Conversation: Lauren Galler
After spending her freshman season at the University of Nevada, sophomore
Lauren Galler has returned home to Austin to play for the Longhorns.
The 5-10 outside hitter has made an outstanding contribution to the
Texas squad as of late. The depth Galler provides at the hitter position
is the greatest the Horns have had since Head Coach Jerritt Elliott
stepped onto the Forty Acres four years ago. The sophomore to discuss
her transfer to Texas, get her take on a perfect day in Austin, and
to find out what is in her .mp3 player.
This year you transferred to The University of Texas from the University of Nevada. Talk a little bit about your transfer and the differences in the two schools and two volleyball programs.
Lauren Galler: The biggest difference has been the big step up from Nevada to Texas. Texas is a much bigger school, at Nevada there are only about 15,000 and Texas is a huge school and is known for athletics. The way that the program is run here and the things we get to do, like flying on charter planes, having catered team meals, having a great Web site that is constantly updated are all big steps up from Nevada. We worked really hard at Nevada and it was a good experience for me, but coming here in having the opportunity to compete for the national championship and seeing the (national championship) banner everyday has been a huge different. Classes are also considerably harder, it has been a lot of work and very stressful during the season.
You have come back home to play the remainder of you volleyball career in Austin. What has been most special about being able to come home and play?
LG: The most special thing has been not being so far away from my family and having my parents be able to come to the games. My step-dad is a pilot so he was always at my games in Nevada, but my mom was never able to come. Now it is great that they both can come to the games. I get to see my parents, and my niece, my brother, my sister in-law and also my high school coaches have all been to some of the games.
The team's success this year has to help increase team camaraderie, which has been high all season. How have the relationships that you and the rest of the team have formed contributed to the successes of the team on the court?
LG: Team chemistry is very important in volleyball because you can have all the athleticism in the world, but if you can't play together the team is really useless. The flow that we play and the systems we use, it is very important to have that chemistry and to be able to work well together, and work toward a goal. On our team, you know that when you are tired and you are working hard and you are frustrated, that everyone else is right there behind you. They are their cheering you on to help you get through whatever you are doing. It is a really good atmosphere to help us to be successful. I am not sure how the chemistry formed, but ever since I got here everyone has been so welcoming. That is one of the main things I noticed from Nevada to here. Everyone is so ready to accept you on this team, and they want whatever is best for the team. Whoever can give that, (best effort) they want that person there, it is not about politics or anything else like that.
The contribution you have made to the team late in the season and especially in a big win against Texas A&M (Nov. 11). How exciting has it been for you to have the opportunity to make such a valuable contribution and play so well in the match against the Aggies?
LG: It has been an awesome year! Having so many people I know at the games it has been a very welcoming home crowd. It feels really good to be able to come out and play well and contribute to the team. There have been times when I have felt like that I haven't been able to add a lot to the team and it was really nice to come in against the Aggies and do what I needed to do and let all of the hard work that I have doing show. It was a really fun night for me, especially against those Aggies.
You are a left-handed outside hitter. How does being a southpaw change the game for you?
LG: Sometimes being left-handed makes the game easier and it sometimes makes the game harder. When I am hitting, a lot of my teammates tell me that it is really hard to block against me because they are not used to seeing the ball come from that side. They aren't able to read my hand as well or they don't set up far enough outside, and sometimes I am able to cut the ball around the block, where a right-handed player has a lot of trouble doing that. But when I was in middle school, I was a middle blocker like Brandy (Magee) and Bethany (Howden). Now I am not tall enough to be a blocker, but back then it was such a pain because I couldn't run the slides and I couldn't run the quick sets behind the setter because my hand just wasn't out to the right side. Now with Jessica (Curtis) also being left-handed the coaches will ask us to do something and we will say, "we can't do that," and it is nice to have her there to say "No, we really can't do that."
What adjustments do defenders have to make when they are trying to defend a lefthander?
LG: A lot of people will be yelling she is a lefty, but I don't really think that they know what changes to make. I will hear them yelling, but it is really just talk because I don't ever notice them making any adjustments.
A couple of weeks ago I asked Jenny Andrew to describe her perfect day in Austin, Texas. This week I wanted to ask you for a local's perspective on a perfect day in the capital city.
LG: The first thing is that waking up in Austin is nice after living in Reno (Nevada) for a year. My day would be a warm day, preferably during the summer. I would wake up at about 11:30 at the earliest and get a little breakfast at Maudies, probably some breakfast tacos. Then I would put on my swimsuit and go out to the lake on one of my friends' boats. That is one of my favorite things to do. I would stay out at the lake all day and have some of my friends meet us out there to jet-ski and hang out in some of the coves. After that, we would go to Carlos N' Charlies. That is one of my favorite places to go after going to the lake. I would eat dinner there, hang out, and meet people until they close. That night I would want to be hanging out with my best friend Avery. We didn't get to spend a lot of time together when I was in Nevada, but now that I am back in Austin it is really nice because we can just hang out. She is from Austin too, and she usually takes me to places that are more Austin-local places. After hanging out with her I would go to sleep and wake up the next day and do the same thing again.
Fact Attack: Lauren Galler
Favorite Place in Austin? Lake Travis
Volleyball: In the sand / On the court: On the court. The sand is really dirty and it is really hard to judge the ball against the sky (instead of a roof). So I usually don't do to well.
If you're not on the court you're· Sleeping or eating
Which reality show would you be on? The Real World. It is one of my absolute favorite shows. Every season I say I like the best, so right now I like the Philadelphia season the best.
You would rather be· Sleeping or at a movie. I really like movies.
Dinner for four. Who is there, dead or alive? My best friend Avery, and my parents.
What did you eat for dinner last night? Oh my. I'm going to pull a Jenny (Andrew) and have three meals. I had a sandwich from Jimmy John's on the way back from Iowa State, a bratwust because we were in Iowa, and when I got home I went to Popeyes and had fried chicken.
What is in your CD player right now? I actually don't have a CD player. I have an MP3 player and right now I am listening to a lot of rap. My favorite song right now is "Let's Go" by Lil' Jon. I also have a lot of R. Kelly, Lil' Jon and Britney Spears.
Neat / Messy: It depends on how tired I am. Right now, at this point in the season I am pretty messy, but toward the beginning I am neat.
When you think of the University of Texas, you think? Pride, tradition, everything.
