The Beat Goes On For Ducks in Last Spring Tilts
EUGENE - The Oregon volleyball team looks ahead to its last two matches of the spring exhibition season in the upcoming days at McArthur Court with matches vs. Western Washington, Saturday, May 2, at 9:30 a.m., and Oregon State, Tuesday, May 5 at 7 p.m.
Fans are invited to attend the free events and see the new look Ducks who said goodbye to a quartet of key senior players last season - Kristen Forristall, Gorana Maricic, Marija Milosevic and Katie Swoboda - although several may be on-hand at the events, especially since Milosevic and Swoboda are wrapping up spring term of classes.
Here's what two of them - Milosevich and Swoboda - had to say when GoDucks tracked them down to see how life's treating them after Duck volleyball.
Q: Marija, what have you been up to lately, and is there still more volleyball in your future?
MM: “At the moment, I’m enjoying the great spring weather, especially playing beach volleyball around campus or near my apartment (laughter). I’ll go home for about 1 1/2 months this summer and get ready to hopefully play for a club team in the fall, with practice probably starting in August. My manager has talked to some different clubs in Europe in Greece, Croatia, and other places, too, or maybe even Japan or China, so we'll see what happens."
Q: What types of summer activities do you have to planned at home in Serbia in the interim between graduating and club volleyball?
MM: “I’ll use the summer to try and get in shape, and I might even play a few beach volleyball tournaments. It’s fairly big there in the summer in big cities. It’s fun to play beach since it’s so different than with a team. It makes you develop a whole new set of skills and techniques, so it’s harder in a good way. It’s also fun to be outside in the sun. ... I’m looking forward to seeing my family and friends that I haven’t seen in a long time. At the same time, I’m going to miss all my friends in Eugene. I haven’t started to thinking about how much I'll miss it here, and I don’t want to.”
Q: How are you last few classes going?
MM: "I have three this term - Geography of Europe for my International Studies degree and two political science classes. Nor surprisingly I’m doing pretty good in geography class (She's from Ljig, Serbia), although some of the things we’ve learned are different from what we’re told back there. They said here that the Danube is the biggest river in Europe, while we’re taught that it’s the Volga in Russia. Another examples is that here they consider Georgia part of Europe while they don’t over there."
Q: Have you been back at Duck practice this spring, and what things have you seen that are new?
MM: “I’ve been to practice a few times and played a little in February, and also watched them play Portland State last week. I miss being out there. It’s fun to see some new things: I think they’re hitting more on the left side, Amanda’s playing more defense and is doing great and will improve even more this summer, Emilee (Sisco) is good addition and will help, too. They have all the makings to be really good again next season."
Q: Have you heard from ?G’ (Gorana Maricic) and how she’s doing in her pro career?
MM: “I talked to her two weeks ago. She’s playing professionally right now and loves France ? she’s 20 minutes away from Paris and goes there twice a week. She’s starting for her team, and her team is about to finish fifth in the French First League, and I think there’s 10 teams altogether. She says it’s a lot different than college. One thing she said is that they close the block more than in college so she has to adjust her jump and her hit. She enjoys playing professionally and will soon go home for the summer. She would be interested to go back again if it works out."
Q: Katie, what you’ve been up to since last fall?
KS: “I have kinda been away from volleyball and am a little more focused on graduating with a degree in history this spring and finishing strong academically. I’ve been in the gym playing casually here and there and watched practice some and played a little. I went to the A2 camp for the U.S. National Team in February and that was a great experience, and I got to see and play with some amazing players. (As far as my volleyball future) I’m going to graduate first and see what happens from there. It’d be great to continue playing, especially if I get a chance to go overseas. I’m not too picky about where I would play if it was Europe, since I’ve never been. I’d love to even visit G (Gorana Maricic) in Paris.”
Q: What are your initial plans after you graduate?
KS: "I’ll be moving back to Portland for a little while at least. I’ll be working at various camps in Oregon and Washington during the summer, and will probably help out my mom at the high school and continue my job search. I’m not sure what type of profession I'm heading towards yet, and I might go back to get my master’s for education. I’m not too specific yet."
Q: From watching practice what are some new wrinkles for fans to look for this weekend?
KS: “It’s awesome to have Sonja (Newcombe) in middle back ? being in that position requires a lot of communication and that fits her really well. After a few games she laughed and said she didn’t realized how hard it was. Heather (Meyers) has done a good job in the back, too. It’s also fun to watch the young girls mature ? I remember being a freshman in the spring and how things started to click and you finally feel like you fit into the system."
Q: I heard that Kristen (Forristall) was back last weekend ? what’s up with her these days?
KS: "She actually played professional basketball in Germany over the winter, and got back about a month ago. Soon after she got back she also got engaged, and now she may be trying out for the WNBA."
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