Wolfpack Volleyball Freshman Orientation

All five of the freshmen on the 2016 NC State volleyball team have moved in on campus and are enrolled in summer session II classes. GoPack.com recently caught up with each freshman to discuss their first few weeks on campus.

Tori Dozier
Raleigh, N.C.
Setter

Talk about how it feels to be a college student.
"It's really exciting and everything has been great so far. The upperclassmen have been really welcoming and I feel like I've adjusted pretty well. It's definitely a lot more responsibility and time management, but I'm excited and I've made a lot of friends."

Talk about how you felt on move-in day.
"I was so nervous. I was hoping that I would be able to make friends. My rooming situation was kind of weird because I didn't know if I had a roomate or not, but everything worked out. I just had to keep telling myself to stop freaking out and that everything would be okay. You start making friends pretty soon and I made a few on move-in day."

How did you feel sitting in your first college class?
"I was pretty nervous to see the adjustment from high school to college, because everyone says it's so hard. Honestly, so far, it's been easier during the summer because you have so much time and the professors are really supportive. It's cool to see how they're always available to help and they want you to succeed."

What have you enjoyed most about being in college so far?
"Definitely the freedom. You have a lot more freedom to choose how you manage your time and be responsible. You can also hang out with your friends and have fun when you want. It's cool how I get to do a lot more things, but at the same time I have to know when it's time to study and stuff."

What are you looking forward to the most with the season starting in about a month?
"I'm really excited for the season in general and to be able to get on the court and practice with our coaches. I'm really excited to see what our team can do this year after putting all the hard work in the weight room and open gyms. I really think we can do a lot this season, so I'm really excited to see where it goes."

Grace Irvin
Raleigh, N.C.
DS/L

Talk about how it feels to be a college student.
"It feels great, there's a lot more freedom and responsibility and I feel that will help me in the game of volleyball. I have to be accountable and responsible for my actions."

Talk about how you felt on move-in day.
"It was so much at once that I was a little overwhelmed, but I definitely felt a little sad because I'm definitely going to miss my parents. Now that I've gotten into a routine I feel like I can do things by myself and on my own."

How did you feel sitting in your first college class?
"It wasn't that bad, I really enjoy my classes. I'm learning a lot and I'm having fun."

What have you enjoyed most about being in college so far?
"Meeting new people, meeting new professors and taking on new experiences."

What are you looking forward to the most with the season starting in about a month?
"I'm looking forward to winning matches and getting to know the girls better to help create this new culture."

Jessica Kemp
Fort Mill, S.C.
Middle Blocker

Talk about how it feels to be a college student.
"I feel more independent and everything, but at the same time I still want to be kind of dependent. It's exciting to be on your own and be able to make my own decisions."

Talk about how you felt on move-in day.
"Move-in day went really fast and it was Father's Day too, so my parents had to leave around 2 p.m. that day because we started orientation stuff. My parents live only a couple of hours away, so it wasn't that bad but if they did live further, I think I would be sad and excited at the same time."

How did you feel sitting in your first college class?
"It was a surreal feeling and kind of felt like I was here for a summer camp. It didn't hit me until my professor started going over our syllabus and talking about what we were going to be doing the rest of the summer in the class that I was really in college."

What have you enjoyed most about being in college so far?
"I really like the independence, because it kind of makes you grow up and hold yourself accountable for your actions."

What are you looking forward to the most with the season starting in about a month?
"I'm looking forward to getting in Reynolds Coliseum and seeing the facility after the renovation is complete. I've seen all the videos and I think it's going to be something really special and I'm going to remember it for the rest of my life. It's going to be fantastic and I think seeing the facility will get us all motivated, so that we can be the best we can be this season."

Mimi Marion
Excelsior, Minn.
Middle Blocker

Talk about how it feels to be a college student.
"It's really weird because I graduated about three weeks ago now, so it happened really fast. It's fun. I don't know because you have so much freedom, you go home and there is no one there to report back to so I like it."

Talk about how you felt on move-in day.
"I was really sad to move in because it's so far away from home, but when I got here and actually moved all my stuff in I was fine. I'm just really happy to finally be here."

How did you feel sitting in your first college class?
"It was different, but the same as high school kind of. It's different because I felt like I was older and they treat you like you're more mature. It's definitely more of a challenge because the material is harder. It was just a different transition into college courses and teachers."

What have you enjoyed most about being in college so far?
"Meeting people. The summer start program allowed us to get to know all of the other athletes like the basketball girls and the baseball boys and just like every different sport and we're all together. So I think just meeting people has made it super fun and finding out where everyone is from and coming here."

What are looking forward to the most with the season starting in about a month?
"I think I'm excited to get Reynolds finished and have that home gym again and be able to be really competitive and continue to improve with the new coaches and the freshmen and continuing to grow our team and the program with everything being so new."

Lauryn Terry
Columbia, Md.
Middle Blocker

Talk about how it feels to be a college student.
"It feels great, there's a lot more freedom and responsibility and I feel that will help me in the game of volleyball because holding me to be more responsible for my actions."

Talk about how you felt on move-in day when your parents left.
"It was so much at once that I was a little overwhelmed but I felt definitely a little sad like I'm definitely going to miss them but now that I've gotten into a routine I feel like I can do things by myself and on my own."

How did you feel sitting in your first college class?
"It wasn't that bad, I really enjoy my classes. I'm learning a lot and I'm having fun."

What have you enjoyed most about being in college so far?
"Meeting new people, meeting new professors, and taking on new experiences."

What are looking forward to the most with the season starting in about a month?
"Winning more games and getting to know the girls better and helping create this new culture."

North Carolina State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Tori Dozier

Grace Irvin

Jessica Kemp

Mimi Marion

Lauryn Terry

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