INTRODUCTION: Natasha White '24 plays a challenging position on the volleyball court – the defensive specialist. She started as a political science major but has switched to English and will add International Relations.
 
When did you first become involved in volleyball?
I started playing (in camps on the local rec-league) when I was in fifth grade.
 
What attracted you to it?
The initial draw was that my sisters played. Mostly, I think, I just wanted an excuse to play with them. Before long, I realized that the game, in itself, was something that excited me and brought me joy.
 
When you were practicing with the team in the fall, what was different from your high school and club practice sessions?
 I think the COVID restrictions gave the team a really unique opportunity to re-focus on the basics. Throughout the fall, we were able to dive into specific technical aspects of each skill that usually only have time to be glossed over during a regular season of competition.
 
Did your teammates offer advice about adjusting to the game on the college level?
Definitely! Everyone has been so awesome about reaching out to check-in and share helpful experiences. I think the lack of a regular season has made things a lot easier, too.
 
The same thing with academics – being able to balance your studies with practicing and being safe from the pandemic?
A huge part of the adjustment has been balancing course load with practice and lift, so making time to study together, grab meals with teammates, and hang out safely has been great. Since everyone's in the same boat with the pandemic, it's reassuring to know how serious the team is about being safe and following guidelines.
 
Have you always been a Defensive Specialist?
I have. Even though I love the position, I regret not branching out a little bit when I first started. I definitely had tunnel vision in terms of my position and missed out on opportunities to develop other skills earlier on.
 
What is appealing about that position?
I love everything about it. One of my favorite feelings in the game is digging a really hard-driven ball or making a save. 
 
In high school, you played with two club teams – Metro Volleyball Club of DC and Volleyball Club Wiesbaden. Where did those club teams play in tournaments? Did you stay in the Metro DC area or did the clubs travel?
My first club team was based in Wiesbaden, Germany, and my team stayed pretty local. On my high school team there, we did a ton of travel and even went to England for a game! After moving back to the US, my club team stayed mainly in the Metro DC area. We would've traveled to Reno last spring for Nationals, but that didn't happen unfortunately.
 
If a friend came in from out of town and had never seen you play before, how can they tell you are playing well (besides successfully digging the ball)?
In general, I try to have a calming presence on the court and not show my emotions too much, but it's always fun to get excited with my team after a good rally. When I'm having a really good game, I play more assertively...so I might be noticeably louder or more aggressive with my serves.
 
When you are home, do you plan to work with any youth programs – coaching, counseling, working behind the scenes, etc.? What do you like about doing that?
In high school, I volunteered as a coach for my club's rec league. I also mentored a few younger players from my high school. With COVID, I haven't been able to do too much coaching, but I look forward to being able to get back into it (hopefully!) this summer.
 
What led you to the University of Rochester?
I was looking for a school that offered top-rate academics in a liberal arts setting and was really intrigued by the openness of the general humanities curriculum. At the end of the day, financial aid was a major factor. Volleyball just ended up being something that worked out, and I'm super thankful for that. 
 
Why did you choose Political Science as your major?
I definitely want to major in English. For now, I'm planning on changing my second major from Political Science to International Relations because I'm much more interested in global trends/cooperation and really like the broadness of the IR major.
 
Do you anticipate joining any campus groups tied to your studies?
Yeah! I've joined the student newspaper (Campus Times) as a copy editor and am looking forward to beginning to write for the paper, as well. This semester I joined WRUR, the student-run radio station and APO, a gender-inclusive service fraternity.