NOTEBOOK The conversation
After switching from indoor volleyball to the sand, Pepperdine standout helps the Waves win a national title
Caitlin Racich W
hen you think of the term “grinding,” the beaches of Southern California might
not be the fi rst image that comes to mind. But with the emergence of women’s sand volley- ball as an offi cial collegiate sport last spring, Caitlin Racich found reason to combine the two. After leaving the indoor volleyball team to commit to sand at the start of her junior year at Pepperdine University, Racich became one of the leaders on a Pepperdine team that won the fi rst-ever collegiate sand volleyball title at the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala., in April 2012. The Waves (who fi nished the season with a 17-0 record) took the team title with a 5-0 sweep over Long Beach State in the fi nals, and Racich and partner Summer Ross won the pairs championship the day after, overcoming a 14-11 defi cit in the third game of the title match against Long Beach State’s Tara Roenicke and Caitlin Ledoux. Now a senior, Racich hopes to be back in Alabama for a second championship run come spring of 2013, and aspires to play sand volleyball professionally once she leaves college. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Calif., the 21-year old Racich describes herself as a lifelong “beach girl,” but also makes it clear that she doesn’t take her time on the sand lightly.
VolleyballUSA: What was the most rewarding experience from last season?
Caitlin Racich: Alabama at the end, winning that, was the biggest reward. Summer and I were down a little bit in the third game against Tara and Caitlin (in the pairs championship), and we grinded it out and we wanted it so bad and we ended up coming out on top, and that was an amazing feeling. That last championship tournament was awesome.
How much did your level of play (and the
team’s) improve over the course of last season? Our team was constantly improving through- out the season, and we all peaked when we needed to in Alabama. I believe every day is a time for improvement, whether it’s getting practice reps, lifting in the gym, conditioning or just working on mental toughness. I am always trying to improve every aspect of my game whenever I get the chance to.
What did you enjoy about playing with Summer? What made you a strong team?
Summer and I played well together because we had good chemistry. We both grew up play- ing the game, had experiences playing domesti- cally and internationally, and had similar work ethics on and off the court. We worked well
12 | VOLLEYBALLUSA • Digital Issue at
usavolleyball.org/mag
with one another, and everything seemed to fl ow, which was very enjoyable.
What skill on the sand is most diffi cult to ac-
quire when making the transition from indoor? I think setting is most important in sand, and it is tricky for a lot of indoor players because indoor you’re setting hands, and pretty much anything goes for indoor nowadays. And it defi nes a good player from a great player on the sand because you need your partner to be able to set you.
How would you compare the time commitment for college sand versus college indoor?
Well, last year was very different because in
the off-season, when it was just starting, I got fi ve questions a day asking ‘Are you playing indoor anymore?’ and I’m like ‘No, I switched to sand,’ and no one knew that sand was happening. It was actually just me and Nina (Matthies, Pepper- dine head coach) prac- ticing at Zuma (Beach), one-on-one, because everyone else was playing indoor at the time. Whereas this off-season, I have Kim (Hill) and Lilla (Frederick), and all three of us are practicing, so there’s more of a set sched- ule. It’s the same (as far as time commit- ment), we’re
If collegiate sand volleyball had been an option for you coming out of high school, would you have chosen to play sand right away rather than indoor?
These high-school girls nowadays that get that option are so lucky. If I had known that sand was a separate sport than indoor, I prob- ably would have taken the sand route. When I heard of it and fi gured out that I could do that, I immediately jumped on the bus because I’ve always had a passion for beach. Looking back I think it was great to have the indoor experience and I feel lucky to have played both, but beach is defi nitely where my heart’s at. I’ve always loved it and that’s what I want to continue with.
What does ‘grinding’ mean to you? How much of a factor has mental toughness, the willingness to grind and work hard, been for you in your vol- leyball career?
I believe grinding is a trait that comes by having passion, belief, determina- tion and drive. I have always been a ‘grinder’ because I know I am working hard for many things bigger than myself. I know I am pushing myself to be successful to honor my family, friends, coaches, teammates, trainers, my university and everyone that makes this opportunity possible. Constantly knowing that I am working hard to please God who has given me this talent of beach volleyball to honor Him is enough of a push for me. Hard work is not something we are born with; it is something that we achieve.
Would you say you enjoy volleyball more now than you ever have?
I have always enjoyed vol- leyball, but the fact I am play- ing sand volleyball in college and representing my school makes me feel pretty lucky. I hope for the best in collegiate sand volleyball and cannot wait to see where it goes in the next few years!
grinding really hard right now. It’s exhausting, but it’s good. College volleyball is a job, but it’s a good job.
Interview by Connor Hastings
PHOTO: PETER BROUILLET
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72