Our next "Get To Know" feature is on volleyball freshman Victoria Jenifer.  A native of McDonough, Ga., she is third on the team in kills averaging 1.61 per set and earned All-Tournament honors at the University of Buffalo Classic to open the season.
 
Junior sports management major Isaiah Spencer sat down with her to get her views on starting her collegiate career.
 
What adjustments did you have to make in your game going from high school to college?
"Coming from high school it was very different, the level of play is much higher here. I have to learned how to do things that I didn't have to learn how to do during high school which will help me grow in the long run."
 
What are some of those "things" that you had to learn playing college volleyball?
"For example, here they have big blocks set up in front of you so I have to learn how to hit around them."
 
What got you interested in Hampton University?
"Both of my parents went here, they got married here in the chapel which is a fun fact. Growing up they brought me to homecoming and different events they wanted me to be a part of so I kind of grew up around Hampton University.  I knew it was a good place for me to go and I knew my parents would want me to come here so I was offered a spot on the team and I think God just told me to come."
 
How's your freshman year been so far?
"I had to adjust a lot because I'm not used to having this type of schedule. I have to fit in study time, and practice is hours long, and I'm not used to having that, so I have to learn how to balance my time between school and athletics. But so far it's been fine."
 
What's your favorite place on campus?
"I like to eat so my favorite place is Subway. (then after reminded about the Student Union) "Oh wait I take my answer back, Chick-fil-a and the new Starbucks."
 
Do you have any preferences on who you listen to before a game to get your mind right? What makes you listen to them?
"Beyonce, because she's so empowering and when I listen to her I think of myself as the baddest and the best. So I just like to listen to her."
 
What is something you feel like you can improve at on the court?
"I think I can improve on my defense. It's not the best I can tell you that but I'm going to keep working hard at practice."
 
What goals do you have for yourself and the team?
"The main goal is to win the MEAC championship. That's what we been talking about all season, that's what coaches been talking about before we even got here. Goals for myself, I want to learn how to hit around the block, become a better all-around player that means all positions, and I just want to be able to get out of my head faster because volleyball is a mental game and you don't have time to be in your head about a mistake you just made, you have to move on to the next play and I just want to be able to get myself out of that situation quickly."
 
What are you looking forward to entering conference games?
"I'm looking forward to seeing who our competition as we start chasing the MEAC championship. I'm looking forward to see how other teams match with our level of play. I'm just ready to see what happens, we're gonna go all out every game."
 
The volleyball team opens their home schedule on Friday night at 7 pm when they face South Carolina State in the opening day of the MEAC North-South Challenge.
 
For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.