Butler volleyball welcomed a total of six new faces this year. Photo by Jonathan Wang.

JULIA LORELLI | STAFF REPORTER | jlorelli@butler.edu 

“Welcome to the Team” is a Q&A series where the Collegian sits down with student-athletes who are entering their first season at Butler University. These articles will address why they chose Butler, what they hope to get out of their first season and some personal tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else. 

This week, staff reporter Julia Lorelli sat down with three first-years playing for the Butler volleyball team: Zoe McDonald, Alaleh Tolliver and Torii Starks.

Zoe McDonald is a 6 ‘2” middle blocker from Prairie Village, Kansas. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wang.

THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: When did you first discover volleyball?

ZOE MCDONALD: I started playing volleyball in the third grade, but I started playing competitively in eighth grade because my friend introduced me to competitive volleyball. I also played basketball and I swam, but I fell in love with [volleyball]. I started taking it seriously freshman year. 

TBC: What made volleyball stand out from the other sports that you played?

ZM: It was just a lot more fun. It’s more fun to block or hit a ball than to score. My love for volleyball [kept me going].

TBC: What made you decide on middle blocker as your position?

ZM: I was stuck in the middle by my coaches because I’m really tall. It ended up being my favorite position because it’s the most hype. It’s the most work, but the most rewarding. I’m a workhorse.

TBC: What made you pick Butler?

ZM: I loved the team and the coaches. When picking between schools, I picked [Butler] because of the team and the campus.

TBC: What was it like playing for the KC Power club?

ZM: I loved it. My team was awesome and the girls were my best friends. My coach was super funny and we finished third in the nation. The team was super close and friendly

TBC: How have you adjusted to playing at the collegiate level?

ZM: It’s hard, but I’m used to hard work. Balancing [volleyball] with schoolwork is rough but I’m getting used to it. I’m an exploratory studies major, but I’m looking [into] kinesiology.

TBC: What’s your favorite hairstyle to wear when you’re playing a game?

ZM: I’ve been switching it up lately. I’ve been doing a slick-back bun, but I usually do a messy ponytail.

Alaleh Tolliver is a 5’11” outside hitter from Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wang.

TBC: What made you choose Butler?

ALALEH TOLLIVER: I thought the school was absolutely beautiful. I was looking for a pretty school because then you feel motivated to do things. I also love the coaching staff. I liked the relationship that we had built during the recruiting process. [I thought to myself] ‘I can learn a lot, and that’s one thing I’m looking for’ — [I wanted to] continue to learn and grow as a player. It felt right because I visited other schools, but Butler was the only school where I visited and where I was like, “Yeah, I can see myself going here.”  

TBC: When did you first discover volleyball? 

AT: I’ve been around volleyball since I was six years old. My sister played and I thought it was so cool. I thought she was so good and I wanted to be just like her.

TBC: Did you play any other sports growing up?

AT: No, only volleyball. My sister played basketball but I liked volleyball, and I was also good at it.

TBC: What made you not try any other sports?

AT: My love of volleyball was too great and it took too much time because volleyball was during the fall. Then, club volleyball was [during] the winter and the spring. So volleyball just took up more time and I had no time for other sports. 

TBC: How was playing for the Academy club?

AT: I loved it. I had a great experience. I love all the coaches that I played for. It felt like a family there.  I grew so much as a player. 

TBC: What is your favorite pregame snack? 

AT: GoGo squeeZ. I’ve always been an AppleApple kind of fan. But then I got into the active GoGo squeeZ with electrolytes in it. I like the one that has pineapple and strawberry. 

TBC: If you could pick any athlete to be your teammate, who would it be, and why?

AT: LeBron James. I think he’s so cool. [I like that] he cares about his craft. [He’s] a very competitive player. I feel like he’s so fun to be around; he’s goofy, and I am too. So I like that.

TBC: Do you think your goofy personality is what makes your teammates like you? 

AT: I think so. I try to be friendly to everybody and give people lots of laughs. I feel like it breaks the barrier and [the awkwardness]. I think I’m a lot of fun. 

Torii Starks is a 6’4” middle blocker from Lexington, Kentucky. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wang.

The Butler Collegian: When did you first discover volleyball? 

TORII STARKS: I first discovered volleyball [in] my eighth-grade year in middle school. That’s when I first started playing volleyball. I kind of played all kinds of different sports. So I started off with soccer, basketball and softball. Then I eventually got into volleyball and decided I actually liked volleyball more than I did other sports. 

TBC: What made you like volleyball more than the other sports? 

TS: I would just say my height [is] an advantage. So it was fun for me being able to actually get kills and hit the ball, and it’s a team sport. I just really enjoyed it. 

TBC: What made you pick middle blocker as your position? 

TS: I didn’t actually pick middle blocker. It was kind of given to me, I would say about my freshman year of high school [my coaches] were like, “She’s tall, she’s going to be a middle.” So I’ve always just been told I’m a middle.

TBC: What was it like playing for the Kiva White Ball Volleyball Club?

TS: I like Kiva. It helped me develop more and got my skills up and better than the other club I was at. It was really fun and I think it’s a good club to learn how to get up with the pace and learn skills and practice schedules. 

TBC: How have you adapted to the collegiate level of volleyball? 

TS: I would probably say getting in and actually learning how to keep your schedule on track [with practices], and learning how to actually [lift weights]. When I’m in practice watching others around me develop, it helps me develop [my game]. [I talk] to coaches and [players in my position] about what I need to work on, or what I can fix. 

TBC: What is your opinion of Butler Blue IV?

TS: I actually like dogs. When I saw [that he] was an actual bulldog, I actually really liked it. He’s so cute. I just love everything he does, so I actually enjoy the bulldog.