This week The Lafayette takes a timeout with freshman setter Maria Balus who has been selected as Patriot League Rookie of the Week three of the last four weeks.
You’ve had three rookie of weeks in four weeks, what is your reaction?
Definitely really cool to experience that. I actually never really found out until one of my
teammates mentioned it, and I thought that was really cute. They’re like, “Can we all just say
congrats to Maria, for getting Rookie of the Week, again.” Oh my god, it’s really cute, kind of
also embarrassing, but really sweet of everyone.
The first part of season has obviously been good for you, how has the transition to
college volleyball been?
It really helped that we had full preseason to kind of start us off. My team has been really, really
helpful in making sure my transition is a lot easier than it would normally be without them.
It seemed like last year the setter position had a question mark for the team, what’s it like
filling that role for Lafayette as a freshman?
That one was a pressure situation, but obviously something that I had a lot of support coming
into it. Definitely hard to immediately step into that role, but I definitely had a lot of help to help
me adjust.
The team recently swept Lehigh. That’s your first experience with the rivalry, what was that win like for you?
It felt so amazing. The last point of the third set was probably one of the greatest feelings I’ve
ever experienced on the court because at the very end everyone just rushed into the middle of
the court like we had won a national championship and we were just so excited to beat Lehigh.
We kind of expected it too, but at the same time it was still just a great excitement to finish that
game.
Volleyball is having a great season so far at 10-4, especially compared to last year. How does that feel for the team?
It’s a great feeling for the team. We have this whole “new team” thing that we’ve tried to
incorporate in our talks together. We do a good job of supporting each other and instead of
crumbling we know how to pick ourselves back up, which I think is a really amazing trait to have
as a team.
What is your biggest challenge for the rest of the season? What team are you most worried about?
Our biggest challenge would definitely be American at this point. They’re definitely a very good
team. We were with them in sets two and three, and I think that we were really close. I think that
we can totally beat them if we put our faith in ourselves and make sure that we push through
and keep our level of play higher.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
I played soccer, tennis, swimming and basketball.
Why volleyball?
When I started high school it was either going to be basketball or volleyball, and I was trying to
think about which one I’d want to focus on, so I could progress further in one of them. My
brother got me started in volleyball and we both continued it throughout high school. I get this
weird, extra kind of adrenaline rush when I win in volleyball, so I really like that feeling, and that
helped determine which sport I wanted to play.
Why setter?
I started off in almost all of the positions except for libero and as a setter I thought that it was a
really big role of the team, like a quarterback in football. I liked being the go-to person in a tight
situation or if we need a leadership role to pull us out. It may not get as much credit as hitters
do, but it’s a really good feeling set up someone else’s success.
Favorite volleyball memory?
In high school we would have buddy bag system. They were my favorite things. They would
provide you with delicious junk food on home game days and you wouldn’t know who it was
from. It was the cutest thing because at the end of the game we would try to guess who it was
from. It was such a fun time being secretive and getting gifts from people.
You moved here from California. What’s been the biggest transition living at Lafayette?
The transition was pretty easy because of how the team helped me fit into my role at Lafayette.
Later on it’s going to be the weather, obviously it’s going to be a lot colder here in the winter. I
still have to go buy my winter clothes.
Favorite sports team?
I’d rather play the sport than watch it. The sport that I watch the most would probably be
basketball. My family is big on the Lakers, but they went downhill.
Favorite ice cream flavor?
Ben and Jerry’s Cinnamon Roll.
Favorite song?
“Weight in Gold” remix.
Favorite quote?
I like the saying, “This too shall pass.” I think it’s very applicable to any situation, because if you
have a sad situation, it’ll pass, and if you have a happy situation, it’ll pass too. But just cherish
all of the moments that you have.