Rice University Athletics
Rice Memories: Daniela Arenas
6/24/2020 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
I'm so thankful for so many things that Rice gave me: my faith, jobs, friendships for life, and just a blast of a college athletic experience that very few get the chance at. Not a championship, though. I was in a rare block of 4 years where Rice Volleyball didn't win a conference championship. We were always an incredibly talented team but each year we fell (sometimes only points) short of a ring. But I promise this isn't a sob story! While winning conference would have been amazing, I honestly feel like the other things that I received from Rice Volleyball will last longer.
I played all four years in every single set during my career but, truthfully, I can't even remember 99% of the actual volleyball we played. And, yes, I was focusing. I love everything about the sport of volleyball. I loved two-a-days because I only had to think about eating, sleeping, and playing. I was the crazy recruit who wanted to call Genny every day because it was my life's dream to play college volleyball. But as much as I dreamt about every dig, the only memories burned in my brain are from after the rally was finished. As much as I loved volleyball, I loved cheering with my teammates more. The image of my best friends filled with uncontainable joy, screaming in each other's faces to the point where you need to shove each other because you're so happy for them- that's what I miss the most.
One of my most vivid memories, which I'm sure every athlete can relate to, was a time I was ALMOST late for a workout (still have nightmares about being late to workouts). Our coaches had zero tolerance for being late. We always had to be in the gym at least 5 minutes early or else the team would have to run, or you would have to clean the entire weight room by yourself. But of course, the fear of disappointing coach or your teammates was far worse.
My phone rang and I could tell it was a little brighter in my room than I was expecting. It was our captain, Megan Murphy, who is the LAST person you'd every want to let down because she was an incredible leader and best friend. Even before she said, "Why aren't you in the locker room?", the adrenaline had shot me out of bed, and I told her I was on my way. God was on my side, because I got only green lights driving to campus from my apartment. I had about 3 minutes until the workout started and I called another teammate, telling her I didn't have time to go to the locker room and to bring all my gear to the gym. I pulled in the first spot I found in west lot and sprinted, maybe with my best form ever, toward Tudor. I ran out of one of my shoes and didn't even think about stopping for it. I thought for sure my strength coach would be standing in the gym waiting for me with my consequences.
I was completely shocked at what I saw. I rounded the corner into Autry and didn't see my strength coach. Instead, the entire team was jumping up and down waving their arms directing me to them, screaming individually, "COME ON!!!!" As my speed picked up even more, I saw two girls holding the open ends of my socks ready for me to jump into. The rest of the girls comforted and high-fived me while someone was doing my hair, and they tried to play it cool just in case coach walked in.
That is a team. Those are girls that love each other because they're on a mission for something bigger than themselves so they don't have a choice but to fight for each other. That is what I thankful to Rice Volleyball for.
At my wedding, most of my bridesmaids were taller than most of the groomsmen because they were my teammates. They're one of the first ones I called when I found out I was pregnant. We still cry together when the world deals us a bad hand. And we know we'll be there for each other for the rest of our lives. Those relationships are difficult to find in the real world, but they're better (I think) than a championship. Thank you, Rice Volleyball.
I played all four years in every single set during my career but, truthfully, I can't even remember 99% of the actual volleyball we played. And, yes, I was focusing. I love everything about the sport of volleyball. I loved two-a-days because I only had to think about eating, sleeping, and playing. I was the crazy recruit who wanted to call Genny every day because it was my life's dream to play college volleyball. But as much as I dreamt about every dig, the only memories burned in my brain are from after the rally was finished. As much as I loved volleyball, I loved cheering with my teammates more. The image of my best friends filled with uncontainable joy, screaming in each other's faces to the point where you need to shove each other because you're so happy for them- that's what I miss the most.
One of my most vivid memories, which I'm sure every athlete can relate to, was a time I was ALMOST late for a workout (still have nightmares about being late to workouts). Our coaches had zero tolerance for being late. We always had to be in the gym at least 5 minutes early or else the team would have to run, or you would have to clean the entire weight room by yourself. But of course, the fear of disappointing coach or your teammates was far worse.
My phone rang and I could tell it was a little brighter in my room than I was expecting. It was our captain, Megan Murphy, who is the LAST person you'd every want to let down because she was an incredible leader and best friend. Even before she said, "Why aren't you in the locker room?", the adrenaline had shot me out of bed, and I told her I was on my way. God was on my side, because I got only green lights driving to campus from my apartment. I had about 3 minutes until the workout started and I called another teammate, telling her I didn't have time to go to the locker room and to bring all my gear to the gym. I pulled in the first spot I found in west lot and sprinted, maybe with my best form ever, toward Tudor. I ran out of one of my shoes and didn't even think about stopping for it. I thought for sure my strength coach would be standing in the gym waiting for me with my consequences.
I was completely shocked at what I saw. I rounded the corner into Autry and didn't see my strength coach. Instead, the entire team was jumping up and down waving their arms directing me to them, screaming individually, "COME ON!!!!" As my speed picked up even more, I saw two girls holding the open ends of my socks ready for me to jump into. The rest of the girls comforted and high-fived me while someone was doing my hair, and they tried to play it cool just in case coach walked in.
That is a team. Those are girls that love each other because they're on a mission for something bigger than themselves so they don't have a choice but to fight for each other. That is what I thankful to Rice Volleyball for.
At my wedding, most of my bridesmaids were taller than most of the groomsmen because they were my teammates. They're one of the first ones I called when I found out I was pregnant. We still cry together when the world deals us a bad hand. And we know we'll be there for each other for the rest of our lives. Those relationships are difficult to find in the real world, but they're better (I think) than a championship. Thank you, Rice Volleyball.
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Saturday, December 04
VB: Rice-San Diego Postgame Presser
Thursday, December 02