With another Atlantic 10 Conference regular season title, UD volleyball continues to be one of the shining lights in the athletic department. While a loss in the A-10 Tournament semifinals to Temple slowed the team’s momentum for earning their first-ever NCAA birth, there’s no denying the incredible season they’ve had. Senior middle blocker Katie Ferriell is a big reason for the Flyers’ success and has been so over her four-year career. In those four years at UD, Ferriell has been a part of nearly half of coach Pete Hoyer’s 155 wins (76). Ferriell ranks seventh all-time at UD with 1,099 kills and eighth in digs (857). She will finish her career third in hitting percentage (.342). Ferriell is modest. She’s a quiet leader. And she’s the team “mom.”

UDP: What made you come to UD?

KF: My dad went here so there was that connection. And they recruited me here the hardest of all the schools.

UDP: You played volleyball at Eaton High School. Do all of your records still stand?

KF: I played varsity all four years at Eaton. I have 12 records. I had 13 but my sister (sophomore and former UD volleyball player Kristie Ferriell) broke one.

UDP: What surprised you most about collegiate volleyball?

KF: The pace of the game. It’s so much faster, so much more intense, a lot heavier work schedule, the practices and lifting. I hadn’t lifted before I came here. I’ve gone up in my vertical and speed and agility and power. I definitely look like a different person than my freshman year picture.

UDP: Compare this team to the 23-8 team you played on during your freshman season in 1998?

KF: This team is definitely a special team. We have an unbelievable bond from player to player. We were all friends on that ’98 team. The friendship is unbelievable this year. The overall bond of the team, everyone’s talking about it, even the coach.

UDP: This team does not let opposing teams take them five games. Have you had a knockout punch this season?

KF: We work on finishing things. We went through a spell when we couldn’t win the third game. We worked hard on that. Coach is big on saying if you use the fourth or fifth game early in the season, that’s the energy you need now.

UDP: How has Coach Hoyer been to play for?

KF: It’s been really fun. He’s a huge supporter, lots of positive talk. He’s really big on family. That’s why he recruits such good players. They’re good people. He’s good with the crowd, too. He talks to everyone after the game. He’s been what I expected him to be when I was recruited. And that doesn’t always happen.

UDP: Coach Hoyer called you one of the premier female athletes in the Atlantic-10. How do you respond?

KF: It brings a smile to my face.

UDP: Is consistency something you pride yourself on?

KF: That’s definitely something I strive for. That’s a good leadership quality so the team knows what to expect from me. It’s important for me, too, being a senior on the court. You hear about senior leadership. For my teammates, knowing what they can expect from me allows them to feel comfortable in their game, too.

UDP: How did it feel to finally beat Xavier on Sept. 23?

KF: Not just beating them but beating them in three. I think I was 0-4, 0-5, 0-6 with them. Going into the game, going into warm-ups, I knew we were going to beat them.

UDP: UD has gone 15-2 since the Wright State loss on Sept. 18. What changed after that game?

KF: We talked in the locker room after that game. We set goals in practice about things we weren’t going to let happen. We weren’t going to lose the third game anymore. We thought with the ability we have. It’s stupid to waste it like we did that night.

UDP: How would you rate your teammates this year? Let’s start with Xinxin Zhang.

KF: I lived with her sophomore year. Her English has changed so much. She’s really strong. She’s definitely a go-to player. I appreciate her consistency on the court.

UDP: Susan Westbrock?

KF: We’ll just talk about the slide she hits. No, let’s just say she’s got a very big fight in her.

UDP: Erin Treadway?

KF: A great addition to the team. She’s probably the most competitive player on the court. She puts a lot of pressure on herself, but she’s proven she’s a good recruit.

UDP: Christy Utnage?

KF: Coach says she’s got more shots than a veterinarian. She’s always throwing in tips and dunks. It’s frustrating for the other team.

UDP: How has it been to play near your hometown?

KF: I wanted to stay close to home. A lot of people from Eaton come out for the games, a lot of family and friends of the family. My parents come to all the games. This year they came to all the home games and road games. (Being so close to home) helped me make it through my freshman year.

UDP: Do you take pride in being among the best ever to play at UD?

KF: It can be pleasing as a senior knowing I am leaving my mark. It’s a source of personal pride. I don’t like to talk much about that stuff. That’s what coach always says, I’m a quiet player.

UDP: How do you see yourself as a leader?

KF: I’m a silent leader. I’m available talk to. I have been named the mom of the team. I forgot about that quote. I use my play to speak a lotof the time. I lead a good life off the court, too. That can be a model for underclassmen. I have tried really hard on that aspect.

UDP: Is the NCAA your ultimate goal?

KF: Yep. Flat out. That’s been our goal all four years. This year it’s the
most reachable.

UDP: What will you remember most about your career here at UD?

KF: The friendships. You can’t beat that. Probably sharing so much with my parents, too. I call it the prejudice confidence they give me. Ferriell, a middle childhood education major, plans to continue her master’s work in English at UD. She wants to go on to teach college English and eventually coach on the Division I level. The Flyers are preparing for the Atlantic-10/Conference USA Challenge volleyball tournament and will be crossing fingers for an at-large birth in the NCAA Tournament.