Where are you currently playing?

Al Jazira Club, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

How long have you been playing with your current team and professionally?

This is my first season with Al Jazira. I have previously played for Benidorm VBC in Spain, ATSC Wildcats in Austrua and Zok Ptuj in Slovenia. This is the first year that UAE has a professional women’s league, so technically I am the first American woman ever to play professionally in UAE.

Was it difficult to earn a spot on a professional roster? What was the tryout process like?

I basically tried out on tour. I came to Prague and trained with several girls and we were then sent either directly to a team or to a private tryout with a club, depending on our level.

How does the day-to-day schedule compare to that of college volleyball?

Here at Al Jazira, I only practice once a day in the evening, and obviously I do not have any classes to go to, so I have so much free time! I lift on my own three days a week, drink lots of coffee and read lots of books. However, other teams I played on trained twice a day. For example, in Spain I trained from 10-11:30 a.m., went to coffee, ate lunch, took a nap and then practiced again from 6-8 p.m. There are minimal meetings and video, and absolutely no study hall!

How long does a season last and how many matches does it include?

Here in UAE, the season in only three months. It started in December and ends in March. We only have five other teams in the league, so we play everyone twice making it 10 matches in the season. In Spain, there were 10 teams, we played everyone three times, plus cups and tournaments. Other leagues were typical of the Spanish league I was in.

Talk about the adjustments you had to make moving to another country; living arrangements, transportation, etc.

Here at Al Jazira I live in a five-star hotel. So that is awesome, however it has been different adjusting to living in a hotel. There is 24-hour security, so they know what you are doing at all times. All other teams I played on gave me an apartment, which is much more comfortable. I can’t complain about maid and room service and next day laundry. Most teams gave me a car to drive, but here I have a taxi and driver service at my disposal.
 
What language are you required to use on your team?

Here we speak English. In Spain we spoke Spanish. Austria and Slovenia both spoke English. Typically the coach talks to everyone in the native language, then looks at you and tells you in English.

What are your goals as a professional volleyball player?

To make money and not have a real job as long as possible. Winning the inaugural season championship here in the UAE was definitely memorable. Long term, it’s to make money, travel, experience different cultures and always have summer off to play beach volleyball.

How did playing at Missouri State prepare you as a player and a person for playing overseas?

Coach Stokes taught me how to deal with all types of situations, both on and off the court. Not getting into the NCAA Tournament my senior year at MSU left me dying to play more volleyball. Now I can decide when my career is over.

What aspect of Bears volleyball would you have brought with you?

“Bear time!!!” Everyone is always late for stuff here in the Middle East and Europe. I am the only player in the gym 15 minutes before practice starts. The lack of structure and organization definitely wears on me.

Describe the playing and training schedule and what it’s like to play in different countries each week?

Here in UAE we only play other Emirates so we only travel within the country. In the past I have traveled all over. My favorite was playing in the Canary Islands. Gorgeous place and fun volleyball. We typically play on Saturday nights in every country. You practice all week for one game on Saturday, which is much different than college where you play twice a week. That is also why the season is typically August through April.

What level of fan support and interest is there at your home venues and on the road?

Again, first season here so we are lucky to get maybe 100 people. Austria was sold out because we were in the national finals, which was an amazing experience. I was a best-of-five series, and we lost in the fifth game in the fifth set on national TV in Vienna. I was devastated, but got a sweet silver medal.