Sept. 23, 2011

WASHINGTON - Senior captain libero Tory Rezin (Morris, Ill./Morris) is poised to lead her team into BIG EAST play for the final time in her collegiate career. As a two-time captain, she touched on the surrealism her career has brought her, and what it's like to lead a young group into tough conference opponents. Despite having a multitude of freshmen to lead, she knows they'll step up to the plate and contribute in the ways she expects them to.

GUHoyas: Halfway through the season, are you comfortable with the status of the team?

Tory: I believe so. We started off slightly rocky, but where we're at right now, we're consistently getting better and the team is happy with how we're progressing every week.

GUHoyas: How has being the captain helped amplify the vocalization during matches and helped given the team a voice to turn to during games?

Tory: I know the team has a lot of respect for me, and being a senior on the team I've been on the court more than most of the squad, and considering there's a considerable amount of freshmen on the team I'm one of few people with ample experience. My team trusts me to help them go out and ably perform every match.

GUHoyas: The team is 8-5. (Head Coach) Arlisa (Williams) has said there are some games she would like to have back. Do you feel the same way, and if so, which ones?

Tory: Undoubtedly, I'd like to redo our California match. We didn't compete the way we usually do which is wholly disappointing. Also, I'd take back the George Washington match. We should've taken that in three sets, but we didn't take care of our side of the court, and we broke down.

GUHoyas: How has the team accepted the losses and used those to look to the future?

Tory: We use it in practice knowing we have to work that much harder to prevent losses of that caliber again. We watched a lot of video on the matches and realized that we committed a lot of errors on our side of the net. From then on, we've addressed the issues more in practice, keeping the players more accountable, and lessening the leniency for everyone so they know what needs to be done. We learn to push each other more.

GUHoyas: What're your emotions now that the preseason is officially over and behind you moving forward into BIG EAST conference play?

Tory: For me, it's foreign because it's my last preseason. It feels like yesterday I was a freshman walking onto the court, but I'm excited, and I feel the team is ready to engage in conference play. We're going into BIG EAST play with a lot of confidence, which will help us compete and get to the BIG EAST tournament.

GUHoyas: A few weeks ago upon your arrival in Berkeley, Ashley Malone amongst a few players returned to California for the first time in their collegiate career. For you, this will be the second time returning to Illinois to play DePaul. If you remember, what was it like during your sophomore year to return home?

Tory: It was awesome. I had a lot of friends and family in the stands. When we played DePaul with my friends and family in attendance, that's when I broke the record (for most digs in a single season), so it was exhilarating just seeing everyone in the stands and having them see me play for a collegiate team instead of high school tem or club team. I'm extremely excited to go home, and I know our assistant coach (Sarah Cullen) is excited as well. It feels good to go back home.

GUHoyas: How do the emotions and perceptions differ from returning home your sophomore year to your final time in your senior year?

Tory: In my sophomore year I was nervous because I was consumed with wanting to put on a good show for my friends and family. This year, I'm not nervous now. I'm just more excited and focused on the task at hand, which is to be 2-0 this weekend against Notre Dame and DePaul.

GUHoyas: Opening up conference play for the final time in your collegiate career, what emotions and states of mind play into that?

Tory: Excitement and determination come to mind. We have a good chance of making it to the BIG EAST tournament. I wanted us to play hard and consistently, literally every single game. Whether we're home or away, I'm thrilled to see what this team will do this season.

GUHoyas: How proud of you about the four freshmen that you have on the team, considering that in any particular rotations, it's been out of necessity that all of them have to play alongside you and the only other senior, Ashley?

Tory: With respect to our team, our freshmen have been amazing. They're a little quiet, but we've been playing big teams that have juniors and seniors. I'm proud of the girls on the court and off, so I'm more than pleased, and I love playing with them.

GUHoyas: Coming into the season, what were the expectations for not only yourself but also the Hoyas?

Tory: We wanted to be more consistent, and in the past we haven't been. We wanted to be more aggressive and scrappy, so that more balls didn't hit the ground without maximum effort. We also wanted to make it to the conference tournament. This is the year to make it with this group of girls.

GUHoyas: Halfway through the season, have the expectations changed in any way?

Tory: Nothing has changed. Since the preseason, we've said we want to play every game like it's our last. We've kept up with our goals, strived to maintain them, and looking at other conference teams we want to be in the top five at the end of the season. I feel along with everyone else that we have the potential. If we play like we have, it'll be achieved through the end of the season.

GUHoyas: The other day, someone from your hometown paper asked me when you were possibly going to break the career digs record. You have 1,432 on the season, and the record is 1,575. What're your priorities in terms of succeeding with the team, and coupling that with attaining the record?

Tory: My first priority is the team and where we end up at the end of the season. If I play hard, I achieve the record. I don't go through pregame and calculate how many digs I need per game to stay on track. While it's on the back of my mind from time to time, it's not in the forefront because my focus is the team and lead the team the entire time.