(07/29/09 10:56pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Whitney Thomas will take on a fifth year as a Hoosier athlete – this time wearing a volleyball uniform.Although known for her elite performance on the basketball court winning awards such as the Big Ten’s Medal of Honor, during her high school years Thomas was rumored to have been better with a volleyball in her hands than a basketball.“Many people say I was better at volleyball than basketball,” Thomas said. “That may be true, but basketball was my first love; I started playing when I was four years old.”Thomas has used her four years of eligibility for basketball, but the NCAA allows athletes a fifth year if they play a different sport. Thomas is more than willing to take advantage of that – and so is the IU volleyball coaching staff.“I’m sure all Hoosier fans are happy to see Whitney Thomas in any Indiana jersey for another year,” IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said. “She has always been a fan favorite because of her Bloomington roots, but also because of her style of play. She always gives 100 percent and is a true Hoosier representing all that it means to be a good role model for this University.”Despite a little nervous energy at first, Thomas is making a good transition onto the volleyball team. Having played with Ashley Benson, a middle blocker for IU, on the same high school team and having the opportunity to practice in open gyms with the team during the summer has given her a chance to mesh with the team.Sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin said she thinks Thomas has a lot to offer.“Whitney has a lot of Big Ten experience.” Chaudoin said. “Mentally, she has been in tough situations, and especially with our young team, I feel like that will help us.”With seven new faces on a team of 14, Dunbar said she knows that her players need to draw from wisdom wherever they can get it.“Whitney is an elite athlete that is well-conditioned, and her strength base is fantastic after four years of training here at Indiana,” Dunbar said. “She will help us with her depth in a couple of positions and add insight to our younger players with her experience.”Already accustomed to the workouts and the passionate coaching styles of women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack and Dunbar, Thomas is looking forward to the volleyball season – as are her parents.“They love sports no matter what sport it is,” Thomas said. “They love watching me play and are very excited that they will have one more year.”
(07/08/09 11:54pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As many as 50 million children play an organized sport; less than 1 percent of these make it to playing professionally. IU volleyball’s Erica Short is part of that 1 percent.After acquiring accolades throughout her IU volleyball career such as most career kills all-time and Honorable Mention All-America, Short joined the Carolina Gigantes, a Puerto Rican team, in December. “What I’m most proud of is the fact that she still has passion for the game of volleyball now that college is over,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said. “She chose to continue her career in Puerto Rico professionally, and that hopefully means that we did something right at Indiana to make her still love the game.”Other players from the Big Ten also graced the roster of the Gigantes, with former Penn State and Minnesota players. Despite being college rivals, the American imports for the Gigantes lived together and became like family to one another. Rachel Hartmann, a setter from Minnesota, was one such family member. “It was fun to get to know someone from a different Big Ten team – we were able to share stories and compare experiences that we had at our schools,” Hartmann said.With practice and weightlifting every day and running twice a week, Short said she thought that while the workouts were easier than those of a Division I sport, the games were more challenging “because the girls are amazing” and the recruiting process is different. Imports (new athletes) are constantly brought in from the United States, native Puerto Ricans can be traded, and both fired. In order to get out of a contract, a player either has to break the rules or suffer an injury; it is not an option to decide not to play anymore.“Our oldest player was 36 years old – that is the oldest player in the league, and she was on our team,” Short said.Of course, volleyball was not the only thing the women enjoyed while in Puerto Rico. The team spent time on the beach – shopping, staying at resorts and sightseeing. “I like (Puerto Rico) a lot,” Short said. “I don’t think I would live there, but I could be there six months out of the year to go play. The people are so nice.”During her five months in Puerto Rico, Short acquired some habits that reminded her of home.“Erica liked to buy two things in Puerto Rico: shoes and ice cream,” Hartmann said. “Our house made multiple trips to Baskin-Robbins throughout the week, and I blame her for that.”Although her parents never saw her play with the Gigantes, Short plans to give them plenty of opportunities by continuing to play either in Puerto Rico, or perhaps with a team in Europe. “I want to play as long as I can, and then maybe get a job,” Short said. Looking forward, Dunbar said she believes Short has plenty of years she can put toward volleyball.“I still think Erica has a whole other level she can play at now that she is done with her collegiate career,” Dunbar said. “She was just starting to come into her own during her senior year, so I’m excited to watch her progress during her professional career now.”And, if there aren’t enough perks to playing professional ball, Short was contacted by MTV’s “MADE” with a request to become a “MADE” coach for a future show. Flattered, but unsure, Short wants to think of her schedule with summer classes and the time commitment required before making a decision as to whether she will accept the offer.