Indiana University Athletics
JULI HILOVSKY: Captain’s Leadership Role Expands During Pandemic
6/18/2020 5:48:00 PM | Women's Water Polo
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.—Juli Hilovsky finished her junior season with Indiana Water Polo this past season, in which she was named a captain at the start. During the 18-game campaign for the Hoosiers she scored eight goals to go along with nine assists, three steals and six field blocks.
With the season ending early due to COVID-19, Hilovsky's leadership duties as a captain only picked up. Hilovsky has had to lead her team remotely during this time when all of the players are away from each other, which could be really daunting on anyone. In an interview with IUHoosiers.com, Hilovsky said that she really enjoyed this task as her teammates are family to her and talking to them individually each week is not a "hassle."
Part of Hilovsky's duties as a captain are to make sure that everyone is staying healthy as well as putting an effort in to get better each day. After a 13-5 season in 2020, which got canceled the week that Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) was set to begin for the Hoosiers, it becomes that much more important for Indiana to improve and build off of their success in 2021. This has become apparent to Hilovsky as she thought the Hoosiers would have "upset" some teams in the MPSF in 2020.
To help with holding her teammates accountable, Hilovsky mentioned that each player puts their daily workout in an Excel Spreadsheet for everyone to see. This makes it easier for Hilovsky to see how each player is improving and she can offer advice when need be. Personally, Hilovsky has been doing a strength or cardio workout each day and she also has the luxury of owning a pool, which allows her to get some pool time in.
As Hilovsky gets ready to begin her senior season with the IU Water Polo, she wants the sport to know how grateful she is to have played it, especially having the opportunity to play at Indiana. Hilovsky's work is not done, however, and with one more season remaining, she wants to know that she gave it her all and left everything in the pool when she is done. When Hilovsky achieves this, she knows she will not have any regrets from her time in the pool.
The full transcription from the interview that IUHoosiers.com conducted with Hilovsky can be seen immediately below.
Q: On how you are communicating with teammates and helping them improve…
HILOVSKY: As a captain it's really important to continue communicating with teammates making sure everybody is improving. The way that we do that is by putting a folder together on Box and we made an Excel Sheet in which we put what workout we did each day that way your teammates know if you're working out. It's just a good way to hold each other accountable and make sure we're all improving.
Q: On what you are able to control right now…
HILOVSKY: There are a lot of ways you can continue to improve during this time. I personally do an at home strength or cardio workout everyday. I fortunately have a pool at home. I'm able to do a little bit of work in the pool on a daily basis as well.
Q: On how you are making sure that your teammates are doing alright during this time…
HILOVSKY: I think it's really important to reach out to everyone individually as well as a team. I try to talk to all of my teammates at least once a week, check in on them, make sure they're doing okay physically and mentally. They're my family. I want to talk to them and it doesn't feel like a hassle or anything.
Q: On your desire to keep improving after 2020 season…
HILOVSKY: Last year was a good taste of the team that we can be. I personally think that last year we would've upset teams and really shown our conference who we are and who the new Indiana Hoosiers are. This season just thinking about that is really inspiring to continue to improve everyday because we want to be back to that position if not better next year.
Q: On how impactful this sport has been for you and how you want to finish your career at IU…
HILOVSKY: This sport has given me so many opportunities including obviously playing at IU. I'm forever grateful for everything that the sport has given me. I want to give back to the sport and finish my career knowing that I left everything in the pool and not having any regrets water polo wise.
With the season ending early due to COVID-19, Hilovsky's leadership duties as a captain only picked up. Hilovsky has had to lead her team remotely during this time when all of the players are away from each other, which could be really daunting on anyone. In an interview with IUHoosiers.com, Hilovsky said that she really enjoyed this task as her teammates are family to her and talking to them individually each week is not a "hassle."
Part of Hilovsky's duties as a captain are to make sure that everyone is staying healthy as well as putting an effort in to get better each day. After a 13-5 season in 2020, which got canceled the week that Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) was set to begin for the Hoosiers, it becomes that much more important for Indiana to improve and build off of their success in 2021. This has become apparent to Hilovsky as she thought the Hoosiers would have "upset" some teams in the MPSF in 2020.
To help with holding her teammates accountable, Hilovsky mentioned that each player puts their daily workout in an Excel Spreadsheet for everyone to see. This makes it easier for Hilovsky to see how each player is improving and she can offer advice when need be. Personally, Hilovsky has been doing a strength or cardio workout each day and she also has the luxury of owning a pool, which allows her to get some pool time in.
As Hilovsky gets ready to begin her senior season with the IU Water Polo, she wants the sport to know how grateful she is to have played it, especially having the opportunity to play at Indiana. Hilovsky's work is not done, however, and with one more season remaining, she wants to know that she gave it her all and left everything in the pool when she is done. When Hilovsky achieves this, she knows she will not have any regrets from her time in the pool.
The full transcription from the interview that IUHoosiers.com conducted with Hilovsky can be seen immediately below.
Q: On how you are communicating with teammates and helping them improve…
HILOVSKY: As a captain it's really important to continue communicating with teammates making sure everybody is improving. The way that we do that is by putting a folder together on Box and we made an Excel Sheet in which we put what workout we did each day that way your teammates know if you're working out. It's just a good way to hold each other accountable and make sure we're all improving.
Q: On what you are able to control right now…
HILOVSKY: There are a lot of ways you can continue to improve during this time. I personally do an at home strength or cardio workout everyday. I fortunately have a pool at home. I'm able to do a little bit of work in the pool on a daily basis as well.
Q: On how you are making sure that your teammates are doing alright during this time…
HILOVSKY: I think it's really important to reach out to everyone individually as well as a team. I try to talk to all of my teammates at least once a week, check in on them, make sure they're doing okay physically and mentally. They're my family. I want to talk to them and it doesn't feel like a hassle or anything.
Q: On your desire to keep improving after 2020 season…
HILOVSKY: Last year was a good taste of the team that we can be. I personally think that last year we would've upset teams and really shown our conference who we are and who the new Indiana Hoosiers are. This season just thinking about that is really inspiring to continue to improve everyday because we want to be back to that position if not better next year.
Q: On how impactful this sport has been for you and how you want to finish your career at IU…
HILOVSKY: This sport has given me so many opportunities including obviously playing at IU. I'm forever grateful for everything that the sport has given me. I want to give back to the sport and finish my career knowing that I left everything in the pool and not having any regrets water polo wise.
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