Q&A with volleyball player Ashley Youngs

Q&A with volleyball player Ashley Youngs

Aug. 8, 2001

Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions? “I always say a prayer as I am lacing up my volleyball shoes.”

Q: Who do you model your game after?“Kim Pruitt, former Florida Atlantic volleyball player, she was my club coach and she could jump very high. She was also awesome at defense.”

Q: If you could play another sport at Miami, what would it be?“I would like to play basketball. I have played it since I was in third grade and I am going to miss it very much.”

Q: What is your greatest athletic moment?“My basketball team this year had only four high school members on the team. The rest were middle school players. We played in the district championships and were a definite underdog. However, we won by three points and I scored 24 points. It was so amazing because my school had not won districts in girls’ basketball in 9 years.”

Q: What is the biggest thrill in your life to date?“Probably finally making my college decision with the University of Miami. It was so sudden that I did not expect this was where I would end up.”

Q: If you could play in any arena in the world, what would it be?“I would love to play in Madison Square Garden in New York City with a huge crowd like they always have.”

Q: Who is the toughest player (college) you have faced?“I would have to say Elizabeth Tyson. I played her in club and she was awesome. Then I found out she is one of my teammates!”

Q: If you were selecting a volleyball “Dream Team”, who would be the first three players you would pick?“Misty May, Logan Tom, and Lauren Cacciamani.”

Q: When you played volleyball as a kid, who would you pretend to be?“I wanted to be like all the older girls that were playing on the courts next to me.”

Q: Who is a current or former Miami athlete you most enjoy watching perform?“I would have to say Craig Erickson. I am a little biased because he is my neighbor, but I also enjoyed watching Santana Moss because you never knew what he was going to do next.”

Q: What is the best thing about the University of Miami?“I would have to say that it is one of the few schools in the country with top athletic and academic programs, and also location, location, location!”

Q: If you could be a superhero, who would you be?“Xena, the princess Warrior. She is so strong and is not scared of anything.”

Q: If you were not playing college volleyball where would you be? “I would probably be going to FSU since I am a converted Hurricane and living a pretty boring life.”

Q: What is the best advice you have ever received?“Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Don’t give up on your dreams because they could always come true.”

Q: If you could invite three people to dinner in history, who would they be?“Jackie Kennedy, my grandma, and Princess Diana. I think it would be an interesting dinner.”