Oct. 21, 2008
Junior Kelsey Ream didn't start out her collegiate volleyball career at Penn State, but since she has returned home to State College, her dreams have been realized. Read on to learn a little more about Kelsey, including what she wants to do after college is over.
Why did you transfer from Miami to Penn State?
"I was homesick and it just wasn't where I wanted to be. I wanted to be at home and Penn State was always my dream."
Why Penn State?
"I grew up here and always went to volleyball, basketball and football and just grew up a Penn State fan."
What is your favorite thing about being a Penn State student?
"The pride that everyone carries. Everyone knows where Penn State is and how great of an education you get here."
What is your favorite thing about being a Penn State student-athlete?
"When I was younger, I constantly looked up to the athletes that I saw, and now people are looking up to me and the people around me. When I was little I thought these people were super-stars and now that's how people think about us, and that's really cool."
What is/has been your favorite class at Penn State and why?
"I really liked my HRIM 335 class (Hospitality Financial Accounting), because the professor, Peter Regopoulos, was just amazing. He saw me at a football game and came over and met my parents, he's just a great guy and it was a great class."
What is your favorite place on campus?
"Probably Café Laura. I like the atmosphere in there. I'm usually studying when I'm in there, but it's just a great place."
What is the feeling you get when you put on a Penn State jersey?
"It's a sense of accomplishment and living the dream that I've had since I was a little kid."
When I am not at class or practice, I am ...
"Shopping. Anywhere that has sales."
What has been the hardest part of practice and why?
"Understanding how all of the drills work. My freshman year it was so hard but now that I'm getting in them and know what to expect, it's so much easier."
At what age did you begin participating in volleyball, and how did you get into it?
"I played my freshman year of high school because my sister played in high school, and also because the basketball coaches wanted me to move up to JV and Varsity, which was in the winter, so I didn't have anything to do in the fall."
How would you describe the personality of the team this year?
"Hilarious. We work together so well. We all love each other and have fun together. We hang out with each other even if it's not around volleyball, we just have so much fun."
What is your favorite part of volleyball and why?
"Serving, of course. There's a lot of pressure in it but I like that, and I also like hitting."
Who is the craziest person on the team and why?
"Heather Tice. Well, I don't know. It's a toss-up between Tice and Christa Harmotto. I think Tice is the new crazy but Christa will always, always have that role on this team."
What advice would you give to young volleyball players?
"Work hard and play club. Get out there and have your high school and club coaches talking to people and take your visits as early as possible."
What is your favorite sport (other than volleyball) to watch at Penn State and why?
"Men's basketball and football. Men's basketball because I've always gone to the games since I've been really young, and football because it's such a big sport."
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go and why?
"I would really love to go to Europe and just travel everywhere."
After college what do you plan on doing?
"I plan on working for my dad (at Woodward) and maybe doing an internship with ESPN or NBC to work with the X Games or the Dew Tour."
Who has been the biggest influence on your life and how?
"My mom. She is always there for me and helping me. My dad was more of the person who kept me on the right track and my mom was more of the `you're going to be ok' person."