Hokie ClubEditor's note: Every Wednesday throughout the offseason, we'll catch up with volleyball student-athletes for five questions.
Kaity Smith | Fr. | OH | Florence, Ky.
Q: Take us back to your first collegiate match when you pounded down 30 kills. What was it like starting off that well at the college level?
SMITH: "I didn't think I was going to get anywhere close to 30 kills in my first collegiate game here at Virginia Tech. I have always wanted to play volleyball as a college athlete so being able to do that and be able to achieve 30 kills was a dream come true. I was extremely excited about that accomplishment."
Q: The rest of the season went pretty well, too, as you were on the All-ACC Freshman Team. How did that honor make you feel?
SMITH: "I think it is a really awesome opportunity that I got to work with my team day in and day out to perfect our skills together. I definitely wouldn't have gotten this amazing honor without my teammates behind me working as hard as they can."
Q: What are one or two things you are working on this offseason to improve your game?
SMITH: "Really maximizing the opportunity to focus on what I need to do in order to be a better teammate and leader for my team. Also, focusing on extra reps, not just in the gym, but also in the weight room."
Q: This Saturday is the team's first tournament of the spring. Are you excited to compete against some other teams?
SMITH: "I am really excited to see what we are capable of. We have worked extremely hard during the offseason. We have gotten a lot stronger and a lot faster with the help of our strength coach, [Allison] Randall, she has helped us out tremendously with not only our conditioning and lifting but also our mindset. We have been working on the little things that will help us continue forward and into the season. I can't wait to see what we can do as a team together this upcoming season."
Q: The rumor is that you would like to be in the CIA or a cop someday. If so, what's your goals in the classroom and after you graduate to make that a reality?
SMITH: "I am going to focus on keeping up with my grades in the classroom. I am going to do everything I can to be the best in my double major, (Criminology and Sociology). I am leaning towards being a cop in the CIA for about five years for experience, then moving towards being a spy and going overseas.