Junior volleyball player Faith Rolwes goes up for a set.
COURTESY OF DEPAUW UNIVERSITY
Junior Faith Rolwes and the rest of the DePauw University volleyball team had quite the weekend at the Berry College Invitational. After the team knocked out the second ranked team in the nation, Rolwes took home the tournament MVP then North Coast Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week and, finally, was named Player of the Week by Division III coaches. The DePauw (TDP) caught up with Rolwes on Thursday as the team was getting set their matchup with Spalding University.
The DePauw (TDP): What do the personal accolades mean to you?
Faith Rolwes (FR): I was just really surprised to get them in general. I think a big part of it, honestly, is just my team. I mean, yeah, my name was under those awards, but it was truly a team effort.
TDP: What were your emotions after upsetting 2nd ranked Emory?
FR: We really came in there with the mindset that we weren’t going to be intimidated by any opponent. We were just going to go all out. So it was really exciting to beat them because we know how good of a program they are, and now it shows how great of a program we are, too.
TDP: You guys still have a fairly young team with only one senior. How special is this group of girls you guys have?
FR: I think we’re really special. My team is extremely close. Even though we only have one senior, she’s a great leader, and it gives underclassmen the chance to be leaders, too. We’re all just having to take on the leadership responsibilities.
TDP: After getting bounced in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season, how does the team get over the hump this time around?
FR: [On Wednesday] we actually just went over goal setting, and one of them was to get back to the NCAA tournament. Before we do that, we have to beat really good teams, and we have to do well in the conference tournament. So we’re just going to keep working hard inside of practice and out.