Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Ana Vetter, New Trier volleyball

Ana Vetter is a senior outside hitter and four-year varsity player for the Trevians. She is committed to Wake Forest University.

1.) Do you have pregame rituals or superstitions?

Good question, I always think about this. The day before (a match) I usually get ice, one (bag) on my shoulder and one on each knee. And usually I take a scoop of pre-workout before we play. I don’t like energy drinks so I just dry scoop it. I don’t have superstitions or anything like that before we play. I try to get my heart rate down, focus on my breathing during the national anthem. One ritual I have, I usually sing the national anthem.

2. Why Wake Forest?

Because it’s a small Power 5 (conference) school. I wanted a small school, so I could have a personal connection with my professors and teachers and still play at a high competitive level. It’s very hard to find a small school that still competes at that level, and Wake Forest does in the ACC. The location is great. I’ve always wanted to live in the south. North Carolina is on the coast, and it’s just a good part of town. It’s a very personal little to and college is the main part of life.

3. What do you hope to study?

One of the greatest parts of Wake is that you’re undecided for your first year and a half there, so you can try some classes and see where you’re interested. I think the business program at Wake is a big opportunity and something I want to be part of.

4. What is your personal sports highlight so far?

I would say honestly just making it to senior year. Our game, against Libertyville at home, the crowd, senior year, the last go ’round, having the crowd we had, my family there to support me and just knowing the community was invested in our team — In that moment that was a good feeling, a ‘we-made-it’ moment and seeing how volleyball has grown — and winning. That was a big moment for me. It showed me how appreciative I am of the sport.

5. If you could try another sport, what would it be?

Automatically, tennis. I wish I could play tennis. Sadly, it’s the same season as volleyball. I play tennis in the summer. I’m not very good with it. Volleyball doesn’t really translate, but tennis is so much fun and competitive. And very different than volleyball in that it’s 1-v-1. … I think I would really enjoy being a really serious tennis athlete. I wish I could play it.

6. What is your dream job?

If I could do anything, something that involves helping little kids and being around little kids. Growing up and being a senior, one thing that hits home a lot is giving opportunity to kids and realizing that opportunity. I want to be someone that impacts their lives. The purity of being around little kids is amazing, and the perspective that they teach an older person more. … It teaches about time and relevance and living in the moment. Keeping that opportunity mindset is something I struggle with a lot. Being around younger girls on my team is something really big for me. So possibly a volleyball coach. I coached freshman at New Trier over the summer and loved it.

7. If you won the lottery, what would be your first purchase?

I think I would buy my mom and dad a new home. My brother is older than me, off at college. Once I leave for college, I don’t think they want to hang out for here so much longer. So I would buy my parents a vacation home where they can live and we can visit whenever. A home down in Florida or something like that.

8. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

If I need a sugar treat, I’m going Milk Duds right away. I love chocolate caramels. But if I’m truly desperate, just a huge water. On Mondays and Thursdays, I always buy a huge water from my guy Hatem at 7/11. He has it waiting for me.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

This is hard for me because I’m an open book. I would say that I kind of love English and history. Just being a student-athlete, a lot of times people assume sports come first. A lot of times is the case, but I actually like going to English a lot. I love to write. I think it’s so much fun. I love being able to express myself on paper and being able to talk to people about writing. I love our English curriculum a lot. When I do have the time and make the time, I do enjoy English a lot.

10. Now in the second half of the season, what does this team need to do to reach its ultimate goal (state)?

Going to state, at end of the day, it’s an investment. It’s going to take everyone, not just a few people who want to go. Everyone wants to go out with a bang. We want to do something that hasn’t been done before here. Everybody is going to have to want to come in to the gym every day and say I want to get better today because I want to go far. … It’s an investment at the end of the day that I think everyone on our team has already made. We’re continuing to put in the work every day and showing up when it’s not easy. This team has worked so incredibly hard. Just as a co-captain, I’ve seen so much growth out of this team.

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