Faucette guides Volleyball with passion, heart
Dec. 15, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – At the beginning of this 2010 Texas Volleyball season, the fans inside Gregory Gym started an impromptu tradition. Every time senior Juliann Faucette went vertical and cocked that right arm for a kill attempt, the crowd shouted in unison. “BOOM.” Faucette’s dynamic athleticism can certainly charge an arena, and her fiery spirit has also fueled UT into its third-straight NCAA Semifinals. “I've tried to take this team on my back, and have them believe in my vision,” Faucette says. “It's a sweet experience, because our road was very hard. But getting one step closer each time is very gratifying.” With her imposing physical presence and booming voice, Faucette seems a natural leader. She wants to be heard, and people listen to her. But Faucette’s ability to guide this team is rooted in more than volume. “It's been a development. Last spring, I was still a junior and trying to feel the team out and get them to trust and believe in me,” Faucette says. “As the season has progressed, up and down with adversity, the team has really just believed in what we have established here.” More than anything, the Longhorns have believed in Faucette. To help cement UT’s second-place finish in the Big 12, Faucette connected for at least 24 kills in four of five matches in November. Faucette’s then career-high 28 kills helped UT outlast Oklahoma in four sets on Nov. 6. Her next effort on the road against Baylor is now etched in Longhorns lore. Seven of Faucette’s 30 kills came as she helped dig UT out of a 19-10 third-set hole. “Her fearlessness is what makes her special,” setter Michelle Kocher says. “In times of struggle, we look to her, and she’s always confident. She takes everything head on.”
Through the course of this season, the Longhorns have come to adopt the personality of their leader. Faucette is passionate, and on the court, she wears her emotions on her jersey. Her energized nature has been magnified because of the adversity that has shadowed the Longhorns all season. Faucette embraces the pressure, and while her emotions are still apparent, maturity has allowed Faucette to approach each situation with calm confidence. “We can pass, and we can hit, but it's more about our passion,” Faucette says. “Our motto all season has been, ‘Passion outweighs talent.’ We have the heart and will to win.” Ironically, that description fits both the Longhorns and Faucette herself. “Her manner and her confidence just makes the team look up to her,” Kocher says. “It’s special what she has, and it’s invaluable to our team.” |
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