Feb. 23, 2005
1. This Friday's game against St. Peter's is Senior Day. What is that going to mean to you?
It's obviously going to be an emotional day, but we have a game plan and we want to stick to it and come out focused and ready to play. We still have a few more games left and we have a job that we want to get done, we want to win out the rest of the season. I think we'll have to put our emotions aside and though the first few minutes will be sad, once the game starts we need to focus and play our game.
2. The team has the opportunity to clinch the MAAC regular season title with a win on Friday. What does that mean to the team to be able to clinch that while still having a game left?
That would be amazing. Last year, we were a good team and we had a lot of firsts so I think we want to build on that and continue to play well and hope that we can again win the MAAC and keep going.
3. St. Peter's is the only team left that you haven't beaten and you took a tough 52-51 loss to them in December. What is the feeling within the team going into this game?
I think going into this game, we're definitely a different team than we were at the beginning of the season. Losing to St. Peter's was a tough loss and obviously we're at a different point in the season, we're playing well and we have a lot of confidence. I think we're just going to go into the game and try to stick to our plan and keep up our defense and hope to come out with a victory.
4. As a senior, what did you try to do to help pull this team up after starting MAAC play at 0-3 (last place) to now be 13-3 (first place)?
I just tried to be a role player, someone the younger players could look up to. I'd been through it and I tried to use my experience to teach the younger kids. Hopefully they can learn from me, Keller and Vetter since we have been here for four years. I know when I came in as a freshman, we were one of the bottom teams in the conference, but since then, we have definitely made a mark for Marist and put the school on the map. A lot of teams see that we have improved and we're one of the top competitors now.
5. After being picked to finish seventh last year and winning the title, Marist was definitely an underdog that had success. This season, the team came in having lost several key players but you have managed to go 19-6 so far. Does this group still feel like underdogs?
In the beginning when we were losing, I think it upset us that we weren't playing as well as we knew we could. And it was the same thing last year - we were picked seventh and we proved a lot of people wrong. I think even now a lot of people still don't believe in us, but maybe they are starting to realize how good of a team we are. We just play well together as a team and we all believe in each other and I think that's the difference. We are a team and we don't rely on anyone in particular, we just go out and get the job done.
6. Can you compare this year's team to last year's team or the experience of the season in general?
It's tough to compare. Last year, we had a lot more seniors and we were more experienced while this year we have a lot of younger players and new people. There are five freshmen and Fifi as a transfer who are trying to learn the system and get in and get experience. I think throughout the season we have come together and are playing as a team. Keller and Fifi obviously do most of the scoring for us, but as a team we get it done on defense and I think that is what's gotten us where we are.
7. How much of a challenge was it for you as a senior to lead this team that had only nine returning players (from last season) and eight newcomers?
It's been hard to only have the nine of us. Like I said, we are a young team and we knew that we had a lot of young players coming onto the team. I think it was important in the beginning of the season to do a lot of team bonding to get everyone on the same page and realizing that we could be good. I think the upperclassmen had to really teach the younger kids with our experience as we pulled everyone together.
8. In your four years, you've seen a coaching change and also been a part of the program that went from having losing records to winning a MAAC Championship. What was it like to have such a wide range of experiences?
My four years have definitely been an up and down kind of ride. Coming in the first two years we weren't as successful as we would have liked, but Coach Giorgis came in and he really brought this team to the top of the league and we've proved a lot of people wrong. Now we are one of the top competitors and other teams have seen what he has done with our program and now they are out to get us.
9. What would it mean to you to win the MAAC Championship this year?
I think it would be even better than last season because we set the mark last year and came back this season with the goal to repeat and I think it would just build on that. Hopefully we can get this program going on the right track and set the standards for those who are coming in for the next couple of years.
10. Do you have any plans for after college yet?
I'm planning on continuing school to get my masters in education. I'd like to get a graduate assistant position coaching somewhere, so I can then hopefully pursue a future in education.
Next up:
Senior guard Megan Vetter
If you have any questions that you'd like us to ask Megan, please e-mail dara.ely@marist.edu
