Junior year presents a boatload of academic pressures for students including taking the SAT and ACT, planning for college and deciding what they want to do with the rest of their lives, all on top of the increasingly difficult homework they are assigned daily. With so much to do in school, it is hard to find time for other activities. Despite all of these scholastic stresses, though, Gaby Siqueiros, ’15, has chosen to participate in three sports this year: volleyball, soccer and softball.

Siqueiros has played volleyball for FC since she came to the school during her seventh grade year, but she is far from burnt out on athletics. Despite daily practices, weekly games and countless hours of training, she still wants to push herself to play to the standards of high school varsity sports. If anything, playing for all these years has caused her to love her sports even more than when she started.

Weimer: What do you most enjoy about volleyball? Why do you play?

Siqueiros: Everything is so fast-paced. In less than a second, the whole play is over and you start all over again. I play because I love how competitive it gets and how you get so close to your teammates.

Weimer: Obviously as a junior you have a bunch of schoolwork to do, but you’re out on the court. What gives?

Siqueiros: Volleyball is just so much fun to play. I always look forward to going to practice and working hard. Volleyball is important to me because I’ve grown to love it, and it makes me feel alive.

Weimer: I know you’re a multi-sport athlete: volleyball, followed by soccer and then softball. Which of these is your favorite and why?

Siqueiros: I honestly cannot choose between soccer or volleyball. Both are tremendously fun and exciting and immensely competitive.

Weimer: Does playing three sports ever get tiring?

Siqueiros: I have to admit, it definitely gets exhausting. I basically have practices/games every single day of the school year, not to mention the practices we have in the summer as well. During my last sport season, softball, I do begin to get tired, but I don’t think I’d ever be able to cut any sport out of my life.

Weimer: Training for any sport is hard work. What motivates you to do it?

Siqueiros: I just look back to my seventh grade year and realize how far I’ve come and all the things I’ve learned. I want to keep improving and getting better.

Weimer:To excel in a sport, you have to be willing to put in lots of time and effort. What is your attitude toward hard work in a sport?

Siqueiros: Hard work is necessary, and sometimes it sucks, but it needs to be done. You have to be willing to put your body through a lot and push it even farther. Mistakes happen and I have a hard time letting them go and starting over. But it always feels good to look back and see all the things I was unable to do before and compare it to what I’m able to do now.

Weimer: What are you looking forward to about this season?

Siqueiros: Getting to know everyone on a different level and developing as a team. I’m excited to see our progress by the end of the season.

Weimer: How is your approach to this year different in light of your being an upperclassman on the team for the first time?

Siqueiros: It’s definitely different as I need to step it up and become more of a leader and take on more responsibility. I need to keep myself in check and make sure I do my best to encourage the people around me.

Weimer: What do you like about your team this year?

Siqueiros: We seem to have a pretty good chemistry with one another. It’s obvious we still need some work, but we work pretty well together and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Weimer: What are the areas in which you as a team are strong? Where is the team weak?

Siqueiros: We all know each other fairly well outside of volleyball, so it helps with on-court chemistry and communication. We are flexible in terms of being able to play various positions on the court. We need to work on staying pumped throughout the whole game. We could really use some more intensity and communication and keep it going all throughout the game.

Weimer: What areas of the game are you strong in? Where do you hope to improve this season?

Siqueiros: I’m an okay hitter and passer, but my setting and blocking need a lot of work. I hope to become a better hitter and learn how to place the ball as well as learn how to read hitters with more precision when I’m playing defense.

Weimer: Do you plan on taking volleyball to college?

Siqueiros: I’m not sure where I stand on playing college sports. I’m not sure if it’s something I wish to pursue or something I’m even able to pursue.

Weimer: Has anyone been an inspiration to you in the area of athletics?

Siqueiros: My current volleyball coach, Jeff McNeil, has played a big part in my attitude towards athletics. He teaches me how to play the game, but he also teaches me about life in general and how to have the attitude of a good athlete.

Weimer: What are you hoping for this season?

Siqueiros: I’m hoping to go as far as we possibly can. As a team we are already focused on valley and that is what we’re shooting for!

This writer can be reached on Twitter at @JennaWeimer42. Follow The Feather via Twitter: @thefeather.

For volleyball game times and dates, see the 2013 schedule. For game results, see the FC Fall sport box scores, 2013. For more on 2013 Eagles volleyball, see the Sept. 25 article, Volleyball sport shorts: Liberty.

For more sports, see the Sept. 26 article, Christopher adds enthusiasm, leadership to varsity team.