Nov. 18, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Jenna Leslie, a four-year letter winner for the USC Upstate Spartan volleyball team, was honored on Saturday's Senior Day game, where she helped the Spartans earn their final victory against Atlantic Sun competition for the 2008 season in a win over Campbell, 3-1. Throughout her senior campaign, Leslie has played in 26 matches, posting 27 assists, 3 service aces, 42 kills, 104 digs and 177 total attacks. She notched seven kills against the Citadel and 12 digs against North Florida this season while posing as a consistent starter for the Spartans.

Leslie appeared in 25 matches during her junior season (2007) and finished third on the team in assists and fifth in digs. She helped lift Upstate to a five-game win at Stetson with a career-high 16 digs, three blocks, five assists and four kills. She also posted a career-high six blocks (five assisted, one solo) in a five-game win over Mercer on November 2nd. She posted a career-high 13 digs against UNC Pembroke her sophomore season.

Leslie has succeeded academically as well while at Upstate, earning spots on the Peach Belt Presidential Honor Roll in 2005 and 2006 and the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Academic Team in 2007. The Interdisciplinary Studies major will graduate in May, and will look to pursue a career in pharmacy.

Leslie will close out her senior season this weekend when USC Upstate hosts the Provisional Invitational Tournament at the Hodge Center on Friday and Saturday. North Florida, Presbyterian, Central Arkansas, Winston-Salem State and N.C. Central will be competing with USC Upstate in the tournament.

Recently, Leslie sat down with Sarah Hurd of upstatespartans.com to discuss her career and experiences from the on-campus fire in late July.

What brought you to Upstate from Houston, Texas?
My sister lives in Georgia, about two hours away from here, and I knew I wanted to be close to family. I also looked at Gardner-Webb but decided that Upstate was a better fit for me.

You were living in Campus Edge this summer when the fire struck. What were your initial thoughts when you first learned of the fire and how do you reflect on what happened?
When it first happened, my roommate and I both didn't think we would lose anything. When we realized we were going to lose everything, we were really confused as to what we were going to do. Reflecting back on what happened, we were extremely upset at the time to be losing our expensive things like computers and TV's. But now, I realize that those are just things that can be replaced, and the pictures are things I'm missing because I don't have them anymore.

There were many supportive people in the Upstate community who reached out with open arms and donated things immediately to the victims. How does it feel to be on the receiving end and have so many caring people around you?
Our families really reached out to us and came to our rescue, as well as many people in the community. Coach Calloway came to the fire that night to make sure we were ok and really reached out to be additional family to us. In an instance like this, so many people that you don't think know you very well donated extraordinary things to us and the other victims- money, clothes, computers. We had so much stuff that we didn't know what to do with all of it. It's really interesting to see how welcoming and pleasant people can be after such a tragic event.

What is your favorite sport to watch and support at USC Upstate?
I really enjoy men's basketball because all the fans are really into it, and it's like a big intense social event.

How do you manage the rigorous practice and travel schedule for volleyball and balance it with your academics?
It's really about time management, and I actually think that having a set practice schedule for volleyball helps me set aside time for studying and school work, which forces me to focus and get things done on time.

What improvements do you see when comparing the team at this point in the season to before your first game?
Firstly, I definitely think we're more connected. This team is closer than any team I've played with in my four years here. I also think we're better all around, in setting, serving, attacking, and defense. Everyone plays with more confidence.

What do you think the most important quality to have on the volleyball court is? Why?
I think consistency is really important and that's something that I try to have, not necessarily with on the court play, but also with moods. You never want to bring your teammates down, and having a good mood and attitude helps keep the team upbeat and inspired.

USC Upstate is hosting five other teams for the Provisional Invitational this weekend. How exciting is it to be the host venue for such a large tournament and close out the season?
I really enjoy hosting tournaments because it's so nice to be able to have the freedom to go home in between games. It's nice to feel the fans that we have at our home court, compared to other teams who don't have that.

What would your ideal job be upon graduation and in the far future?
I'm planning on going to pharmacy school after graduation, though I'm not sure where yet. I'd definitely like to have a career in pharmacy.

For all of us who are curious, who would you say the best dancer on the team is?
I think that Jane Hawryliw is the best dancer because she knows the entire dance to the Spice Girls song "Stop." She does the dance in the locker room, sings all the lyrics and kills all of us. It's really entertaining.