Forced to sit out the 2014 season after transferring from SF State, 6-foot junior Meagan Wright is being penciled in as a "jack-of-all-trades" by UC San Diego women's volleyball head coach Ricci Luyties in 2015. The 2012 CCAA Freshman of the Year and a second-team all-conference pick as a sophomore in 2013 at SFSU, Wright brings both talent and versatility to this year's Triton squad. "I'm going to ask Meagan to do a lot for this team," says Luties, starting his sixth year at the UCSD helm. "She's one of those rare players that can play every position, and I'll try to use her whereever she can be most involved. I expect her to get a ton of sets and be a blocker I can match up on the opposing team's best hitter. She's the type of player I love having in the gym because she brings an intensity and energy that makes everyone around her play hard and at a higher level." With fall training camp beginning in exactly one week, the San Diego (Bonita Vista HS) native shared her thoughts on last year's redshirt campaign, her new head coach Ricci Luyties, and her hopes for 2015.
Q: How difficult was it to watch the 2014 season from the bench? What was the hardest part?
WRIGHT: It was extremely difficult to sit the bench last year. Like most people, I'm not one who likes to sit on the bench and watch other people play the game I love. The hardest part about sitting was knowing that there was never a chance I could go in.
Q: Imagine you were a "scout". What did you notice last fall that you'd like to see improved with your team?
WRIGHT: One thing our team could improve on would be playing more consistently and not getting comfortable when we take the lead. We need to focus on keeping our heads in the game, and not let the other team think they have a chance against us.
Q: How did being on the sidelines help your game?
WRIGHT: Being on the sideline helped my game by forcing me to stay positive and loud to keep the team's energy up and alive. It's hard to be on the bench in any sport, but I wanted our bench to be the loudest and most enthusiastic. We managed to come up with some pretty cool dance moves.
Q: What type of emotions do you expect to feel when you step out onto the court in your first match this season?
WRIGHT: I expect to feel pretty anxious, but mostly excited and just ready to compete.
Q: What do you intend/hope to bring to the team this season?
WRIGHT: I hope to bring out that competitive drive that I know everyone has. I think our team has great chemistry and love for the game, and I hope to help harness that passion and just leave everything we have out on the court.
Q: It's unusual for UCSD to get a transfer from within the CCAA, much less one with all-conference credentials. What led to your leaving SF State, and how did you land at UCSD?
WRIGHT: I was ready for a change and saw this move as something that would benefit my future. It was nerve-racking because I was leaving my comfort zone, but I have no regrets about making the move to UCSD.
Q: NorCal or SoCal? What are the differences? What do you like the best about each?
WRIGHT: NorCal's weather is definitely more unpredictable, so it's hard to get a good beach day! I love that in SoCal, pretty much any day could be a beach day. In NorCal, though, I love the city life and all the diversity it brings. The best part about SoCal hands down, though, is being close to home where my dog is. My golden Labrador, Fiona, is the most precious dog ever, and I'm so happy I get to see her more often.
Q: How does head coach Ricci Luyties' system and style differ from those coaches you've played for previously? What do you consider his strengths?
WRIGHT: Coach Ricci is one of my favorite coaches. He can be very playful and fun, but knows when to turn into the "tough coach". Coach's style is pretty laid back, but he expects you to be constantly working hard and trying to improve yourself and others. His strengths would probably be everything! Coach really knows every aspect of this game, and it's a lot of fun learning from one of the best.
Q: Even though San Diego is your hometown and you attended nearby Bonita Vista High School, you list the San Francisco Giants as your favorite Major League Baseball team? How did that come about, and how does it play with your teammates? (Editor's Note: We suspect it doesn't play very well with the preparer of this Triton Q&A, Ken Grosse, an avid supporter of the Los Angeles Dodgers.)
WRIGHT: Some teammates give me heat for liking the Giants because they say I'm a "bandwagoner", but I was never a Padres fan, so there was no conflict. I just think they are a well-coached team that plays great baseball and is fun to watch.
Q: Step Brothers got the nod as your favorite movie. What would you rate as the top three Will Ferrell films? Anything you've seen lately that you would recommend to viewers? (Editor's Note: Aforementioned Mr. Grosse knows all Will Ferrell movies verbatim.)
WRIGHT: Oh man, Will Ferrell, Jimmy Fallon and Kristen Wiig are the funniest comedians to me! Step Brothers would be my top Will Ferrell movie, then Old School, and then it's a tie between Anchorman and Blades of Glory. The last movie I watched was My Big Fat Greek Wedding. If you want a cute and funny feel-good movie, then that's a good one. (Editor's Note: Meagan evidently not a fan of summer blockbusters, as that movie is from 2002!)
Q: You live with three teammates-Danielle Dahle, Heidi Sierks and Bailey Turk. What would fans be surprised to learn about each of the three?
WRIGHT: Danielle is a really talented painter and has made a lot of the artwork that hangs in our house. Heidi probably has the best/worst dance moves out of all of us. Bailey has a stuffed animal that she sleeps with every night.
Q: Earlier this summer, you went to Hawaii (at right) with Danielle Dahle. What were the highlights?
WRIGHT: Danielle and I spent most of our time on the beach, obviously. Some highlights were swimming with turtles, laying on the beach every day, and watching the U.S. women's soccer team's (FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal) victory over Germany with a big basket of garlic fries in front of us.
Q: UCSD will host the first-ever CCAA Women's Volleyball Championship tournament, Nov. 19-21 inside RIMAC Arena. What would it mean to win this inaugural event on your home court? Do you think the Tritons have the tools to be in that position at the end of the regular season?
WRIGHT: I think that winning this tournament would really prove to everyone that our program has what it takes to play at a high level and against some of the best teams in the nation. Hosting this tournament at UCSD will definitely give us an advantage over the other teams, and we hope to get a lot of fans out to support us.
Previous Triton Q&A Features
Chase Cockerill (Men's Water Polo) August 3, 2015
Kelcie Brodsky (Women's Soccer) July 27, 2015
Kuba Waligorski (Men's Soccer) July 20, 2015
Nate Garcia (Cross Country) July 13, 2015
2014-15 • 2013-14 • 2010-13 • 2004-09
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