University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Can You Dig It?
9/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2006
Throughout the 2006 Lady Eagle Volleyball season, each player will sit down for an interview with a member of the Southern Miss Athletic Media Relations staff to discuss what you want to know about Lady Eagle Volleyball and a little more. Can you dig it? This week will feature senior middle blocker Nicole Rock.
What are your expectations for this season? "I expect to have a winning season because we have a lot of great new talent and a lot of enthusiastic girls. We have some junior college transfers this season that know what they're doing already. My biggest expectation is that we win and we definitely have the goal to go to the conference tournament."
Is there a particular part about your game that you focused on during the spring and summer? "I stayed here during the summer and ran with the other female athletes. I was trying to get quicker and in better overall shape. We also worked on footwork and the basics like being able to jump. Personally, I focused on being mentally ready to be a leader this year."
Do you plan on moving back to California after graduation? "I'm a fashion major so I plan on going to either Los Angeles or New York City. I have to do an internship this spring so we'll see where that takes me. It would always be nice to be back in California."
In your questionnaire, you mentioned a lot about modeling and runways. Do you have any interest in pursuing that? "Yes, I want to be a Victoria's Secret model."
What do you like about Victoria's Secret? "I work there so I love the company. I definitely idolize all of the girls and I have always wanted to do that since I first saw a runway show."
Is working there what sparked your interest in fashion merchandising and modeling? "I thought that since fashion merchandising and modeling are all tied together, it would open the doors if I got into the industry one way or another."
If you could design a volleyball uniform for your teammates consisting only of Victoria's Secret items, could you do it and what would it consist of? "I think it would have to be made of boy shorts and we have some sexy sports bras. I would have us play in sexy sports bras and boy short panties."
How will you remember your days here at USM? "I will remember them as being busy and meeting a lot of people. It has gone by really fast so it's all kind of a blur."
Last year, your mom had a sign that said "Nicole Rocks USM!" Can we expect anything like that from her this season? "Yes, my mom always comes up with some way to embarrass me. She always has a sign when I go to the airport that says something like 'We Love Nicole'. She's pretty enthusiastic about it."
Which superpower would you like to have? "I would like to be really fast. I've never been the fastest one so whenever we run I wish that I was really fast."
Does the career that you're pursuing put a hold on family life? "My husband is older than me so he is ready for kids but he knows that we need to wait a little while. I would like to do modeling and I would like to start a career as a buyer for Nordstom's. In order to do that, I would say it would take at least three years. I'll still be a young, hip mom but I won't be too young."
If you could change one rule in volleyball, what would it be and why? "I wish that you could block a serve. I would like that a lot because there are a lot of serves that come right by me."
Here's a little more about Nicole!
Favorite TV show: "Project Runway," "Seinfeld," "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Sex & the City"
Favorite song that gets me ready to play: "No. One" by Nelly
Favorite thing to do on my day off: "Sleep"
If I could be on any reality TV show it would be: "America's Next Top Model"
If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would: "Buy property in Paris, Rome and California. Then I would buy a new car, even though I love my '93 Volvo."
Three things I can't live without: "I-pod, cell phone and my husband"
Favorite movie: "Double Jeopardy"
Favorite pre-game meal: "Spaghetti with crescent rolls"
Player I try to model my game after: "Keri Walsh"
Craziest ambition in life: "To be in a runway show"
What other talents I'm proud of: "I can play the piano and I'm an amazing basketball player."
How volleyball has changed my life: "It's challenged me mentally and physically and has helped me meet some amazing friends."
If I started a team, the five other players on the team would be: "Sarah Wren (hometown friend), Morgan Johnson (teammate), Amanda Blunck (teammate), Amy Truong (former Southern Miss player) and Keri Walsh"
