Joanna Schmitt Online Journal No. 8

NORMAN, Okla. --
Oklahoma outside hitter Joanna Schmitt continues her player journal to take fans behind the scenes as the Sooners attack the 2004 season. The Sooners are off to a 11-10 start. As for Schmitt, she has tallied two MVP awards during the non-conference season and is ranked ninth in the Big 12 with 3.99 kills per game.

Before she prepared for her home match with No. 10 Texas, Joanna checked in with SoonerSports.com to talk about the season so far and answers questions from fans. This is the seventh installment of Joanna's journal. There is a link at the bottom of the page so you can submit questions for Joanna to reply to in her next entry.

Joanna Schmitt
Journal No. 8 (October 28, 2004)

Hey everyone! Hope everybody is having a nice week. Let's get started with today's journal. I want to thank everybody for all their support that we have been receiving this season.

We had a big win last Saturday against Iowa State (Oct. 23) and we look to carry that momentum through the rest of the season. I think we showed a lot of character and heart in that game. I also feel that game was the first time that everybody had "the look" that we knew that we were going to win that match.

Tonight against Texas we have a great opportunity to knock off a great team in our house. If we play well, I think we definitely can hang around and play with such a great team.

I have to acknowledge freshman Anna Stadel. She has definitely coming into her own. She is a stud and has really come out of her shell on and off the court. I know that Anna will be a great player for OU in the coming years. Already she has shown off her tremendous ability and work ethic. Keep an eye on her the rest of this season and in future years.

Let's go to the questions....

Hey Joanna, how does your student section at OU compare to that of the amazing fans you had supporting you at Deerfield?
Ryan from Deerfield, Wisc.

The fans here have been great. They have gotten better since my first day here. We are starting to get a larger fan base.

The Sooners have made one trip through the league, who do you think deserves MVP honors at the halfway point?
Your Momma from The Womb, Ohio

I think Sarah Pavan from Nebraska is awesome. I think she deserves Big 12 Freshman of the year, if not MVP of the entire league.

Joanna, thanks for answering my difficult question. I understand what you're saying. My new question for you is: What do you think about transitioning from a middle blocker to an outside hitter? Positives and Negatives?
Hilary Lobenstein from Deerfield, Wisc.

Personally, outside is way better than middle because you don't have to block as much. Blocking really gets you tired. You have to be quick and ready to play defense, because you are pretty much playing defense all the time. I don't think there are any negatives except for having to block all the time.

Joanna, I feel like your talent was a surprise to the Big 12 and even the coaching staff at OU. Who else recruited you? Were you even considered by Big 10 powerhouses like Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State and Illinois?
Tom from Lafayette, La.

I was considered by Wisconsin and Illinois when I was a junior. They backed off because they were a little afraid of my height (5-10), they didn't think I would be able to hit over a Big 10 block. That was a little upsetting at the time, but I'm over it now. Not too many big schools recruited me to be honest. Kentucky recruited me and then a bunch of smaller schools.
What has been your biggest disappointment and your biggest accomplishment in your two years at OU?
Susy from LaClair, Wisc.

My biggest disappointment was probably not getting Big 12 freshman of the Year. It could have put a good finish on a disapointing season in 2003. My biggest accomplishment was starting as a freshman and contributing every day.

If you could choose a starting seven to represent the Big 12, excluding your OU teammates, who would you put at each position?
Bobbi from Lakewood, Texas

First, Sarah Pavan from Nebraska on the right side. Mira Topic from Texas would be on the left side with Shen Danru from Missouri. Melissa Elmer from Nebraska could be a middle blocker. Lindsey Hunter from Missouri as the setter. Texas' Bethany Howden as the other middle blocker and Alyson Jennings as the libero.

Hello Joanna. I don't like to brag, but I think I'm possibly the team's best fan. I always sit right behind the ref at the net and cheer as loud as possible every game. Anyways my question is, do any of the players have any superstitions or pre-game motivation tactics?
Mario from Norman, Okla.

Some of us sit in the same spot every time we talk about anything. We pray before the game. Some people sit in the same seats on the bus ride prior to away games.

All in all, we're a team wth very few superstitions.

Well that's about it for now, I'm going to go hang out with freshmen Lindsay Schuessler and Julie Chester, so I'll talk to everybody later and keep the questions rolling in, I love them! Don't forget to come out and support us.

-#8 Joanna Schmitt

Ask Joanna a Question | Sooner Online Journals

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors