Q & A With Volleyball's Claire Kilpatrick
7/30/2015 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The third installment of Meet the Bearkat volleyball team features libero Claire Kilpatrick.
A junior from Arlington Martin High School, Kilpatrick averaged 4.31 digs per set as the Kats' libero last season. She was a two-time Southland Conference “Defensive Player of the Week” award winner. She totaled double-digit digs in 26 of her 30 appearances.
Sam Houston has earned eight consecutive Southland Conference tournament berths and finished among the top three teams in the league's final regular
Question: How old were you when you started volleyball?
Claire: I started YMCA volleyball when I was eight, and then started club volleyball at eleven.
Question: What is your favorite volleyball memory?
Claire: Traveling with my teammates and coaches. The long bus rides bring out so many fun games and crazy stories. We get so much closer and we always end up dying of laughter!
Question: Who is your favorite athlete?
Claire: Misty May-Treanor, of course!
Question: What are your favorite TV shows?
Claire: I've been obsessed with Pretty Little Liars since I was in high school, but my all time favorite shows are I Love Lucy and Friends.
Question: What's the most fun part of volleyball practice?
Claire: The best part of practice is definitely when we get to play six on six. The competitive side of all the girls comes out and the energy is always high!
Question: What's the least fun part of volleyball practice?
Claire: Warming up before we play isn't always fun or easy, but coach likes to change it up to keep things interesting.
Question: If you could visit anywhere, where would it be?
Claire: I would love to go to Switzerland someday. Traveling through the mountains would be amazing!
Question: What is your favorite thing about Sam Houston?
Claire: I love the size of the school. I can walk around campus and almost always see a familiar face.
Question: If you didn't play volleyball, what sport would you be playing?
Claire: I would probably be playing basketball. It was the last sport I played before choosing volleyball.
Question: Any pre-match superstitions?
Claire: I don't really have any superstitions, but the team always listens to music to get the girls pumped up for the game. We also throw a mini football around the court to warm up our arms a little bit.
Question: What music pumps you up to play?
Claire: Michelle or Shelby will usually plug in their music and it never fails to get everyone ready to play.
Question: What are your personal goals heading into the season?
Claire: My main goal of course is to win conference as well as the conference tournament. My personal goal is definitely to work hard enough to earn Libero of the Year.
Question: What are your hobbies?
Claire: I love to read whenever I have free time.
Question: What is your favorite food?
Claire: I love fruit and pretty much any kind of pasta.
Question: What social media site do you use the most?
Claire: Instagram!
Question: What is your favorite holiday?
Claire: Christmas! With the food, decorations, and family, it's all around the best time of the year.
Question: In three words, how would you describe yourself?
Claire: Determined, smiley, and caring
Question: What piece of advice would you give to younger players
Claire: Take full advantage of everyday. It all goes by so fast, and you don't want to wish you worked harder after it's all over. Give your all, have fun, and have no regrets.
Claire Kilpatrick and the rest of the Bearkats begin the 2015 volleyball season on Friday and Saturday August 28-29 with four matches in the annual Sam Houston Invitational Tournament at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.
Tickets are available online at www.gobearkats.com . Sam Houston students and faculty-staff are admitted free with presentation of their BearkatOne card.
