First-years Sarah Kempf, Ellie Barker, Maria Nix and Carly Slusser ready for action. Photo by Drew Kosmak.

ROCCO SANTORO | STAFF REPORTER | rsantoro@butler.edu 

“Welcome to the Team” is a Q&A series where the Collegian sits down with first-year 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 this season and some personal tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else. 

This week, staff reporter Rocco Santoro sat down with four first-year players from the Butler volleyball team: Sarah Kempf, Ellie Barker, Maria Nix and Carly Slusser.

Sarah Kempf is a 5’11” setter from Louisville, Kentucky. Photo by Drew Kosmak.

THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: When did you first get into volleyball?

SARAH KEMPF: I first got into volleyball when I was in kindergarten, so I’ve been at it for a long time.

TBC: Why did you choose Butler?

SK: I chose Butler because I loved the campus. I also like the size. I feel like it’s a really good community, and I’ll get to know people really well. I love the volleyball program too. The coaches and the teammates that were here were really supportive, and I get to do nursing too.

TBC: What is your favorite thing to do at Butler so far?

SK: I’ve loved getting to spend time with my team [and] walk around campus, but also we had our freshman orientation, and that was really fun to meet a lot of other people that were not athletes or in classes.

TBC: How much of a difference is there for you adjusting to the collegiate level from high school?

SK: So far, it’s a little bit of a quicker pace. Our teammates and coaches have helped out a lot to make the transition easier, and have been there to support and help us through it, but it is a little bit of a quicker game, so just getting used to it.

TBC: Do you have a pregame ritual?

SK: I usually like to have a good dance party and get hyped before big games.

TBC: Who is your favorite music artist?

SK: I like Rihanna and Megan Moroney.

Ellie Barker is a 6’2” outside hitter from Mahomet, Illinois. Photo by Drew Kosmak.

TBC: Why did you choose Butler?

ELLIE BARKER: I chose Butler because I wanted to go to a school that was somewhat closer to home, and I used to live in the Indy area, so I just thought that I really like this school. I really like the area, and when I came to visit for the first time, I just felt connected to it. I like the program, the size of it, and it’s just a very pretty school.

TBC: Why did you start playing volleyball?

EB: I grew up doing a bunch of things. I was a dancer and it just ended up not being my thing. I got into volleyball because of my height, and then from there it just stuck. 

TBC: What’s your favorite part about volleyball?

EB: My favorite part is probably the team aspect. I love having a group of girls to get along with all the time, and the support from it is just amazing.

TBC: Do you have a favorite volleyball memory?

EB: Last year, my high school team and I won state. We had a very crazy comeback, and it was just a very good season and ending to my high school career.

TBC: What are your thoughts on Butler Blue IV?

EB: I love Blue. My family is a huge Butler Blue fan; my mom loves him, so I think he’s very adorable and a fun mascot.

TBC: What’s your favorite movie?

EB: That’s hard. I’m not a huge movie person, but I think I’d say “Anyone but You”. I’ve been liking that one.

Maria Nix is a 6’0” outside hitter from Concord, North Carolina. Photo by Drew Kosmak.

TBC: Why did you pick Butler?

MARIA NIX: When I got on campus, I could already tell it was different from the other schools that I had visited, and I really respected and liked the coaching staff and their morals.

TBC: What is it like to come from an athletic family?

MN: It’s pretty interesting. I think we’re all really competitive, so even little things like going back to the car or obviously playing each other’s respective sports is pretty fun. But it definitely helped me get to this level.

TBC: How big of a difference for you is college volleyball than high school volleyball?

MN: I would say it’s a lot more disciplined, and the pace is a lot quicker. I think high school does a good job of learning how to mesh with different types of people and a diverse background of girls, but [it is] definitely a lot faster when you get to college.

TBC: Did you do anything else in high school besides volleyball?

MN: I didn’t. I wanted to play basketball, but my mom vetoed that.

TBC: What is your favorite part about Butler so far?

MN: Time with the team and pregame meals right before we play, it’s pretty fun. Like in the locker room, I think we have a really good dynamic on the team, so it’s just really fun to be with the girls, like team bonding.

TBC: What is your favorite animal?

MN: I’m going to go with the orca whale. [I’m] really interested in those, I think they’re really pretty

TBC: Do you have a favorite song?

MN: It fluctuates, but right now I’m going to go with “New Drop” by Don Toliver.

Carly Slusser is a 6’2” middle blocker from Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Photo by Drew Kosmak.

TBC: Why did you choose to play volleyball?

CARLY SLUSSER: I always grew up following my sister’s footsteps. Then I knew once she committed for volleyball, that’s something that I wanted to do too. And just seeing how successful she was, it really drove me to be the best version of myself.

TBC: What was it like to play club volleyball along with your high school team?

CS: It was a very different environment. Club volleyball was way more competitive. High school, I think, was more meant to just have fun, but club was more intense, like we get stuff done here.

TBC: What made you become a middle blocker?

CS: I’ve always been tall growing up, so I was kind of just always forced in that position. Like it or not, coaches are like, ‘You’re the tallest one, you’re playing middle.’ During high school, I played outside, but I always just kind of realized that [middle blocker is] where I’m supposed to be.

TBC: Why did you pick Butler?

CS: There’s something about the atmosphere on this campus that just really drew me in, and I knew that once I stepped on campus, I was like ‘this is home’.

TBC: What’s your favorite part about Butler?

CS: Obviously, I came here to play volleyball, and I think that the facility we play in is just absolutely gorgeous; and it’s really rare and special to be this privileged with what you get. I [also] think the dorms are really nice too, and I like how the classrooms are smaller so you can really get to know your professor and really get the most out of your studies.  

TBC: Do you have a favorite pregame meal or snack?

CS: [My favorite] meal is probably pasta; I really like pasta. Goldfish and a protein shake is good too.

TBC: Who is your favorite Disney character?

CS: Elsa. I really like Elsa.