NOTE: As part of a week-long NCAA Division III Week series, Saint Mary's sports information Intern Meaghan Updike sat down with Cardinal senior volleyball player Gloria Kitange to talk about her time at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
 
By MEAGHAN UPDIKE
Saint Mary's Sports Information Intern
 
WINONA, Minn. — Halfway through Gloria Kitange's (Rochester, Minn.) junior season with the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota volleyball team, she tore her meniscus. During her senior season, she came back strong, finishing with 126 kills and 31 blocks for the season. Kitange looks back fondly over her four years as a student-athlete, despite the injury.
 
HOW DID YOU HANDLE BEING A STUDENT — AND AN ATHLETE?
• Gloria: "I think being a student and an athlete was better than if I had just been a student because it has helped me stay disciplined and stay focused. I'm on a tight schedule and need to use my time well to get stuff done. During the off-season, it's easy to say, 'oh, I have all this time, I'll just do it later.'"
 
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THE PAST FOUR YEARS?
• Gloria: "We always play Gustavus last, whether it's home or away, and during my sophomore year, it was my last home game and it was Senior Night. We beat them in five (sets) and it was amazing because Gustavus is really good. It was awesome to get that win, especially since it was Senior Night and they were able to end their season that way."
 
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST MEMORY OF YOUR TEAM OR COACH?
• Gloria: "During my freshman year, our student manager, Emily Dierks, was really funny and great at telling stories. She would talk about going to Costa Rica and seeing lots of salamanders everywhere. I just remember how she was so enthusiastic about telling stories, and it was super fun to go to practice and hear the things she had to say."
 
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH OR PLAY BESIDES YOUR SPORT AND WHY THAT SPORT?
• Gloria: "I really like watching tennis with my dad. I like watching Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. I don't know why I like watching tennis, I think it just impresses me. I like playing soccer but I'm not very good at it."
 
DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS BEFORE A GAME?
• Gloria: "I don't have any rituals, but I always have to wear the same type of socks. I have really flat feet and I don't like when my shoes slide around in my shoes so I try to wear a newer pair of Nike socks for each game."
 
IF YOU COULD BE ANY ANIMAL, WHICH WOULD YOU BE AND WHY?
• Gloria: "Something sassy … the only animal that I can think of is the hippo from (the movie) Madagascar named Gloria. I'd be the hippo that sleeps all day, goes and eats a snack, and then lounges for the rest of the day in the sun. But if anyone tries to cross me, I'd be super sassy."
 
WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO KARAOKE SONG? WHY THAT SONG?
• Gloria: "Definitely 'Mr. Brightside' by The Killers, it's such a good song to jam to."
 
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE TEAMMATE TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER AND WHY?
• Gloria: "Can I say a coach? I really like following my one coach, Chris Rhode. He tweets funny stuff, sometimes pictures of his cats. I think he follows this game show, so sometimes they'll tweet something and he'll respond saying, 'pick me!' I like scrolling through my timeline and seeing that."
 
DO YOU HAVE PLANS FOR AFTER GRADUATION YET? IF SO, WHAT ARE THEY?
• Gloria: "I don't have a specific plan, but I have a generic plan. I want to move to the Twin Cities and work as a scribe at a hospital, I'm thinking Hennepin County Medical Center, but there are a lot of options up there. I'm taking a gap year and working, then hoping to go to med school in the fall of 2020."
 
DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR INCOMING FRESHMAN OR YOUR TEAMMATES FOR NEXT YEAR?
• Gloria: "Enjoy every moment, work hard, and cherish the time you get to spend with your teammates. Practices at 6 a.m. suck, but when you're retired, you wish you were lifting with your teammates and going to practice. Try not to take it for granted because it goes by too fast … Also, don't tear your meniscus."