if I was not so tall I would probably still be a dancer...but there aren't any six feet tall ballerinas J
My favorite volleyball memory is...Playing Penn State my sophomore year
My biggest fear is...Speaking in front of large groups of people
When I grow up I want to be...A buyer at Nordstrom and begin a non-profit organization for pregnant teens
My biggest pet peeve is...When people don't stand up for what they believe in
My favorite type of weather is...I love sunny days, but there is nothing like being home in a blizzard!
If I had a million dollars I would...Begin a home for pregnant teens that don't have anywhere else to go
If I could have any color eyes I would have...Green!
I started playing volleyball when...I was a freshman and all of my friends played
If I was in a band I would play...I would be the singer J
If I could be on any TV show I would be on...Say Yes To the Dress
I am the happiest when...I am with my family on a warm summer night
My favorite thing to wear to class...Boots...I have a slight obsession
My biggest dream is...To be a buyer for Nordstrom and travel the world
If I was a type of food I would be...Watermelon or Chocolate Brownies
My favorite song is...With or without you by U2 and Dirt Road Anthem by Jason Aldean
If I could speak a different language it would be...Italian
My favorite place to study on campus...Laughing Goat Caf+¬
My favorite place in Boulder is...Boulder Chill or Ripple
If I could travel anywhere in the world it would be...Egypt, Italy or Ireland
After college I plan on...Getting an internship with Nordstrom
Nikki Lindow
What is the best part about going to CU for you? For me it is that I get to be close to home. I get to see my family and I am going to school in a place that I grew up near. I really love the mountains.
What is your favorite part of the college experience? I love getting to meet different people, some who have become my best friends. Sometimes I feel like I have a completely different perspective as an athlete, and it is great that I have friends who are not athletes because I have been able to learn life lessons from others.
What is your favorite thing to do during your free time? My favorite thing to do is to watch movies and to just hang out at the C for C (Center for Community). A lot of time we just sit around there and talk ... I've even been kicked out of there because we were sitting around too long just taking and having fun.
What was the biggest surprise for you in your first year being a student athlete at CU? The biggest surprise and the hardest thing for me was the time commitment and the high expectations. I knew that and expected that but... whoa - I need to give a lot more than I thought. You've really got to put your heart into it ... and I'm good with that.
What was your favorite memory from your freshman volleyball season as a Buff? For me it was the last point against Kansas State. We won the match 15-13 in the fifth set. As a team we had dedicated the match to Spencer Nelson, am member of the Buff Ski Team who had died in a hiking accident. His parents were there and I wanted to win the match so badly. I just happened to score the final point and it was such a rush!
So tell us the truth, are you a closet Justin Bieber fan? Actually, I only know two Justin Bieber songs, but one is on our warm-up play list for our volleyball matches and I have to be honest ... I can't wait for it to come on. So I guess I'm a little bit of a fan.
Fun Facts by Nikki Lindow
Why I chose CU... CU is close to home so that my family and friends are able to come to games. I was born and raised in Colorado and could never leave the mountain.
If I wasn't playing volleyball, I would be playing .... I would be playing basketball for CU.
My favorite volleyball memory is... Beating KSU in 5
My biggest fear is... My biggest fear is spiders!
When I grow up I want to be... I would like to play pro overseas.
My biggest pet peeve is... When I am having a conversation with someone and they don't give me eye contact.
My favorite type of weather is... Sunny summer day, precisely 86 degrees, with minimum cloud coverage.
If I had a million dollars I would... buy family a ski boat, a Chevy Silverado Truck to pull the boat, a brand new slalom ski, and a sound system to be installed in to the boat so that I can hear music as I ski.
If I could have any color eyes I would have... I would keep my eyes the way they are, I like them J
I started playing volleyball when... I started playing volleyball my sophomore year of high school and was terrible, but I started to play club volleyball half way through my junior year of high school.
If I was in a band I would play... The drums!
If I could be on any TV show I would be on... Jersey Shore
I am the happiest when... I am with my friends and family
My favorite thing to wear to class... Yoga pants and T- shirt
My most embarrassing moment was... when I scored the last point to win the game against Kansas State
My biggest dream is... Is to be successful/ happy with the career I choose.
If I was a type of food I would be... Strawberries! Because they are delicious
My favorite song is... Any song performed by Garth Brooks
If I could speak a different language it would be... Spanish
My favorite place to study on campus... The Norlin Library
My favorite place in Boulder is... The Star that overlooks Boulder, It's beautiful
If I could travel anywhere in the world it would be... Italy
After college I plan on... Playing overseas, and begin my career
Alyssa Valentine
What is your favorite part about living in Colorado: I really love that everyone is active and outdoorsy. The state is gorgeous, the Flatirons are right here in our sight every day and it is cool that the people that live here appreciate the outdoors all the time.
What is it like playing volleyball for CU? First, I really like the coaching staff. I came here because I wanted to be coached at a very high level and it is so rewarding to be challenged every day in practice and to keep developing as a volleyball player. I also truly love my teammates here. This is the first time that I've been in such a special environment where I love all the players and coaches this much. It's a wonderful chemistry and a very special place to be playing volleyball.
How do you feel about being one of the few seniors on the team come this fall? I have to admit it sounds different thinking about being a senior. It definitely came faster than I thought and I really am excited about playing in my senior year, but I also have to say that it is a little bit weird realizing that this is going to be my last season at CU.
What are your thoughts about playing in the Pac-12? I'm very excited. I grew up watching the California teams like UCLA, USC and Stanford when I was younger so it is awesome that I now get to go to those places to play against those schools.
What has been your favorite volleyball memory? Winning the national championship at the 18's club level. I think the part that made it so special is that I hadn't played that much on that team the previous two years, then the year we won it all I earned the starting setter spot on the team so it was doubly rewarding.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned from the sport of volleyball? Well, I've been playing volleyball since I was in the sixth grade and the biggest lesson I've learned is to keep pushing through stuff. I've learned to keep going even when something is frustrating, or seems too hard at the time and it is a lesson that has been reinforced to me many times in my volleyball career.
Fun Facts By Alyssa Valentine!
Why I chose CU...coaching staff, campus, location
If I wasn't playing volleyball, I would be playing ....no idea because I'm horrible at everything else
My favorite volleyball memory is...Olympic training center during preseason training camp
My biggest fear is...spiders
When I grow up I want to be...an athletic trainer
My biggest pet peeve is...Colorado stoplights
My favorite type of weather is...sunny and warm
If I had a million dollars I would...go to Costco
If I could have any color eyes I would have...blue
I started playing volleyball when...I was 11.
If I was in a band I would play...probably bass
If I could be on any TV show I would be on... "Modern Family" or "House"
I am the happiest when...the sample days at Costco are good (weekends are normally best)
My favorite thing to wear to class...jeans, sweatshirt, vans
My most embarrassing moment was...too many to count...I have a new one every day
My biggest dream is...win a national championship
If I was a type of food I would be...steak
My favorite song is...anything by Avril. "Sk8er Boi" is classic...
If I could speak a different language it would be...French
My favorite place in Boulder is... Ripple
If I could travel anywhere in the world it would be...Germany
After college I plan on...going to graduate school and becoming an athletic trainer