The UC San Diego women's volleyball team is off to another outstanding start, winning six of its first seven games entering conference play. Senior outside hitter Kimberly Carpenter has been a big part of the team's success averaging 2.76 kills per set, including being named to the Triton Invitational All-Tournament team earlier this month. Having already faced three ranked opponents, UCSD will host No. 21 Cal State L.A. on September 12, and host a showdown with No. 1 Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 26. Carpenter recently took time to answer a few questions about being a student-athlete on the UCSD women's volleyball team.
Q- How do you feel about the UCSD women's volleyball team's non-conference performance this year?
CARPENTER- I think that this year we have a great group of girls. On and off the court, we have already forged a really great chemistry, and that shows in our games. I think the best part is that we haven't even hit our stride yet as a team, and we've already done well. It only goes to show that we have nowhere to go but up, and I think we're going to go all the way.
Q- In four of UCSD's seven games this year, the Tritons have lost the first set. What does the team need to do to improve this trend?
CARPENTER- We are a very stable team, as we have shown already. It takes a lot to rock us, and I think we just need to channel that stability into more intensity and aggression on the court.
Q- Your top three collegiate kill totals have come against Cal State L.A. and CalStateSan Bernardino. Do you feel extra motivation when playing stronger competition?
CARPENTER- We definitely try to make each game the same, but of course, it's only natural that having that extra competition gets all of us fired up even more to play the best volleyball we can.
Q- What is your relationship like with the rest of the senior UCSD women's volleyball class?
CARPENTER- Closer than close. These girls are my family, my sisters, and I love them all. There are no other girls in the world that I would rather play this sport with, or share my senior year with.
Q- What do you plan to do with your Aeronautical Engineering degree?
CARPENTER- Well, I plan on possibly going into the Navy but definitely in to the Astronaut Corps. That's my absolute dream job, and I've wanted to do it for years.
Q- What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
CARPENTER- I actually love writing and drawing. I spend most of my free time writing novels, and drawing in my sketchbook.
Q- What has head coach Tom Black done for your UCSD volleyball experience?
CARPENTER- UCSD Women's Volleyball would not be UCSD Women's Volleyball without Tom Black. He has absolutely made me the best player I could possibly be. His intensity and drive have made this program what it is. He is a great coach, and I am very grateful that I got to play for him for four years.
Q- In your opinion, who has the toughest serve to receive on the team?
CARPENTER- Probably Janessa Werhane or Michelle Torres. They are both great players, and their serves are very tough, because they are very fast, and they tend to float a lot.
Q- How did you spend your summer?
CARPENTER- I spent my summer working at Northrup Grumman, where I am an intern, and going to summer school.
Q- What other sports do you enjoy attending at UCSD?
CARPENTER- I love going to all the sporting events that I can, but I especially enjoy going to Men's Volleyball, Basketball, and Water Polo.
Q- Is there a specific song you like to hear before taking the court?
CARPENTER- Of course! I bump Rage Against the Machine, and I love the song Just Like You Imagined by Nine Inch Nails.
Previous Q&A Articles:
A.J. Kotanjian (Men's Water Polo) September 2, 2008
Peter Akman (Men's Soccer) August 21, 2008
Natasha Belak-Berger (Women's Soccer) August 15, 2008
Jake LaVieux (Men's Cross Country) August 8, 2008
Dr. Penny Rue (Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs) July 30, 2008
Michelle Torres (Women's Volleyball) July 15, 2008
Jon Pascale (Men's Soccer Head Coach) July 1, 2008
Julie Ertel (Athletics) June 16, 2008
Clint Allard (Men's Basketball) June 9, 2008
Jen Myers (Women's Crew) May 27, 2008
Casey Ryan (Men's Track and Field and Men's Basketball) May 21, 2008
Keith Noe (Baseball) May 13, 2008
Liz LaPlante (Women's Tennis Head Coach) April 30, 2008
Sydney Gstettenbauer (Women's Water Polo) April 22, 2008
Sarah Hendy (Women's Track and Field) April 17, 2008
Eric Leserman (Men's Volleyball) April 9, 2008
Danielle Lukk (Softball) April 4, 2008
Chris Franco (Baseball) March 24, 2008
Dan Perdew (Swimming) March 18, 2008
Evan Hsiao (Swimming) March 9, 2008
Eric Rubens (Men's Tennis) February 27, 2008
Melissa Ward (Softball) February 20, 2008
Cameron Sprowles (Fencing) February 13, 2008
Kim Hockett (Women's Water Polo) February 6, 2008
Trevor Decker (Baseball) January 31, 2008
Jordan Lawley (Men's Basketball) January 23, 2008
Jason Spangler (Men's Volleyball) January 5, 2008
Andrew Skewes (Men's Diving) December 26, 2007
Alexis Gaskin (Women's Basketball) December 17, 2007
Aubrey Panis (Women's Swimming) December 2, 2007
Andrew Hatch (Men's Basketball) November 26, 2007
Kevin Klein (Men's Cross Country) November 12, 2007
Kim Adams (Women's Volleyball) November 7, 2007
Ben Miller (Men's Water Polo) October 31, 2007
Alie Avina (Women's Soccer) October 19, 2007
Charity Elliott (Women's Basketball Head Coach) October 15, 2007
