Oct. 28, 2008

Coming off a pair of impressive wins over Clemson and Georgia Tech over the weekend TarHeelBlue.com had a chance to find out more about senior outside hitter Lauren Prussing. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native finished the weekend with 24 kills and only five errors as she helped the Tar Heels improve to 13-9 overall and 6-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Prussing and her teammates will take to the road this week when they take Boston College on Friday before closing out the trip at Maryland on Sunday.

1) How did you get started with volleyball?
"The first time I played volleyball was in eighth grade and the only reason I started to play was because all my friends were playing. I knew nothing about volleyball the first time I played, so it was really just to hang out with my friends and I thought since I was tall it might help."

2) What is your favorite place to eat on Franklin Street?
"The Yogurt Pump. I usually go there every weekend after our last match, just for a little treat."

3) What has been your proudest volleyball moment in your collegiate career?
"When we beat Minnesota a couple weeks ago when they were ranked number eight in the country and we were at Minnesota and beat them there. That was really exciting; probably the biggest win I've ever been a part of."

4) Of all your teammates, past and present, who have you learned the most from? And why?
"Dani Nyenhuis who was a senior when I was a freshman. We were both outsides and the way that she came into practice every day and the way she played the game, I always really admired her and her relationship with all of her teammates. I still think to this day, she was a great teammate and a great captain and I really learned a lot from her about how to succeed on the college level."

5) What do you like most about being an athlete at UNC?
"I would have to say the atmosphere. There's so much tradition at UNC and it's a great thing to be a part of and I feel so proud that I've been given the opportunity to play here."

6) What is the best advice you have ever received?
"Honesty is the best policy--my mom always says that."

7) Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
"I'm not superstitious, but I have routines like how I put my kneepads and socks on. Another kind of ritual that I started up again that I did in high school is having tape wrapped around my wrist that says something like `fearless' on it as a reminder during the match. It changes, what I write on there, but it's really helpful if you look down and see it--it's just like a mental reminder."

8) Since this is your last year competing in college, what do you think you will miss the most?
"I will miss my teammates the most and just being on a team because never again in life are you going to be able to have sixteen automatic friends and the really close bond you have with your teammates."

9) Who in your life do you admire the most? And why?
"My parents, because they have always tried to do the right thing in every circumstance and they've just taught me so many valuable things that are irreplaceable."

10) What are your post-graduation plans?
"Either I want to go overseas for a year and teach English to kids in a third world country or just get a job with my degree in Sports Administration. I went to Vietnam over the summer and that really inspired me. Especially with the way the economy is, that might be my fall back to go overseas for a year."