Indiana University Athletics
10 Questions With Amanda Timmers
8/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 17, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Amanda Timmers joins the IU athletics staff this season as the Director of Volleyball Operations. The former College of Charleston standout was a two-time second team All-Southern Conference honoree and MVP of the 2004 Southern Conference Tournament. Timmers recently took the time to sit down with IUHOOSIERS.COM and answer a few questions for Hoosier fans.
IUHOOSIERS.COM will be getting to know the rest of the volleyball coaching staff and players throughout the season, so be sure to check back on Mondays for additional editions of "10 Questions With..."
1. Why did you choose to come to IU?
Coach Dunbar has given me an amazing opportunity to come to IU. There is no way I could pass up working for her and a Big Ten school like IU with so much history and tradition.
2. How are the preseason practices going so far, your overall thoughts?
The players are learning and improving with every practice. They are all getting along really well and I think they'll surprise quite a few teams this season.
3. You played for Coach Dunbar the last two seasons at College of Charleston, what's it like to play for Coach Dunbar?
Coach Dunbar expects nothing less than 100 percent from all her players. She pushes you to be the best player you can be with an unwavering confidence. All of her players will undoubtedly reach their potential and leave the program a success. I am very lucky to have been a part of her program at the College of Charleston and here at IU.
4. Under Coach Dunbar, you had the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament twice. What are your fondest memories of that experience?
My fondest memory is by far beating University of North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament my senior year. They were ACC champs and the favorite to win. We ended up winning, becoming the first team in our conference history to win a match in the NCAA Tournament. It was a great way to end my career.
5. What do you look forward to most about traveling with the team this year?
I am looking forward to witnessing Big Ten volleyball day in and day out. The Big Ten conference is one of the toughest in the nation and I can't wait to have one of the best seats in the house for every match.
My personal favorite travel story would be during my junior year when we ended up having to play University of Southern California in the NCAA tournament in LA. We were able to see Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, Mann's Chinese Theatre, all the fun Hollywood things. It would have been even nicer though if we had ended up winning!
6. With the Hoosiers set to begin the '07 campaign on Friday, Aug. 24, against Western Kentucky, what are your expectations of the season-opening tournament held at Northern Illinois University?
I think we have a good chance of beating all those teams in the tournament. It will be everyone's first weekend of play and we'll all be working out some kinks. We hope to come back 3-0.
7. What's been the best and worst part about the transition from player to staff member over the past few months?
As a player, you never get to see what goes on behind the scenes of running a volleyball program. There is so much that needs to be done on a daily basis. I am still trying to get comfortable with all the duties my job entails.
The best part is by far getting to be a part of a team again. This is a very special time for IU volleyball as we are building a new foundation and tradition. I am so lucky to be a part of that.
8. What is your proudest volleyball moment?
My proudest moment in volleyball would be a match we played my senior year against our big conference rival, Appalachian State. We had to play them in their gym and they had beaten us the first two games. We ended up coming back and winning the next three to take the match. It was the first and only time as a player or coach that my team has come back from an 0-2 deficit to win.
9. Favorite place to be on the Bloomington campus?
My favorite place on campus is "sugar and spice" in the union. I have the biggest sweet tooth and they have the best cookies around!
10. And lastly, a fun question for you ... if there was a movie made of your life story, which actress would portray you?
I think Jennifer Garner would portray me if my life was ever, for some crazy reason, portrayed as a movie. She would do a great job of portraying all the parts of my sometimes quirky personality as well as the athletic components that have been and continue to be such an integral part of my life.
