Feb. 17, 2005

How have practices been going so far for you and for the team?

I think that everyone on the team this year has been incredibly enthusiastic and ready to go every day. This makes practices both a whole lot of fun and very intense. It was a tough couple of weeks when four of our players were gone playing at junior worlds, but I think their return created renewed excitement.

The Stanford Invite finished up yesterday, and Stanford garnered a 3rd place. What are your feelings about how the team did at the invite, and what game do you think was particularly challenging?

I think that we came out very strong this year, with more emotion than any team I've played with yet here at Stanford. To lose to UCLA when the win was so within our grasp was very tough, but it opened up our eyes both to their weaknesses and our strengths, and I believe gave both the team and me more motivation to work even harder every day.

What opponent would you like to beat the most?

I don't like to pick one rival, as I really can't stand losing to anyone, but I would love to beat USC this year, in every game we play them and with a large point differential, just so they know exactly what is coming at the end of the year.

Who is a current or former Stanford student-athlete that you enjoy watching perform?

I really enjoy watching my teammates Laurel and Katie play water polo. It's so fun to see them create something amazing out of seemingly nothing, and to experience the conviction and drive they bring to each game. I also must say that watching Jackie Frank and Brenda Villa play during my freshman year was an awe-inspiring experience. They are two of the most amazing players that I've ever seen, and it was so thrilling to see the kind of skill they could pull out seemingly at will.

What is your favorite sport other than water polo?

I'm not really an avid sports fan, but I've always watching both hockey and gymnastics. I like to play most sports that don't involve a whole lot of long distance running (I'm definitely a water athlete).

What is your favorite class at Stanford so far?

I've had many classes that I've really enjoyed so far at Stanford. I guess my two favorites would have to be Exercise physiology and a class studying the implementation of the Death penalty.

Do you have a favorite professor?

My favorite professor is William Abrams, who taught the death penalty class. He was not only a great lecturer, but was very passionate about the subject manner, and was very interested in us learning as much as possible.

What is the best book you've ever read?

I don't really have one favorite book, as it pretty much changes every time I read something new and excellent, but I really liked the books "Memoirs of A Geisha," the "Harry Potter" books, anything written by Isabel Allende, and "Number the Stars."

What is one moment in history that you wish you could have seen?

I would love to have seen Oregon and California in the days of the Oregon Trail, before there was any buildings or pollution, just totally pristine nature.

Who would you like most to switch places with for a day?

President Bush

If you were going on a roadtrip and could only take one CD, what artist(s) would be on it?

The Rolling stones, Counting Crows, Madonna, and Real Big Fish.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

I would love to be working at Northwest Medical Teams or something of the sort doing disaster relief.

What was the best advice you've received?

My old coach once told me that visualizing was a key to performing. You need to see yourself doing something before you do it. I think that's true in water polo and in life, if you tell yourself that you're going to do something, and see yourself doing it, you know that you can.