Indiana University Athletics
From the Sandy Beaches to the Indiana Snow
9/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 22, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -
By Jeremy Rosenthal
IUHoosiers.com contributor
In California, beaches are lined with volleyball nets and kids take up the game before they start school.
In the same way the Hoosier state is known for basketball, the Golden State is known for volleyball.
Senior Kelsey Hall said many Californians start very quickly.
"You grow up and you have the beach right outside," she said. "First thing, you are going to go out there and pick up the sport of volleyball."
Although Hall and freshman Whitney Granado grew up in California, they traveled over 2,000 miles to come to Bloomington and play for IU.
Hall, a native of Murrieta, Calif., can remember a vivid memory of her first volleyball experience. At five years old she saw a sign for a recreation league, but couldn't understand the meaning. Her father explained it and Hall was immediately interested, but learned she had to be at least six years old to play. Hall said she cried and cried and eventually her parents took her to play.
Granado, who hails from Riverside, Calif., started out in softball, but fell in love with volleyball when she started in eighth grade. As she finished her high school career she looked at a variety of colleges including California schools, Texas and schools on the east coast.
Granado said she was drawn to IU because she wanted a change from her small private school. She also said she wanted to experience the four seasons and thought the Big Ten was a great conference for volleyball.
Hall started her college career at UCLA, but transferred after her freshman year because she also wanted a change to experience the four distinct seasons of the Midwest.
IU coach Sherry Dunbar said many kids want to experience something different and step outside of their comfort zone.
"I think a lot of kids want that change," she said. "It also helps them grow and be more independent."
Hall experienced some difficult transitions in coming across the country into a new environment.
She said the most noticeable had to do with the weather change.
"When I first got here I thought a sweatshirt would be fine," Hall said. "Then I learned I needed two sweatshirts and a jacket on top of that. That was hard."
Hall also had not seen freshly fallen snow with no foot prints.
During the spring semester last year students were given a day off because of heavy snowfall. Hall said it was one of the best days of her and life and while others didn't understand why she was so excited, she thoroughly enjoyed the day and went sledding for the first time.
So far Granado has not experienced an Indiana winter and is more concerned with finding her way around campus and being away from home. She said, however, she knows things will be different when the cold months hit.
"When winter comes everything will change," Granado said.
Granado will have someone to turn to for help and said Hall has promised to take her shopping for winter clothes.
Although Hall can't just jump on the freeway and be home in a matter of minutes, she said she has come to love her teammates and appreciate her surroundings.
"I really love the city of Bloomington," Hall said. "That was another reason I think I left UCLA. They didn't have that college town. Coming here the community support is great. The backing of the athletic director and everything is a total change. Athletics are such a big deal here and being part of that is really special. I don't think you get that at other schools."
Hall and the Hoosiers return to action this weekend as they start Big Ten play by welcoming No. 8 Michigan and No. 16 Michigan State to University Gym for Friday and Saturday night matches; each starting at 7 p.m.
