As one of this year's volleyball newcomers and lone senior, Heather Schreiber continued to make her mark on Texas Athletics even after the conclusion of her four-year All-America basketball career.
The opposite hitter and former UT basketball standout from Windthorst, Texas, decided to switch from the baggy, knee-length shorts to snug-fitting spandex in order to join the 2005 Longhorn squad for her final semester at UT.
In high school, Schreiber not only was a star on the basketball court, but on the volleyball court as well leading Windthorst to four-straight state volleyball championships, and was named the state tournament MVP each year.
As one of the nations top recruits in basketball out of high school, Schreiber came to Texas and went on to become a standout for UT. She started every game in four years (133), is fourth in school history in 3-point shooting percentage and averaged 12.7 points in her career.
Recently, Schreiber took some time out from preparation for postseason volleyball action to talk about her five-year career as a Longhorn, what it was like stepping onto the 40 Acres for the first time, being a two-sport athlete, what she is taking with her and word of advice for those who are sure to follow in her footsteps.
Despite the Longhorns' loss to seventh-ranked Hawaii in the NCAA Second Round, Schreiber's contribution to the 2005 Volleyball team will always be remembered.
Q: Do you remember what you felt or what was going through your mind when you first stepped onto the 40 Acres for the first time?
HS: "I remember being overwhelmed by all the people on campus and I was a little homesick at first. But we started basketball practice pretty quickly after I arrived so that helped get my mind off things a lot."
Q: What were you most concerned about from the start?
HS: "I guess just doing well in basketball and figuring out what coach Conradt wanted while still making the grades. I guess pretty much the same stuff that every new freshman worried about."
Q: What was the biggest adjustment you found yourself getting used to?
HS: "It was mainly just the number of people at UT and living in the city. Just seeing so many people around campus and being in larger classes than high school ... I was not used to that at all."
Q: Do you remember the first person you considered your friend here at UT?
HS: "Well my roommate freshman year was Kala Bowers and I think it was good for us to be put together because we had a lot in common. We were kind of competing for the same spot on the court, so there was a little tension at times, but we both wound up playing our fair share so it worked out great."
Q: Speaking of getting used to new things and people, what can you say you have learned over your past few years here?
HS: "Well I guess, a lot of stuff...really too much. The most important thing was that you have to be a team player in every aspect of life. Everyone has a role that they have to accept and perform. Whether it is business, sports or anything else, people have to be willing to do what they are called upon to do in order to be successful."
Q: With that said, what do think you have gained from your time here?
HS: "Definitely I gained a strong network of people. Just playing for coach Conradt, people knew who she was and so they knew who her players were. I have gotten to meet a lot of people I would have never gotten the chance to meet and have gotten to travel to other countries - and just about every state - to play. And have played two sports which is not something a lot of people don't get to do."
Q: Speaking of playing two sports, why did you decide to play volleyball your final semester as a Longhorn?
HS: "Pretty much I was thinking about my future as a coach. I start in January and will be an assistant volleyball coach (in Windthorst). I thought that I needed to learn a few things about it because it has changed a lot since I have played in high school. I thought this would be a good way for me to learn and a great system for me to learn under. Just having the chance to compete again has been really fun."
Q: What was it like getting used to volleyball?
HS: "It was hard because it was so much faster than what I was used to in high school and everyone was so much better. So it took some adjusting to get back into the game."
Q: Would you say that was the biggest difference?
HS: "Yeah, it was the same with basketball at first, but I had a nice buffer from playing AAU and being on a competitive team there. I think that helped my transition into basketball. But coming from a 1A high school volleyball team that played at a much slower pace, to here was an adjustment."
Q: How does heading into postseason volleyball play compare to postseason basketball play?
HS: "It is all the same because your season can be over on any given day so any kind of postseason action has the same feelings and emotions attached to it."
Q: Has it hit you that this is in fact your last season at UT and how do you feel about that?
HS: "Yeah it has hit me, but I am leaving here feeling like I have accomplished a lot. I'm happy that I chose to come to Texas because I don't think I would've had as good an experience anywhere else. I have so many memories and life long friends from here that I can look back on and call upon."
Q: Any regrets?
HS: "Nope, not a one."
Q: What are you taking with you from here?
HS: "Definitely a wide range of experiences that I will be able to share with the teams that I will coach. I also know that I will be able to call up a Hall of Fame basketball coach and an outstanding volleyball staff if I have question about how to break someone's press or how to set up for a particular opponent. I know that they will always be there for me if I need any kind of help, and that means a lot to me."
Q: Any words of advice for future UT athletes?
HS: "I would tell them to do the best the can while they are here because it goes by really fast. Before you know it, it's over, so make the most of your time."
Q: What do you want to be remembered as?
HS: "I want people to remember me as a team player and someone that would do whatever I needed to help my team win. I know that my basketball team will be remembered for things like going to the Final Four and winning two Big 12 championships. My senior class will probably be looked at as a group that did not lose too many games and a group that came to UT to play when the program was not exactly at the top. We were able to contribute, along with the others that joined us and the players on the team now, to establishing UT as a place that some of the nation's top recruits want to come. I think that is a pretty good spot to be in."
