You know how they perform on the court, now get to know your UC Davis women's volleyball team a little better off it with the first installment of our "At The Net" feature. First up, redshirt sophomore animal science major and defensive specialist/libero, Rachel Churilla, who hails from Calumet City, Illinois.

"CUT SHOTS" (i.e.: SHORT ANSWERS):
One thing you can't live without… my waterbed, I tried to go without it my freshmen year in the dorms and my body was NOT happy!
One word to describe you… EXUBERANT
Favorite game show... BIG BROTHER!!!
Favorite movie... The Notebook
Favorite actor... Owen Wilson
Favorite actress... Jennifer Aniston
Favorite TV Show(s)… One Tree Hill, Hannah Montana, Stranger Things, Zoey 101, Friday Night Lights, Awkward, and The Office

"EXPLAIN YOURSELF:"
I became an Aggie because...
I had three things that drew me to UC Davis while in high school: I wanted to attend a school for pre-vet and UC Davis is the best place to be for veterinary medicine. I wanted to go to school in California because I am originally from Southern California (Redondo Beach) and, lastly, I wanted to play competitive collegiate volleyball. Davis offered everything that I was looking for.

UC Davis women's volleyball will be fun to watch this year because...
We have some amazing players who love playing together and we bring all the excitement and energy the fans love to see onto the court! Be ready for "Gunrock Mode Activated!"

My favorite place on campus is (and why)…
Not a typical place you'd think of…The parking structure next to The Pavilion because my friends and I will have picnics in the back of my jeep and watch the sunset. It is the best place to watch a sunset in Davis and enjoy a break from studying with friends!

My favorite pre-match ritual is...
Listening to hype music with my teammates in the looker room and dancing! I also love our "haka" which is a ceremonial dance or a cheer we do before each game.

The best advice I have ever received is/the worst piece of advice I ever received is...
Best advice - "Hard work beats talent when talent isn't working hard so who cares if you're short and play volleyball just keep working hard.
Worst advice - "Just get really good at the skill you have to perform." You should learn all of the skills for any sport because you never know you might show up to the first day of practice and do a cooperative drill where you play all positions and need to know how to hit!!!

Toughest team/school I have ever played against is...
Cal Poly last season or Stanford for post season (after they just won the national championship!)

Toughest player I have ever faced is...
In practice I would say Emily Allen. In a game either Torrey Van Winden (Cal Poly) or Kathryn Plummer (Stanford)

The most memorable place I have ever played a volleyball match was (and why?)...
Illinois State because winning a state championship my senior year of high school with friends I have played with my entire volleyball career before college was a memory I will never forget and we beat Marian Central Catholic, which we lost to in conference and their record was 42-1.

Do you have any unique stories about yourself that set you apart from your teammates?
Soccer was my first sport until my senior year of high school when I decided I loved volleyball more. Even though I was better at soccer, I wanted to play volleyball because I had to work harder because of my height which gives me a greater sense of accomplishment than soccer ever could. I am also a three-time junior national martial arts champion and I flew all over America for 10 years competing in tournaments.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up (and why)?
Veterinarian because I love animals!

The team I would most like Coach Conners to add to the UC Davis schedule is (and why?)...
Either Stanford, so I can play against my cousin Natalie Berty, or Northwestern because a lot of players I played with or against in high school play there!

If I could play any sport OTHER than volleyball it would be (and why?)...
Soccer because I love the sport and almost played in college! Or… gymnastics because other athletes always mistake me for one of the gymnasts so maybe I would be a really good gymnast! I should make a call to Coach John Lavallee after my volleyball career!
 
What would you like to be doing in 10 years?
Retired and spending the rest of my life on a beach in Hawaii! But in reality… I would like to be living in either Southern California or the Midwest working as a veterinarian, starting a family.

If I was stranded on a desert island and I could only bring one thing it would be (and why?)...
Standup comedian, Chris D'Elia, so at least I can be happy and laughing before I die on a stranded island if no one comes to save me.

I would like to switch places for one day with (and why?)...
My dog so I can see if being a dog is more relaxing and fun since you don't have to go to work or provide for yourself. It is basically like being a baby, but all your life! All you have to worry about to eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom!

My favorite volleyball moment...
Winning state!

My favorite quote/saying/one-liner by Coach Conners (so far)…
Before our first game last year – "This match is only a small part of our lives. Think of how much this game matters to the universe, the world, America, California, UC Davis, the team, and then yourself. Now think about how much this game will mean to you in 30 years, 10 years, or 1 year. It is just one game that won't affect the rest of your life, so go leave everything out on the court and have fun because it is over before you know it." It wasn't exactly that but it was pretty close.

If I could invite three famous people to dinner I would choose (and why)…
1)    Chris D'Elia – the funniest guy I know. Clearly by all my responses I really value laughter and joy haha.
2)    Will Ferrell – another hilarious actor and a classic
3)    Steve Jobs – smartest person I could think of. He skipped so many generations of technology with apple which no other product or company has ever come close to doing.

If I could have a super hero power it would be (and why?)…
To freeze time because when you play a sport in college and have school it feels like there is no time and you are always busy! I would like more time to nap! They say it only gets harder after college in the real world and time is of the essence.