University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Kacie Evans
September 19, 2019 | Volleyball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Kacie Evans surprised and delighted me Wednesday during our Quick Chat courtside at Stegeman Coliseum. While answering my silly Q&A questions after practice, the Georgia volleyball freshman not only mentioned that she grew up listening to Van Halen because her dad is a fan of the band, she had an appreciation for Loverboy, as well.
Evans, an outside hitter from Wadsworth, Ohio, may be the only person born this millennium that has even heard of Loverboy, an '80s band that had a few hits and is best known for the get-out-of-the-office anthem "Working for the Weekend." When it comes to much of the music she listens to, Evans said, she's old school.
(As someone that was born in 1972 and attended middle and high school in the '80s, hearing the music I devoured during those impressionable years classified as old school ... well, it's a reminder that a few decades have passed since I last passed a note in class or asked someone to a dance.)
Anyway, Evans was a delight and you can see her and all the Bulldogs in action Thursday (7 p.m., versus N.C. State) and Friday (7 p.m., versus Georgia Tech). Evans has settled in quickly with her new team, part of what she described as a pretty smooth transition to college. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: When you think of your home or hometown, what comes to mind?
Evans: There's definitely a lot of football where I'm from; for high school we go all out, honestly, in all sports. Back at home we're known for our football, girls basketball, baseball did really well this past year, softball did really well ... basically, we're known for our sports.
We're sort of a small town compared to everybody else around us and everyone's really friendly and everyone wants to get along. It's just a really cool small town to be in.
Frierson: Looking at Wikipedia, and you never really know with Wikipedia, but it appears that the big cultural event in Wadsworth each year is the Blue Tip Festival. What can you tell me about that?
Evans: Ooh, this is a good one. The Blue Tip match was invented in Wadsworth around the late 1800s, maybe 1900s, and it was a big thing that Wadsworth was known for. ... It's a little fun thing every year, there's a parade that lasts about two hours and goes all the way from one side of town to the other. ...
The festival goes on for maybe a week and there's usually carnival rides and stuff ... and the whole thing is a big event that everybody goes to.
Frierson: What's something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Evans: If I could eat one thing every day it's probably my mom's Alfredo pasta.
Frierson: Is that chicken Alfredo or just regular Alfredo?
Evans: She does chicken and she does regular, but honestly I would prefer the chicken. It adds a little bit of extra flavor in it and it's really, really good.
Frierson: What has your adjustment to college been like?
Evans: It's been a little challenging, just being far away from home, which is something I actually wanted ... just adjusting to everything here, making new friends because I don't really know anyone down here. It's been all right for the most part, the girls have been keeping me dialed in, especially on the court. Even off the court, asking, "How are you doing?"
I notice that the community here is insanely polite — they're generous and very nice people here. I've found a good place.
Frierson: Do you do anything creative or is there something creative you wish you could do?
Evans: Oh, I wish I could sing. My goal has been to really learn how to sing, actually. Yeah, I was in the choir in the fifth or sixth grade and I almost got to solo at one point, but I wish I could sing for real and I wish I was more creative in the arts.
I used to love to draw, when I was little I used to love to draw the birds outside of my grandma's house all the time. But unfortunately, when you get older sometimes it just goes away, and it went away for me. I would like to maybe relearn that again.
Frierson: Are there one or two songs that you have in mind when you talk about being able to really sing?
Evans: Probably "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. [Laughs.]
Frierson: That answer comes up a lot.
Evans: I love that song and I love her voice, and my parents are always '80s people so we listen to Whitney Houston sometimes.
Frierson: Are there other old-school things that you're into? You mentioned Whitney Houston, so what else do you like from before your time?
Evans: I do like older music, especially the '80s. Like I said, my family and I, on a car ride we'd be jamming to '80s music. My dad is a big Van Halen fan and I've been a big Van Halen fan — Loverboy, probably my favorite group from the '80s. ... I really like the music from that era.
Frierson: If I was given 100 guesses, I don't think Loverboy is one of the bands I would have picked you to name today.
Evans: Ohhh, I love Loverboy.
Frierson: They had some hits, "Working for the Weekend" is a Friday afternoon anthem ...
Evans: "Strike Zone" is another favorite Loverboy song. Pat Benatar, she's another great one from the '80s.
Frierson: Do you have any pregame routines or rituals that you do before every match?
Evans: What I do, I have to match my socks with my jersey, so if we're wearing our red jersey then I have to wear my red-and-white socks; if it's black, then the black-and-white; and if it's white then I have to wear the black-and-white socks.
What we do as a team, we meditate before a game, with (coach Tom Black). He leads us through it and I really like that. I also listen to two songs every time before a game, it's "Try" by Pink and my walk-up song, "Wow" by Post Malone.
"Try" has a theme of, hey, you're not going to do anything unless you try and that's kind of the motto I live by. Post Malone just has that vibe of, he knows he's good and you have to perform and go out and be good to have everyone else know that.
Frierson: OK, I'm familiar with Pink — not my cup of tea but I know she's been around a long time. I've seen the name Post Malone, but I don't know if that's a guy or a band or a DJ or what. And yes, I'm old.
Evans: [Laughs.] Post Malone, he's more of a rap and R&B-type guy. He's been through a lot of stuff trying to become one of the greatest artists and he's one of my favorite artists. From 2013 to now he's just grown so much and I've seen the way he's grown because I've followed him — I love Post Malone, he's awesome and a cool, cool dude.
My dream is to see him in concert and to meet him., but we'll see where it goes.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
