Aug. 19, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Trina Smith, Assistant Coach for Carolina, recently sat down with USCSports.com to talk about how the preseason was going for the Gamecock Volleyball program.

What are two-a-days like behind the scenes?

“Two-a-days really prepares you for the season. It is kind of brutal on all the players. It really gets the players back in shape with no major injuries so far.”

Which one of the retuning players has impressed you the most?

“I think all of our returning players have done a good job. I think the kids know our expectations and they’re prepared. We go through drills faster, we get more accomplished and we don’t have to slow down as much and that makes us better.”

Which incoming freshman has surprised you the most?

“Nicole by far has surprised us the most. We have six seniors so we didn’t really have expectations for our freshmen. Watching her play before I knew that she would be a great addition and could play for us in the future, but I didn’t think she could come in and compete for a position, which is what she has done.”

What is your role as assistant coach during two-a-days?

“My role is to make the head coach’s job as easy and comfortable as possible. So I take care of a lot of the stuff behind the scenes so she [Kim Christopher] can focus on the upcoming season.”

What has the addition of Assistant Coach Jason Hou done for the team?

“Anytime you can get someone on your staff with Jason’s credentials, it is a great addition and will help improve the team. He’s trained at the highest level and it’s been a little different. I think it’s been a little bit of a surprise for the coaching staff and the players as well as the intensity he brings is amazing.”

What is your favorite part of two-a-days, both professionally and personally?

“Professionally, the best part is seeing them on the first day and on the last day and seeing the improvement that they have made. Personally, my favorite part of two-a-days is going home and playing with my dog at the end of the day.”

You can check out Trina Smith coach in the Gamecock’s home opener against Arizona State in the Carolina Classic. The match begins on September 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the Volleyball Competition Facility.