Virginia Elite Volleyball Club

Marguerite Hanna, Virginia Elite Class of 2008, is an outside hitter for Azusa Pacific University, an NAIA School in in Azusa, CA, located west of Los Angeles.  She is a three year veteran of of Virginia Elite and the only member of her collegiate team outside of the state of California.  In her first season at Azusa Pacific, she participated in the NAIA National Tournament.  While taking a break from her busy class schedule and days at the beach, Maruerite answered a few questions for March's edition of "Catching Up."

Virginia Elite Alumni Association:  Asuza Pacific is an NAIA school, how does that differ from the NCAA schools your 2008 teammates chose?

Marguerite Hanna - Class of 2008:  NAIA, or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, provides competitive volleyball. The best teams in the NAIA are the equivalent to a mid-upper level Division 1 of the NCAA. The greatest differences between NAIA and NCAA are the title, recognition, Big Ten, and number of teams. NAIA doesn’t get the same recognition and has fewer numbers of teams.  \NAIA does have unique recruitment system. Fresno Pacific, a team in my conference that won Nationals, has a setter in her mid-thirties from China who played on the Chinese National team.  The awesome thing about APU is my conference is the most competitive in the nation NAIA - the top seven teams competed in Nationals!!  Almost every in-season game is an exciting and close fight.

VEAA:  Of the 2008 class, you travelled the furthest away from home.  What do you miss about Virginia?

MH('08):  The cold weather … just kidding. I really miss my family, friends, great teammates, coaches, and my beautiful yellow jeep.

VEAA:  How difficult is it to remain in class instead of hitting the beach and surfing during a beautiful day???

MH('08):  Some days its soo hard to resist, but I adjusted my schedule to only Monday to Thursday classes so I can spend three-day weekends at the beach! That is my motivation to stay in class. But to be completely honest, as a student athlete most of my weekends are spent catching up on homework and studying.  However, I have been to the beach 11 times since I arrived in California. 

VEAA:  How did playing for VA Elite prepare you to play in college???

MH('08):  The challenge and competitiveness of VA Elite definitely prepared me for volleyball in college. The big transition to college is every coach wants to teach you new techniques and your willingness to learn will greatly improve your game and increase your play time.  I don’t think a college coach out there will ever run you as much as Coach Lowrey though!!  

VEAA:  What is different from the NAIA game vs playing club ball?

MH('08):  The NAIA conference Azusa Pacific plays in is the best in the entire association. The competitive games are fast paced and more challenging than any thing I ever saw in club. Club volleyball greatly prepared me and changed me from athlete to volleyball player! I wouldn’t be half the volleyball played I am today without Coach Lowrey during my 16s & 17s season, Coach Teifer during my 18s season, and the rest of the phenomenal coaching staff at VA Elite!

VEAA:  How do you manage your class schedule and training for volleyball???

MH('08):  It’s tough, especially going to a private school that demands a lot from its students. But where there is a will there’s a way and if you enjoy volleyball then it’s worth every ounce of hard work!  I am fortunate enough to have an academic advisor, an athletic-academic adviser, and myself to help make and check my schedule. However, time always seems to disappear. I am seen running from class to practice across campus in my spandex when time is short though. The hardest part is studying for all the exams, writing the papers, and finishing the homework. Getting to class is the easy part. Sadly this means not every weekend I can go to the beachL

VEAA: What is the one piece of advice you could give to current VA Elite athletes?

MH('08):  Go into college wiling to listen and learn. I guarantee your new college coach has a different system and wants to change your technique - let them!!! While your playing for VA Elite, play and compete because you LOVE THE GAME!!!  If you do not love volleyball now you will hate your freshman year at college!  Enjoy and cherish your coaches, teammates, and your opportunity to play for VA Elite. I held nothing back from my experience with VA Elite and I don’t regret a second of it - do what you love!

VEAA:  Over winter break you participated in the VA Elite Alumni session - how was it seeing your teammates again?

MH('08):  I deeply miss my teammates and it is so hard not playing with them!!!! It was heartbreaking to be back row without Amanda, see Brooke blast someone in the nose, or cheer for Lauren as she bounces the ball inside the ten! I had some of the greatest teammates anyone could ever ask for! But I have gotten lucky again with another wonderful team full of lovely teammates, great coaches, and a super awesome athletic trainer also know as the Yooner!

VEAA:  Now that you live in CA, do you train on the beach at all?

MH('08):  Sadly no, I’m a full half hour from the nearest beach. I never have APU practices there, but whenever I go to the beach I always bring a volleyball! Huntington, Venice, and Laguna are great spots for some intense game!! The local beach players always make us who play indoor look awful but it loads of fun to challenge them anyways!

VEAA:  When you visited with the alumni and the current VA Elite members, how is it different from when you remember playing?

MH('08):  It will start a little quirky but within a couple minutes it’s just like the old times. I fall right back into my old team and how the VA Elite Cobras did it! It’s great meeting the new VA Elite members and encouraging them! I see lots of potential in the club. I’m proud to be part of the flagship team that sparked the club and now I want to see a VA Elite team win a National Tournament!