Q&A With Volleyball Player Christina Hernandez
Aug. 22, 2001
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
“I take a nap, listen to club music, stretch and say a litte prayer to get ready to play.”
Q: Who do you model your game after?
“I model my game after Therese Crawford. She played for the University of Hawaii a couple of years ago and last year she was on the USPV Dream Team. She has such a strong work ethic and she still has a love for the game after all this time. Therese worked harder and harder every time I saw her in the gym.”
Q: If you could play another sport at Miami, what would it be?
“I’d love to play soccer. I used to play when I was younger and it’s always been something I like to do.”
Q: What is your greatest athletic moment?
“My greatest athletic moment was when I was training in the Dominican Republic. We were about to play our first match against the Junior National Team and the stands were filled with so many people, and as they started to play the national anthem I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment.”
Q: What is your biggest thrill in your life to date?
“My biggest thrill was making the 18-1 team at Sports Performance (club) and finding out that I was going to go to my #1 pick for college.”
Q: If you could play in any arena in the world, what would it be?
“Although it wouldn’t be possible, I’d want to set up a net at the Coliseum in Greece and play a match against the toughest opponent.”
Q: Who is the toughest player (college) you have faced?
“My biggest opponent yet was City Beach from Southern California. We played them at nationals last year.”
Q: If you were selecting a volleyball “Dream Team”, who would be the first three players you would pick?
1. Logan
2. Misty May
3. Karch Kiraly
Q: When you played volleyball as a kid, who did you pretend to be?
“I used to pretend I was Gabrielle Reece.”
Q: The current or former Miami athlete you most enjoy watching perform?
“I liked watching Santana Moss play football. He has so much speed and does his job well.”
Q: What is the best thing about the University of Miami?
“The best thing about the University is the education that I’m going to get.”
Q: If you could be a superhero, who would you be?
“Wonderwoman.”
Q: If you were not playing college volleyball where would you be?
“I would most likely be attending Illinois Wesleyan University and I would just be your average student.”
Q: What is the best advice you have ever received?
“Hard work actually does pay off.”
Q: If you could invite three people to dinner in history, who would they be?
1. Malcolm X
2. Gandhi
3. James Dean
Q: What is the one moment in history that you would like to have seen?
“I would have wanted to be at the first Olympics.”
Q: What is something that people do not know about you?
“I love to hang out at the beach, have fun with friends and dance.”
Q: What is the one place you would most like to visit?
“I’d like to go to Sydney, Australia.”
Q: If you could switch places with someone for one day, who would it be?
“I’d want to switch places with Bono from the group U2. He gets to hang out with his three best friends everyday and gets to make so many people happy by playing his music. He also helps the needy by doing anything he can.”
Q: Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
“I’d like to be successful in my profession, content with life and still be playing volleyball well.”
Q: If you could bring anything from your hometown to UM, what would it be?
“All of my friends.”
Q: If you won $1 million, what would be the first thing you would buy?
“I would buy a new Mercedes convertible.”
Q: What is one thing you would change about college volleyball?
“I’d like to see it changed to be like international volleyball is played. I like the fact that it will now be speed scoring. Also, even though it’s a small thing, I’d like to be able to wear jewelry. If you had a good luck charm you wanted to wear you would be allowed to wear it.”
Q: What type of volleyball shoes do you prefer to play in (be specific)?
“I like Mizuno shoes. I’ve had the wave spike for two years and they’ve held up quite well.”
