Oct. 11, 2010
Junior outside hitter Kristen Dealy was one of the region’s top all around players last season. The Santa Barbara, Calif., native hits with great power and is one of the league’s hardest hitters from anywhere on the court. Dealy’s overall ability as well as her great demeanor as a player proves her to be an important component for the team’s success. Looking ahead to the Oct., 15th match with DePaul, Kristen sat down with UND.com’s Briana Coyne to tell us more about herself as well as her experiences here at Notre Dame.
What is your favorite thing about volleyball? My favorite thing about volleyball is the energy. When the game is tight and everyone is dialed in and trusts each other, playing can’t be more fun.
How would your teammates describe you? They probably would say I am the smartest person on the team, always on time, never fooling around, and never forgetful. Pretty much, I would say they think I am perfect and very beautiful.
What are some of your hobbies aside from volleyball? Some of my hobbies aside from volleyball are eating, sleeping, eating, playing with puppies at the mall… pretty much anything else that invokes laughter.
What is your major? Why did you choose this major? I am double major in American Studies and Film, Television, and Theatre. I want to go to law school and American Studies is a good feeder major to do so. I added Film and Television because I might want to work in the entertainment industry- and it’s fun.
What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is either “Remember the Titans” or “Elf”. Sadly, I can imitate the Mr. Narwhal voice better than any other character.
If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be and why? I don’t watch TV, but I feel like Arnold from “Hey Arnold” could be fun, because he rocks the funny shaped head and has a sweet room.
What is your most embarrassing moment in sports? I tend to do the splits when I dig and then I can’t get myself out of them or when I tried to back set the ball over the net from the end line on game point when we played Florida State last year. So unfortunate.
How and what do you do to balance your academic workload and volleyball workload? We do a lot of work when traveling, but I tend to procrastinate more than any person I know so I try to manage my time as efficiently as possible.
What was your biggest off-season improvement? I was injured all spring so I didn’t get to play, but I think my leadership capabilities got a lot stronger, and I learned a lot just by watching others improve.
What is one thing in your life you can’t live without? I can’t live without my family and friends. Or music.
What CD do you have in your collection that would surprise people? No one likes any of my music, so anything they did like would probably surprise them. If only I had Taylor Swift, people would freak.
Where would your ideal vacation be and what would you do there? My ideal vacation would be in Greece. I would take everyone I like there and have a ball.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was younger, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grow up. I still don’t. As long as it doesn’t bore me to death and has a recycling bin, I’m down for anything.
What is the best book you ever read and why? The best book I have ever read was “The Birth of Tragedy” by Friedrich Nietzsche. I found Nietzsche’s approach to be such an interesting way of looking at life, which also makes you question the simplicity with which we view our world today.
What four people, living or dead, would you have dinner with? The four people I would have dinner with would be Bob Marley, W.E.B DuBois, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Taylor Kitsch from “Friday Night Lights”, who is SO hot. Talk about an interesting dinner.
What is your favorite part of playing outside hitter? My favorite part of playing outside hitter is that you get to have fun with it. I am expected to hit sets that aren’t perfect, and it’s always a challenge. I also get to play defense and pass, so my attention problem is definitely kept in check.
What is your goal for this season? My goal for this season is to have fun, have everyone feel comfortable, and win- a lot.
What has been your best memory at Notre Dame? Notre Dame Volleyball has pretty hilarious moments. I can’t even choose.
To date, what has been the highlight of your Notre Dame career? The highlight of my Notre Dame career was beating No. 5 Stanford last season in three sets.
How do you think you’ve grown as a person since coming to Notre Dame? Notre Dame is an interesting place in that you are forced to solidify your own identity amidst a group of people who have very strong opinions and beliefs. I have learned how to live and play with a variety of people who are also adapting to such an environment in their own ways, which has been a very beneficial experience. I also gain muscle like it’s my job, so I have grown quite literally as well.