Inside HOKIE SPORTS | Vol. 10 No. 1 | August 2017

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is going to be able to have is and the impact
they’re going to make on this team is going to
be a fun challenge, but one they’re capable of.”
Q: What is going to be the key to
having some success in your inaugural
campaign?
JW: “I think the biggest thing is what we’ve
been talking about. Our season theme is
venture, which is a daring, risky endeavor,
and this team, when they’ve been in the
middle of the pack for a while, it takes risking
and diving into something new to take a step.
Do I think that will be easy? No, but I think
that is going to be the key for this team on and
off the court. Are they willing to risk and do
something that they’re not used to and be able
to make the next step for this program within
the conference and within the country. So it’s
going to be a lot of work. It’s not going to come
easy, but we’re going to keep pushing that
theme with them.”
Q: How has the transition been both for
you and the players?
JW: “The transition has been great. This place
is full of warm Hokie fans that just want to
cheer for our program and pull for players. This
might be the tightest community I’ve ever been
a part of. I truly appreciate that, and my staff
appreciates that. As far as with the players, I
consider them family and have since the day I
got here—and I’ll always consider them family.
When you’re family with each other through
good times and bad times, you’re always
family.”
Q: What are the goals for this upcoming
season? What would you have hoped to
accomplish by the end?
JW: “The biggest goal is to make sure that
these women are becoming strong leaders
that are ready to be CEO’s in their life of
whatever field they want to do. That’s the No.
1 goal because I think the volleyball comes
along with that. Their success on the court
comes when you have that confidence and
have that drive in all areas of your life. So I’m
really hoping that, by the end of this season,
our team continues to get better every single
week on and off the court and that they gain
confidence as we go.”
CARA
CUNNINGHAM