University of Georgia Athletics
A Quick Chat With ... Desiree McCray
October 01, 2015 | Volleyball
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By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Desiree McCray has been a mainstay in the Georgia volleyball lineup for the past two seasons. The 6-foot-2 redshirt junior started every game in 2014 and led the team with 147 blocks. So far this season, McCray is still the top blocker with 53, and her average of 1.23 blocks per set ranks fourth in the SEC.
During a quick chat after practice Wednesday, as Georgia (5-8, 0-1 SEC) prepared to host LSU (5-8, 1-1) on Friday night at the Ramsey Center, the Columbia, S.C., native talked about relaxing away from the court, bonding with her teammates and much more.
Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: Is volleyball the only sport in which the coaches sit in the long row of nice, comfy seats courtside and the players not in the game stand the whole time back toward the baseline? Why does this happen?
McCray: Some coaches let their players sit, but I guess ours is just an understood rule that you stand. There's more empty seats than there are actual players.
Frierson: What's the most creative thing you do? Do you have a creative outlet?
McCray: Does Netflix count? I like to play video games; I've kind of gotten back into that.
Frierson: I always ask this question of football players, who smile when they hear it, so I'm curious what your response will be: Say it's Friday night after a game and you can pig out on anything, what are you ordering?
McCray: Come on, man, you can't ask me that! I'll list everything! It depends on the day. I could go for Zaxby's, or I could go for a home-cooked meal, with things like mac and cheese and chicken and some greens. And Cane's is fine.
It all just depends on my mood. I can be really happy just eating a sandwich.
Frierson: Do you remember the moment when you realized it was time to make a real commitment to the sport and began putting in the work that eventually got you to where you are today?
McCray: It was in high school, probably my sophomore year. I remember thinking, OK, I can do this. I can go to school and get it paid for, as long as I keep working.
Frierson: Was there something that triggered that thought, a really good game or season?
McCray: Well I started to play club and the coaches were helping, telling me, you can really play this in college if you wanted to. I'm like, OK. And then I started to see it. And then (college) coaches were starting to want to talk to me and then it was really like, I can do this, so I've just got to keep working.
Also, my mom also was like, you better get a scholarship because I'm not signing any more student loans. I was like, OK, mom.
Frierson: When you think back to your high school or youth sports days, is there a moment that stands out as just one of those pure, blissful moments that you'll carry with you forever?
McCray: Playing club, I remember one time we were playing in a tournament and I guess it was storming outside because the lights went out in the gym. We all just sat on the floor and played games and really got to know each other. Eventually the lights came back on, but I feel like that was good bonding.
I remember thinking, this is actually really fun, getting to know these girls.
Frierson: If you could be really good at any other sport and play it for the Bulldogs, what would it be?
McCray: Are you ready for this? Badminton. (Laughs) No, seriously, I used to play football when I was little. People don't believe me, but I feel like I could do it.
Frierson: Is there a part of the game day experience at Georgia that you connect with the most? Is there something that kind of gets you every time?
McCray: I think at Ramsey, whenever we go in and put our jerseys on and run back out, and the crowd reacts, and then that's our time to warm up and hit and stuff. That's when it's like, OK, this is for real and I'm here. Sometimes it's like a "pinch me" moment.
John Frierson is a staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. Follow him on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
