North Carolina State University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Mintel
‘Serve and Pass’ with Kassie Kasper
8/2/2017 4:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
With the start of the 2017 NC State Volleyball season rapidly approaching, GoPack.com will be catching up with each member of the team to see how she is spending her summer and how excited she is to start the season. Periodically a Q and A will be posted to the website titled 'Serve and Pass', giving fans an inside look at each player on the squad.
Kassie Kasper
Algonquin, Ill.
DS/L
Describe the trip to Italy.
"The trip to Italy was awesome! I had never been to Europe before, so it was an amazing experience. I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience that opportunity. I had a great time with my teammates."
What was the best part of the trip?
"I think the best part was getting to know our newer teammates. All the sightseeing was also great because I'm super into all the history of stuff, so it was cool to see everything."
How excited were you when you found out that you would be going to Italy the summer before your senior season?
"I was super excited. It was a great experience and I think we all really enjoyed it."
What did you do during the flight?
"I slept as much as I could on the flight there because we were starting our day as soon as we got there. On the way back, I watched I think maybe four movies."
Other than the Italy trip, have you taken any other vacations or do you have any planned?
"Not really, I'm home for a couple days visiting family before we report for practice."
Back to volleyball, how does it feel to be a junior?
"It's pretty crazy how fast the time flies. I'm already two seasons into my career, but it's nice to be considered an upperclassman and I'm ready to take on whatever needs to be done."
What are your goals for the team and individually this year?
"As a team, we definitely want to make the NCAA Tournament this year. Individually, I just want to do anything I can to help us get to the tournament."
Was there anything in particular that you wanted to work on this summer for the season?
"We've been trying to get more consistent in all of the open gyms to be a little better every day. Coach Linda always talks about being a little bit better than the other team for a little bit longer."
What age did you start playing volleyball?
"I started playing when I was 10."
How did you decide on your jersey number 6?
"My club number was 56 because I was a big fan of Mark Buehrle, who was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and he wore that number. Once I got to high school, I had to narrow it down to one number so I picked six and I've stuck with it in college."
What's your favorite sport to watch and play other than volleyball?
"Football is my favorite sport to watch and softball would be my favorite sport to play other than volleyball. (Kasper joined the NC State softball as a dual-sport athlete for the 2017 season)"
What's something people don't know about you?
"I used to kick box when I was younger and I'm a World Champion kick boxer."
When you were a kid, what did you want to do when you grew up?
"I always wanted to get into coaching. When we had all the volleyball camps this summer, it was so much fun teaching younger kids the sport of volleyball. I also really like helping people, so some type of job in the medical field was always on my mind as well."
If you had to give up all your possessions but one, what would you keep?
"I'd keep my phone because if I still had my phone I would still be able to keep in touch with family and communicate with my friends."
Tickets are ON SALE NOW, as single-game tickets are adults - $7, youth (17 and younger) - $5, and groups (15 or more) - $3. Children age two or younger will be admitted free.
Season tickets are also available for adults ($50), seniors/youth ($25) and are ON SALE NOW.
Kassie Kasper
Algonquin, Ill.
DS/L
Describe the trip to Italy.
"The trip to Italy was awesome! I had never been to Europe before, so it was an amazing experience. I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience that opportunity. I had a great time with my teammates."
What was the best part of the trip?
"I think the best part was getting to know our newer teammates. All the sightseeing was also great because I'm super into all the history of stuff, so it was cool to see everything."
How excited were you when you found out that you would be going to Italy the summer before your senior season?
"I was super excited. It was a great experience and I think we all really enjoyed it."
What did you do during the flight?
"I slept as much as I could on the flight there because we were starting our day as soon as we got there. On the way back, I watched I think maybe four movies."
Other than the Italy trip, have you taken any other vacations or do you have any planned?
"Not really, I'm home for a couple days visiting family before we report for practice."
Back to volleyball, how does it feel to be a junior?
"It's pretty crazy how fast the time flies. I'm already two seasons into my career, but it's nice to be considered an upperclassman and I'm ready to take on whatever needs to be done."
What are your goals for the team and individually this year?
"As a team, we definitely want to make the NCAA Tournament this year. Individually, I just want to do anything I can to help us get to the tournament."
Was there anything in particular that you wanted to work on this summer for the season?
"We've been trying to get more consistent in all of the open gyms to be a little better every day. Coach Linda always talks about being a little bit better than the other team for a little bit longer."
What age did you start playing volleyball?
"I started playing when I was 10."
How did you decide on your jersey number 6?
"My club number was 56 because I was a big fan of Mark Buehrle, who was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and he wore that number. Once I got to high school, I had to narrow it down to one number so I picked six and I've stuck with it in college."
What's your favorite sport to watch and play other than volleyball?
"Football is my favorite sport to watch and softball would be my favorite sport to play other than volleyball. (Kasper joined the NC State softball as a dual-sport athlete for the 2017 season)"
What's something people don't know about you?
"I used to kick box when I was younger and I'm a World Champion kick boxer."
When you were a kid, what did you want to do when you grew up?
"I always wanted to get into coaching. When we had all the volleyball camps this summer, it was so much fun teaching younger kids the sport of volleyball. I also really like helping people, so some type of job in the medical field was always on my mind as well."
If you had to give up all your possessions but one, what would you keep?
"I'd keep my phone because if I still had my phone I would still be able to keep in touch with family and communicate with my friends."
Tickets are ON SALE NOW, as single-game tickets are adults - $7, youth (17 and younger) - $5, and groups (15 or more) - $3. Children age two or younger will be admitted free.
Season tickets are also available for adults ($50), seniors/youth ($25) and are ON SALE NOW.
Players Mentioned
DS/L
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