The name Freidenberg
has seemingly become omnipresent on the UC San Diego sports scene since the
start of fall classes. Julia Freidenberg earned All-CCAA honors as a middle
blocker on UCSD's 25th-ranked Women's Volleyball squad and her twin sister,
Lauren, is well on her way to matching that accomplishment as a frontcourt ace
for Coach Charity Elliott's Women's Basketball team. After starting all 32
games and averaging 20.8 minutes as a sophomore, the 6-1 Lauren has upped her
minutes to over 30 per contest while recording 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per
contest as a junior, leading the club in the latter category. The lefty from
Seattle posted a 17 pt., 14-rebound double double early in the season vs. Grand
Canyon and exploded with 27 pts. and eight boards at Cal State Monterey Bay in
December. Elliott has witnessed Freidenberg's growth in more than just numbers.
"Lauren has a very high standard for herself," says Elliott. "She's stepped
into a leadership role and is trying to do everything she can to help the team.
She's opened up more and is allowing me to coach and challenge her. Clearly,
Lauren is one of our key players." Prior to the renewal of the weekly conference
schedule in January, Lauren Freidenberg, a human development major at Roosevelt
College, spoke about her relationship with her sister, the progress of this year's
youthful Triton cagers as well as her coach and teammates.
Q-You seem very close
to your sister. How and why did the two of you end up playing different sports?
FREIDENBERG-My
twin sister Julia is my best friend!
When we were younger Julia and I tried to be different from each other
in every aspect, so whether it was our favorite color or sports we always had
different preferences. In sixth
grade she chose volleyball and I chose basketball.
Q-Did you ever play
volleyball and Julia basketball?
FREIDENBERG-In
high school I played volleyball.
It was a lot of fun because I was a setter and she was a middle blocker,
so I got to set her in our plays.
On defense we were called the Twin Towers when we went up to block
together. I tried to get her to
play basketball with me every year, and every year I was unsuccessful. However, she does rebound for me when I
go to shoot around at the gym.
Q-Have the two of you
ever gone head-to-head? If so, what was the outcome?
FREIDENBERG-We
have never competed one-on-one in our specific sports of basketball or
volleyball, but we definitely get competitive. When we work out together we're always eyeing the other to
see who is lifting more or who had faster sprint times. Healthy sibling rivalry!
Q-How do you feel
when you're watching your sister compete?
FREIDENBERG-I love watching women's volleyball
compete. They're a very talented
group of girls and they work extremely hard. I get really into their games and tend to get intensely
focused on every point and rally!
My emotions are paralleled to the girls on the court when it comes to
being excited and constantly cheering-I feel like I'm on the court with
them. I am so proud of Julia and I
am very grateful that we attend the same university so I can support her.
Q-Away from the field
of play, at what things do the two of you compete?
FREIDENBERG-Off
the court Julia and I don't really compete, but we definitely push each other,
such as helping each other study.
Random times throughout the day we will run into things that make us a
little competitive. For example,
we share a car so sometimes we battle to see who gets to drive that day!
Q-What do you think
are the biggest personality and skill differences between you and Julia?
FREIDENBERG-We
are actually very similar when it comes to skills. We both enjoy writing, reading, and critical thinking. However, Julia excels in math as well,
which is not my forte in the least.
I prefer science while Julia refuses to take a biology class. Personality-wise we are both outgoing
and enjoy challenges. We differ
with Julia being more of a girly girl, while I am more of a tom boy at times.
Q-You've been part of
two incredibly successful UCSD Basketball teams. This year's much
less-experienced lineup has found winning more difficult. What's the difference
in approach to the game when the team is winning vs. losing?
FREIDENBERG--We
approach all our games with confidence.
We look past our record of winning and losing and our mentality is to
compete and play our game. Although we have had a slow start this
season we know the skill and chemistry our team has built. Controlling the tempo of the game and
giving 100% effort will lead us to success.
Q-What part of your
game do you feel has improved the most since you came to UCSD?
FREIDENBERG--Coming
to UCSD my freshman year I was very fortunate to have my two idols, Alexis
Gaskin and Michelle Osier, as mentors.
I learned a lot from them, whether it was court awareness, confidence,
or post defense. I cannot express
how elated I was when I found out Osier was named as an assistant coach this
season! Coach Elliott, as well as the assistant coaches, have definitely
improved my offensive abilities and confidence to finish strong around the
basket when posting up.
Q-In one word,
describe each of your four fellow starters.
FREIDENBERG-Chelsea
Carlisle: leader; Emily Osga : disciplined; Megan Perry: selfless; Erin Grady:
power.
Q-What do you
consider Coach Charity Elliott's surpassing quality?
FREIDENBERG-Coach
is passionate. She genuinely cares
for every player's success. Our
individual capability to improve and perform at our optimal ability is her
primary goal. The intensity and
energy Coach brings to our team is invaluable. She pushes us athletically and academically so that we can
develop into well-rounded citizens of society.
Q-When things aren't
going well, how does she (Charity) typically respond?
FREIDENBERG-Coach
teaches us to respond to negative situations with resiliency. We are taught to overcome obstacles and
bounce back from them. It is how
you react to a situation that defines the outcome. Coach is a great motivational speaker and inspires us to
fight back when faced with adversity.
Q-What's the best
thing about growing up as a twin? What causes the most difficulty?
FREIDENBERG-The
best thing about growing up as a twin is that I always have someone I can
depend on. We have gone to all the
same schools, share friends, and have created many memories together. I really do feel like twins can read
each other's minds! Although it is
difficult at times because we become too dependent on each other, I would not
trade it for anything in the world.
Q-You're from
Seattle. How would you describe
your hometown?
FREIDENBERG-I 'm
a little biased but my hometown in West Seattle is the most beautiful place on
earth. The ocean and city lights
are the images that instantly come to mind. I won't lie, it does rain a lot, but as a Seattleite I love
the rain!
Q-How is Seattle most
like San Diego? What is the most striking difference?
FREIDENBERG-Seattle
and San Diego are similar with the downtown areas, so many fun activities to do
in one region. The most striking
difference is the nature. Seattle
is very green due to the rain-there are evergreen trees and luscious grass
everywhere-while San Diego has a drier climate. Washington gets all four seasons while San Diego stays nice
and hot all year around. People in
San Diego are also much tanner than people up in the Pacific Northwest!
Q-Besides basketball
(and volleyball), what sport are you best at? What is your worst sport?
FREIDENBERG-I have been skiing since I was three
years old, so I will always have a passion for the winter sport. My worst sport would definitely be
swimming, how do they flip turn?
How do they coordinate the strokes and breathing!? Amazing.
Q-What do you enjoy
doing outside of sports?
FREIDENBERG-Outside
of sports I enjoy reading, going to the gorgeous beaches we are so lucky to
live next to, and every girl's passion-shopping.
Q-On your team, who
is the smartest? Most fun-loving? Has the most fashion sense? Is the best cook?
FREIDENBERG-Our
team is very talented at many different and random things. I'd like to say we are all intelligent
since we attend UCSD! Magda
(Usher) has great fashion sense, (Erin) Grady will win American Idol once she
auditions, and Nicole (Anderson-Jew) makes delicious sushi to name a few.
Q-Can UCSD rebound to
make this year's NCAA Tournament? What will it take?
FREIDENBERG-I have no doubt we will
make it to the NCAA tournament. We
are on the brink of a breakthrough.
Controlling the pace of the game by maintaining our aggression and confidence
for all 40 minutes is the ingredient for success. Consistency is the key.
Previous Q & A Articles
Christian Hatch (Men's Basketball) December 24, 2011
Blake Langland (Men's Swimming & Diving) November 27, 2011
Sarah McTigue (Women's Soccer) November 8, 2010
Brandon Yee (Men's Soccer) October 11, 2010
Bryce Madsen (Men's Water Polo) September 23, 2010
Annette Ilg (Women's Soccer) September 9, 2010
Ricci Luyties (Women's Volleyball Head Coach) August 24, 2010
Kevin Messey (Head Athletics Trainer) July 7, 2010
Dan O'Brien (Baseball Head Coach) June 18, 2010
Christine
Merrill (Women's Track & Field) June 14, 2010
Vance Albitz (Baseball) May 11, 2010
Erik Elliott (Men's Tennis) May 3, 2010
Kelly Fogarty (Women's Track & Field) April 23, 2010
Liz LaPlante (Women's Tennis Head Coach) April 15, 2010
Kirby St. John (Baseball) March 24, 2010
Dan Perdew (Men's Swimming) February 28, 2010
Calvin Ross (Men's Volleyball) February 20, 2010
Nicole Saari (Softball) February 4, 2010
Brad Kreutzkamp (Women's Water Polo Head Coach) January 18, 2010
Tyler Acevedo (Men's Basketball) January 4, 2010
Dr. Cliff Kubiak (UCSD's Faculty Athletic Rep) December 18, 2009
Chelsea Carlisle (Women's Basketball) December 9, 2009
Carianne Cunningham (Women's Swimming) November 23, 2009
Elena Inouye (Cross Country) November 6, 2009
David Morton (Men's Water Polo) October 28, 2009
Juan Pablo Carillo (Men's Swimming) October 19, 2009
Sara Spaventa (Women's Soccer) October 10, 2009
Karen Reis (Women's Volleyball) October 2, 2009
Daniel Pavitt (Men's Soccer) September 23, 2009
Daniel Anderson (Cross Country) September 11, 2009
Peter Gresham (Men's Water Polo) September 2, 2009
Alexia Zatarain (Women's Soccer) August 24, 2009
Elaine Chen (Women's Volleyball) August 12, 2009
Jared Kukura (Men's Soccer) July 30, 2009
Dawn Lee (Former Women's Soccer Standout) July 8, 2009
Rob Mamula (Director of Athletic Performance) June 18, 2009
Garrett Imeson (Baseball) June 8, 2009
Leon Baham (Men's Track & Field) May 21, 2009
Kristyn Lesovsky (Softball) May 8, 2009
Kazumi Negishi (Men's Tennis) May 5, 2009
Laiah Blue (Women's Track & Field) April 16, 2009
Ryan Andre (Men's Crew) April 2, 2009
Josh Tanner (Baseball) March 24, 2009
Anju Shimura (Women's Swimming) March 7, 2009
Stephanie Bocian (Women's Water Polo) February 20, 2009
Lauren Chastain (Softball) February 5, 2009
A.J. Maulhardt (Men's Basketball) January 28, 2009
Annette Ilg (Women's Basketball) January 22, 2009
Steven Hardy (Men's Swimming) January 13, 2009
Frank Fritsch (Men's Volleyball) January 5, 2009
