College Year 1 Perspective: Kristen Birmingham
Our primary focus is on our promising prep volleyball players. We recently had a chance to catch up with some 2021 graduates to hear about their first years on their respective college campuses. It is always fun to get a…
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Continue ReadingOur primary focus is on our promising prep volleyball players. We recently had a chance to catch up with some 2021 graduates to hear about their first years on their respective college campuses. It is always fun to get a peek at their personal experiences and hear their stories. We also feel this is an opportunity for them to give a glimpse into their lives to encourage and possibly prepare the future players. This week we caught up with University of Oklahoma volleyball player Kristen Birmingham. She played her prep ball and Park Hill and finished her club career with Mavs KC. She was among the top players in Missouri her senior year. In her freshman season, She saw action in 21 of 27 matches in her first year for the Sooners. She finished 4th on the team in kills and blocks.
PD: Thank you for answering our questions Kristen, How did your first year of college go?
KB: No problem. It went well in my opinion. Volleyball was a great experience. I really enjoyed my teammates and coaches. My classes went well. It was a fun year.
PD: What did you expect going into your first year of college as a volleyball player?
KB: I expected it to be tough and a lot of hard work. It ended up being as I expected. The preseason is a ton of work. Luckily the summer helped prepare us some for camp. I knew the practice gym would be competitive and I knew we would play some tough competition, which is why I chose Oklahoma. I also knew I would have to manage my time with the volleyball schedule.
PD: How was the year different than expected?
KB: I did pretty good with my time management so I never felt overwhelmed. I didn’t expect to get hurt but it was an eye-opening experience as it showed me the importance of taking care of your body and seeing your trainers as needed. We also didn’t win as many matches as we wanted but we were young and played tough all year.
PD: What’s the biggest difference between college and club/high school ball?
KB: The obvious is everyone is really good. That is in your own gym and the teams you play. There is never an off-night in the Big 12 and non-conference. The speed is also much faster. I think also you have to be smarter with your shots as a hitter. You can’t rely on your power and jumping ability all the time because the other side matches that so you have to mix things up. Also, spring ball is different. Many may think it’s off-season but we work as hard if not more in the spring with morning weights and conditioning, school, afternoon workouts, and practice, then add studying.
PD: What do you enjoy about college and volleyball?
KB: I really love our team. The girls are fun and hilarious. I like Norman and what it has to offer including some amazing food places. I also like being able to travel around the country playing the sport I love. I went to Washington, which I don’t know if I would have ever visited without volleyball along with Morgantown. I was able to attend a couple of football games, it’s live.
PD: What was the biggest highlight of your freshman season?
KB: I have a few. We get a lot of swag, I like swag. One is starting my first ever college volleyball match. It didn’t go as expected but my coaches really encouraged me and I bounced back for a much better day 2. The third is a play I had against KU that was shared on the NCAA Volleyball Instagram that was viewed over 100k times. It was pretty amazing if I must say so myself (laughing).
PD: One piece of advice for aspiring college volleyball players?
KB: Work hard on your game. Everyone at the next level is really good. You have to keep working and not be content with where you are currently. From the college perspective, manage your time well. It can be easy to get distracted and get busy but you have to put the same effort into your studies as with volleyball. As I mentioned earlier, listen and take care of your body. Get treatment when needed and take advantage of the great trainers at your school.