"for sure the emotion of that last point was something I had never experienced before and was absolutely incredible! It gets me so pumped to get back in the USA gym this summer."

My biggest victory in my career is today. Each day that I can wake up, walk into the gym and give 100% effort is a victory. No matter if I am injured, tired or homesick, I am where I am because of my work ethic and I think that’s a victory in itself.

When you're a kid, you dream big.  You find what you like and you figure out what the most amazing accomplishment would be in that field and then if you really decided to go after it, you have find the path that will take you there.

The biggest challenge when I first joined the National Team was figuring out the dynamics of competing everyday and still finding ways to have friendships.  In college, you were all a part of the team.  Sure there was still competition, but you weren't fighting to make rosters. 

The alumnus of "Five Questions" dot the globe and come from a variety of perspectives and religious affiliations. We can all agree, "Peace on Earth, goodwill towards man" is a pretty solid idea!  Four of the first fourteen “Five Question” participants agreed to re-join the fray for more questions, this time with a holiday slant!

 Kelly brings all the tools to the court.  She is steady and dependable from the back row as a passer, and gives the team extra options hitting from behind the ten foot line.   Her left handedness makes her the perfect opposite, and she hammers the ball from that position. She also adds a extra set of hands on out of systems plays from her years of development as a setter. 

 "I feel so fortunate to come from such a close knit community where parents, coaches, and teachers all have a direct hand in shaping who we become. I’m very much a product of teachers and coaches taking special interest; friends and their families reaching out, when times got tough; to offer rides, hand-me-downs, or just a home cooked meal after a big game."

 "I knew as soon as our conference slate was released, that winning our last three matches – all on the road to good teams – would be tough. It was. The NCAA result for our team this year will serve as both a learning experience for our program and a great motivator."  

Coach Shondell

Coach Rose didn’t just prepare me for volleyball games, he prepared me for life. Life isn’t easy.  I’m forever grateful for that man.

For me, any time I walk in the USA gym is very humbling. Knowing I get to be a part of this program and to represent my country is an amazing opportunity. I’m surrounded by incredible athletes and incredible coaches who only want this program to be the best it can be.

The day after the finals I flew home to Iowa and all of a sudden here I am in my hometown hanging out with my family thinking "Did that really just happen? 

 What can we use in our huddles, boardrooms and dinner tables that was successfully cultivated in the gym at the American Sports Center in Anahiem by this team and their coach.

Clint Hurdle and his staff have made baseball fun in Pittsburgh again, so we are honored that he took the time to pick off our "Five Questions"!

   There are few people who Ellen and I have connected with in the last few years that have remained a part of our story as did Jory Rand.  Jory was a sportscaster at KDKA here in Pittsburgh when he got an assignment just before Thanksgiving of 2010.  Go out to Kiski, report on two coaches battling cancer. 

Courtney is the volleyball equivalent of the hockey "grinder", not afraid to go into the corner and take a hit to make a play, not afraid to take a beating in front of the net to screen the goaltender.  

Along the journey in this amazing story we have captured the attention and hearts of so many great people and amazing athletes.  I have been fortunate to have struck up distant friendships with many of them.  Today takes us in a slightly different direction as "Five Questions" features it's first professional football player, Former Pittsburgh Steeler placekicker Jeff Reed.

 Today, I clicked open the "old" Gmail to find some insightful answers from 

 Team USA Libero Nicole Davis.

So far "Jamming in Five Questions has

explored a Middle Blocker, an Opposite,

 a Outside Hitter, and a (THE) Coach.

Today we sneak inside the mind of a Libero.

What makes Tama Tick?

The sport of volleyball is filled with so many GREAT people, and I shouldn't be surprised by much anymore, but when your inbox has a reply from Karch Kiraly, well it's kind of a big deal. 

One thing I have found in my many years observing volleyball is the well rounded nature of the athletes who compete. It starts with our own high school athletes who year in and year out perform in the classroom as well as on the court.