Five Question Friday: CIA’s Delaney McSweeney

<p>We're one week away from a busy President's Day Weekend, and these Iowa Prep players are gearing up!  This week's Prep player is Center Point-Urbana's Delaney McSweeney.  McSweeney, a 6'6 senior MB, was a 1^st team All-Conference, All-District, and 3^rd team All-State performer this season.  She helped the Stormin' Pointers with 300 kills and 82 blocks.  Delaney will be moving on to play volleyball this fall at Atlantic Coast Conference contender Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  She is playing for CIA 18 Black this season. </p> <p></p> <p>Q) What do you most look forward to in 2019?</p> <p>A) “In 2019 I most look forward to ending my club season really well and I am really excited to be on campus at Wake Forest. I can't wait to see what this upcoming summer and fall has in store for me!”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Q) To what or who do you most contribute your volleyball success?</p> <p>A) “I contribute my volleyball success to so many people. My freshman year of high school I got exposed to club volleyball through a guy named Travis Butler, who now coaches for the M1 team in Rochester, Minnesota. After my first year of club, I got a lot of recruiting help and fine tuning of my basic skills from the CIA volleyball club. Also, a man named Patrick 'Sully' Sullivan gives me lessons whenever I am available, and his help has begun helping me step up to the next level, which would be collegiate volleyball. And of course I would be nowhere without my parents that drive me (and fly me) everywhere that I need to be and give up many of their weekends and free time to make sure that I am receiving the best training that there is to offer." </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Q) What is your favorite thing about club season?</p> <p>A) “My favorite thing about the club volleyball season isn't just the tournaments or the practices, and although I love both of those things so much, my favorite part is seeing myself and all of my other teammates grow in the sport and getting to make personal connections with people. I would have never met some of my best friends had it not been for this sport and the situation that I was lucky enough to have. I am really excited to see what all of us do in college next year and to watch us grow even further than we are now.” </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Q) What is the best life lesson volleyball has taught you?</p> <p>A) “I have learned many lessons from volleyball, however, the one that has stuck with me the most is that you can do things that you thought would never be possible. It takes a tremendous amount of effort, hours in the gym, and a lot of feedback, but in the long run, all of it has been and will be worth it. It has made me who I am today, and I cannot imagine life without the sport or the opportunities that it has created for me.” </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Q) What is your favorite club tournament or city?</p> <p>A) “My favorite club tournament…hmm this is a tough one. My favorite tournament and location has always been Denver, Colorado at the Colorado Crossroads Tournament because that is where we got our bid to nationals last year with our third place finish. This year, however, we aren't going to Denver! Instead we are going to Atlanta, Georgia to the Beast of the Southeast Qualifier, and I have a feeling that this tournament might come close to Denver!!”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>