St. John's University Athletics
Volleyball Q&A: Serving Aces With Alanna Rutan
10/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The St. John's volleyball team is more than half way through its schedule and is knocking on the CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll???s door as it continues to receive votes this week. St. John???s travels to Storrs, Conn., Saturday afternoon to take on BIG EAST rival Connecticut. Recently, freshman right side hitter Alanna Rutan checked in with www.RedStormSports.com to answer some questions about herself, the team and the season so far.
RedStormSports.com: How old were you when you started playing volleyball?
Alanna Rutan: I was in eighth grade, so I guess I would have been 12 or 13 at the time.
RSS: What drew you to volleyball over other sports?
AR: I played softball since I was five, but it was too slow for me. Soccer was an option but there???s too much running. Since I kept growing, I gave volleyball a try. It???s just different than other sports and was a lot of fun. My dad was also much coach in the beginning and we just always had that in common. He would take me to college and beach games.
RSS: Have you ever competed in beach volleyball?
AR: I???ve played in a couple of beach volleyball tournaments.
RSS: After being at St. John???s for a couple of months, what do you enjoy most?
AR: I love my team and the athletic environment here. It is so supportive and friendly.
RSS: Why leave California and come to New York?
AR: Up until February of my senior year, I was set on not leaving California or even San Diego, but then the opportunity to play here at St. John???s came about and it was something different. Both of my parents stayed in San Diego for college and I know they wished they had the opportunity to go someplace else. So I opted for a new experience.
RSS: What do you miss the most from San Diego?
AR: My family, friends and driving my car. Oh, and the beach, wearing shorts and Mexican food.
RSS: What person do you idolize the most?
AR: My parents. It???s hard to explain but its just everything they do.
RSS: Which of your teammates do you look up to? Why?
AR: Patti [Hardimon] is a really great leader and she can jump so high. I???m so jealous. But, I look up to everyone on the team who has been here before. They all have so much experience and I just want to be able to learn at least one thing from each of them.
RSS: Friday was your birthday, the team swept Seton Hall 3-0, and you registered a season-high four kills. What was going through your head?
AR: It was an amazing night. I had so much fun. My mom and sister came in from San Diego and they got to see me play. It???s definitely a night I will never forget.
RSS: What is your favorite movie?
AR: I have a top five ??? Casablanca, Pirates of the Caribbean, V for Vendetta, Little Mermaid and The Graduate.
RSS: What???s your favorite color?
AR: Green.
RSS: What is currently on your most played list on your Ipod?
AR: The Beatles.
RSS: What is your favorite book?
AR: A Prayer For Owen Meany
RSS: What is your favorite food?
AR: Mexican.
RSS: What is your most memorable experience as an athlete?
AR: Besides last Friday, it would have to be my senior year of high school when we played our local rivals Our Lady of Peace for the league championship. It could not have been a closer match. We went to five games and there were so many people in the gym. People were sitting on the floor and standing around. We had to go outside for timeouts because it was just so noisy in the gym. It was our match-point and I went up for an attack and I was blocked.
RSS: Back home you were very active in community service. What was one of the projects you took part in?
AR: I volunteered with Invisible Children. It was started by two guys from San Diego who went to the Sudan and Uganda and made a documentary. They met these kids who would have to travel from their villages to a shelter in the city so that they could be safe from the local rebel group. The rebels would kidnap the children and force them to kill each other and sometimes their own families. My high school raised a lot of money to help keep these kids from danger. After I get more accustomed to New York and St. John???s, I hope to continue the fundraising and awareness education out here.
- Red Storm -
