Jenna Mape
Senior- Volleyball

You recently opened your season on the road in North Carolina and returned home with a 2-2 record. With such a young squad this season, how encouraging is it for you to return home with a .500 record?

We were looking to do better. I definitely think we could have been 4-0 or at least 3-1. We just struggled with putting the little things together.

You open your season at home this weekend. How much of an advantage is it for you to host a tournament at UB to open the season?

We are so excited to play at home. With so many newcomers that haven’t played in the arena-- they’re so excited. For us veterans to be playing back on our court-- we’re so excited too. It’s so much different playing on your home court. Your friends are there, your family is there and the excitement of being at home is definitely an advantage. The whole pre-season we played in the triple gym, and we didn’t even play on our home court, even for pre-season.

You have played for two different coaches during your career at UB. Was it difficult to make the transition from playing for the coach that recruited you to playing for a brand new coach?

Not at all, actually. I was a little nervous to meet the coaches, but when I met Jim in his interview he stood out so much and he just gave off the greatest vibe. He was just so enthusiastic to come here and start working with us, that when he finally did get here, we were so pumped. He works really well with us and I have complete faith in him and the coaching staff.

What is your role as an outside hitter?

We play in the left-front and in the middle-back. We’re the primary passer and we assist in the middle with blocking, we hit higher balls in the middle. We’re kind of like the last resort or the final option. We’re basically power hitters.

Last season you recorded 274 kills. Prior to that, you had recorded 23 in your career. What do you think sparked such an offensive explosion in 2005?

I think it was the confidence I gained from working with (coaches) Jim, Ladi and Tucker. Coming in, I was so shy and so reserved. I had a lot of confidence issues and self-esteem issues and working with the new coaching staff just brought out a whole new player in me-- offensively and both on and off the court. I just gained a whole new confidence and a whole new outlook on life, pretty much.

You have had some very memorable experiences with your Canadian Club team, Canuk Enigma, including winning provincials and Canadian Nationals. What made you decide to play collegiate volleyball in the U.S.?

There were only three of us that went down to the U.S. My mom played college volleyball in Canada and she actually played for the National Team and she never really pushed anything, I just made my own decision. I wanted to do something different, almost like move out and be on my own. Buffalo just seemed like the right fit with great academics.

You are one of three players along with Brandie Clark and Trisha Miazga that are from Canada. What is it like to have such a strong Canadian presence on the team and how has it helped you as a student-athlete?

We joke around with it, but we really love that there are three of us. Brandie is from back home, I played with her, I played against her and its kind of like she came from home with me, so I had a support system in her.

Last season you missed five matches with a shoulder injury midway through the season. How hard was it to come back from that and what have you done to prevent the injury from reoccurring?

The hardest thing about coming back was when I was starting to improve, but not enough to play. It was hard sitting on the bench and watching my team and knowing I couldn’t do anything. Once I slowly did recover, it wasn’t too bad to jump back into it. The coaching staff worked with me a lot and the training staff worked with me a lot so recovery was pretty quick. In terms of preventing it from happening again, I just have been doing extra rehab. It was a freak accident, a last resort dive. I just landed on it wrong.

This being your senior season, what goals do you personally have for the 2006 season?

My coaches this year have told me expectations that they hope I reach and because I truly believe that they believe in me, I just want to meet those expectations and exceed them.

What has been your favorite moment as a UB student-athlete?

Last year, Football’s homecoming. I think “Uncle Rico” and “Pedro” were here. Even though I was in a sling, we have a picture of me in the sling with “Uncle Rico” and “Pedro” and that was just a great time. We marched around and our whole team was just crazy because we are obsessed with that movie (Napoleon Dynamite).

“The 10 Questions With…” feature is compiled by Jackie O’Brien

09/01/2006