Delaware Sports Blitz is about to get wild as in Wildcat Wednesdays, as we feature student-athletes from Wilmington University every Wednesday.
The next interview is from Wildcats senior volleyball middle hitter Rebecca Rawlinson.
Currently, in the 2019 volleyball season, Rawlinson has 241 kills, 2.23 kills per set, 82 errors, eight assists, 33 service aces, 77 digs, 51 blocks and 354.5 points in 30 games.
Rawlinson earned Third Team All-CACC in her junior season where she had 224 kills,1.87 kills per set, 75 errors, 16 assists, 27 service aces, 89 digs, 34 blocks and 328.0 in 33 games.
Before coming to Wilmington, Rawlinson helped lead Dulaney High School to the Maryland AAAA State Championship in 2015. Dulaney High School won the County Championship in each of Rawlinson’s four years there.
Rawlinson talks about everything from the adjustments in her game she had to make in the jump to college-level and the leadership the senior middle hitter brings to the Wilmington volleyball team.
Check out it below!
How did you start playing sports?
“In middle school, I tried soccer and volleyball by going to different summer camps that were local. My dad was a professional soccer player so he had a lot of connections in that community. However, I ended up liking volleyball.”
What adjustments did you have to make from the jump of high school to college, regarding the sport you play?
“The pace of the game gets a lot quicker from high school to college. My reflexes and reactions had to get a bit sharper coming into college. With that, my focus and mental aspect of the game had to be strengthened, as well as dealing with new coaches and teammates.”
How do you keep yourself in game shape in the offseason for your sport?
”I make sure I have a good clean diet. I try to eat a lot of proteins, good fats, and carbs. I also have a personal trainer at Alpha training, who helps me with workouts that are specific for volleyball.”
What has a former or current coach taught you, that you still use today on or off the playing field?
“My high school coaches always use to remind me that volleyball is 95% mental and 5% physical. With that being said, I always try and keep a focused, intense, and positive mindset whenever I’m on the court.”
What is a typical day for you when the season is in full force?
“I normally wake up at 6 a.m. so I can make breakfast before going to 7 a.m. lifting, which is til 7-9 a.m. After that, I usually eat something again and then take a nap until about 11 o’clock. At 1:45-2:45 we have treatment, before a two-hour practice.”
What do you feel is your greatest strength?
“On the court, I think I am a great blocker. On top of that, I think I bring good energy and leadership to the team.”
What do you feel you are weakest at and how do you work on to improve it?
“I think my offensive game is my weakest. I tend to always swing away at everything. I just need to be smarter and remind myself to use my shots and to work smarter not harder.”
Describe some of the highlights of your athletic career.
“Junior year I was Third Team All-CACC, while leading the team in my past three seasons in solo blocks. This year against USciences I had seven solo blocks.”
What is the best part of playing on a team?
“There’s always someone to lift you up when you’re down. It makes me happy and excited to see other people succeed, which is a huge part of volleyball”
How do you stay motivated during the highs and lows of a season?
“I try to stay focused on the positive moments of my life. My teammates have been a huge part of that, and I’m fortunate enough to have amazing teammates that I can always turn to.”
Why did you choose to play at Wilmington University?
“I chose Wilmington because of the culture. I love the small campus and how close I am with the other teams here. Wilmington is also known for having an excellent and well-respected psychology program, which is my major.”
College Delaware Sports Blitz 