July 15, 2011
CHICAGO - The 2011 UIC volleyball campaign is fast approaching and the Flames, including incoming freshman Lauren Kraemer and Sara Sternard, have been hard at work this summer both in the gym and in the weight room to prepare for the challenges ahead.
Kraemer and Sternard, both 6'2" middle hitters, graduated from high school earlier this year and made a quick turnaround and an important transition to enroll in summer classes and join their new teammates in preparation for the upcoming season. Kraemer is the only freshman who hails from outside the Land of Lincoln, coming to Chicago from Kettering, Ohio, which is near Dayton. Sternard is from Clarendon Hills, Ill. and attended Westmont High School.
UICFlames.com sat down with two of the newest Flames to talk about several topics ranging from why they chose to play at UIC to what they're expectations for the fall are.
UICFlames.com: Why did you choose to come to school and play at UIC?
LK: I was looking at a few schools when [Katie Schumacher-Cawley and Ellen Hayes] e-mailed me. I was on my spring break and I decided to come for a visit. I fell in love with it. I didn't want to be near home. I loved the city. I loved the campus and I love the coaches too. The team was great and it was just different than all of the other visits I went on.
SS: My story is a little different. I was actually set to play basketball in college and I had a couple of offers for that, but I decided that wasn't what I wanted to do. My high school volleyball coach [Deidre Dunbar] called a couple of coaches that she knew and UIC was one of them. I came to check it out and I really loved the campus and I really like the coaches, too. [Head coach] Katie [Schumacher-Cawley] played basketball in college, too, so that was a really cool connection that we developed. It's been really great. I love it here.
UICFlames.com: How has the quick transition been from high school to college?
LK: It was really weird for me at first because I had to adapt to a new city and a new state. At first it was hard because the workouts were killing me and then we had class, but I've adjusted well and I really like it. We've still been able to have a summer and enjoy the city. It's much better than it was before. I'd say its pretty great now.
SS: I really like being here in the summer. I'm pretty close to home still, only about a half-hour away or so. On the weekends, if I want to go see my friends from home, I can, and that's been nice. I've always really liked school, which is kind of weird, so taking two classes isn't that big of a deal at all for me.
UICFlames.com: How has it been getting to know some of your new teammates who are also in the gym this summer?
LK: We're in workouts pretty much every single day, so we kind of become like a big family; we have to be. We have to get along. They're always there for us and we try to be there for them too.
SS: They've been really supportive and helpful for us the whole time.
UICFlames.com: How familiar are you with the Horizon League?
LK: I know a little bit. I live by Wright State back home so I'm probably most familiar with them, but its pretty new to me.
SS: I don't know too much yet. We're starting with a clean slate.
UICFlames.com: Since you're on campus over the summer, what is your expectation for contributing in the fall?
LK: I'm excited. I wouldn't want to be here all summer if it wasn't going to help the team in the fall. We're here this summer to get ready for that. I'd rather be here now and prepare than be here for the first time in the fall.
SS: It's been a great opportunity to get ready for the season ahead of time this summer. If we get to play, that's really cool and I'm excited about that, but at the same we know we're here to work hard and do whatever they need us to do.
<><> Are you planning to take on a leadership role in the fall amongst your class, which features five more freshmen, and help them transition into college?
LK: We're all still going to be freshman at the same time. We kind of know our way around a little bit, so I'll definitely want to help them out with stuff like that.
SS: The upperclassmen have been so supportive and helpful for us and we want to be there for the rest of our teammates.
The 2011 volleyball season begins on Friday, August 26 when the Flames travel to Peoria, Ill. to take on Nebraska-Omaha at the Renaissance Coliseum. The following day UIC will face the host Braves at 4 p.m. The home opener is set for Tuesday, August 30 when Schumacher-Cawley's squad welcomes Western Illinois to the Flames Athletic Center at 7 p.m.
