CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Redshirt freshman
Ashley Winters (Fredericktown, Ohio, Highland) has become the first volleyball player to be named the InterCon Student-Athlete of the Month for her play. During the month of September Winters helped Queens get off to one of its best starts in recent years with a record of 9-5.
Winters, a middle blocker, posted 68 kills for the month, averaging 1.84 kills per set with a hitting percentage of .217. Playing in 37 of 50 sets, Winters blocked a total of 19 attacks, five solo and 14 as block assists.
For the first time for a Queens volleyball player since 1999 Winters was named the league's Player of the Week for the week of September 8. Winters earned her Player of the Week award for leading Queens in hitting percentage, kills and kills per set during the Queens Double B Graphix tournament. Her efforts helped the Royals go 4-0 to start the season.
“Ashley came back this year after spending last season red shirted with an illness,” said Head Volleyball Coach Angela McGuire. “While the rest of the team was playing she had to sit out all year while learning the game on paper. She is a tireless worker, one of the hardest workers on the team and strives to be the best player she can be not only on the team but also within the conference. While she is still growing into her position, she has shown a great amount of leadership through her performance and over time will continue to improve as she learns the game.”
Members of the Sports Information staff caught up with Ashley to ask her a few questions:
Q: You are the first volleyball player to win the InterCon Student-Athlete of the Month award, how does that feel?
A: It's great to be the first volleyball player to win this award because our team is already making strides towards accomplishing things that haven't yet been done by Queens' Volleyball program. I think there will be many more things that our team will be the first to achieve in the next few years.
Q: What are your goals for the team this season?
A: We had one main goal for this season, and that was to hang a volleyball banner. We don't want to just stand middle of the conference, we want to be 1st place at the end of season and finally put Queens Volleyball on the wall of the Oven.
Q: What are your goals for the team for your career?
A: By the end of my career here at Queens I'd like to have a four year streak of coming out first in the conference. I think with such a young team we have every element necessary to do so, and I want schools to hear “Queens University of Charlotte” and think of great volleyball.
Additionally, Ashley was given a list of 20 fun questions and asked to pick 10 to answer. Get to know Ashley a little better by reading her answers below.
Q: Any rituals before a game?
A: Our team has sign hung in our locker room that we smack before coming onto the court. We also have a special saying that you'll see us say in the huddle before every game. Exactly what we say can't be repeated ;)
Q: The teammate most likely to become famous is
A: Anna Charles Gibbs…comedian/impressionist.
Q: ____ spends too much time looking in the mirror.
A: Sarah Elaine Malpass
Q: Don't bother me when I'm trying to...
A: Sleep or eat!!!!!
Q: I wish I knew how to...
A: Dougie.
Q: Nothing annoys me more than____.
A: Keri Anne Kemp. Best friends / teammates that live together can sometimes be a problem
Q: ____ can't sing.
Q: Favorite television show is…
A: PHINEAS AND FERB!!!!!!
Q: The song I listen to to pump me up is...
A: Heat it Up by Bubba Sparks
Q: My least favorite exercise is...
A: Running. My whole team knows how much I hate to run.
