Nov. 18, 2011

BERKELEY - CalBears.com has been profiling the California volleyball team's stellar freshman class, and this week's participant is Lillian Schonewise. The sole non-California resident, Schonewise hails from Papillion, Neb. PrepVolleyball.com's No. 12-ranked Senior Ace, she was on the AVCA/UnderArmour All-America Watch List and led her high school squad to the Metro Conference Championship, a state and national championship with a 41-0 record and a No. 1 MaxPreps ranking. Her mother played volleyball at Nebraska while her father was a football student-athlete at Kansas. CalBears.com caught up with the 6-3 middle hitter to see what life is like in Berkeley.

According to Rich Feller:

"She's a fast-twitch middle that can get up big. She can play the middle one spot, going behind the setter a lot. She has good range and arm speed. I'm very excited to see her compete with three very good, experienced junior middles on our team."

CalBears.com: What made you chose Cal?

Lillian Schonewise: The coaches and players, the academics, the culture of Berkeley and the weather.

CalBears.com: What's your favorite part about Berkeley and/or the Cal campus?

LS: I like the diversity of the population.

CalBears.com: What is the best thing about being a part of Cal volleyball?

LS: Being a part of an instant family and having people who care about me.

CalBears.com: What has been your favorite part about college life so far?

LS: Meeting so many new people.

CalBears.com: What has been the hardest, most surprising aspect about transitioning from high school to college?

LS: The academics. Study habits are different from high school.

CalBears.com: What class are you most enjoying to this fall?

LS: Sociology.

CalBears.com: Now that you're well into your first semester of college, what advice do you wish someone had told you about college or would you give to incoming student-athletes?

LS: Time management is the most important thing. Use all your free time wisely.

CalBears.com: Who would you want to be stranded on a deserted island with?

LS: My dad.

CalBears.com: What is your biggest pet peeve?

LS: Couples sitting on the same side of the table when on a date.

CalBears.com: When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

LS: When I was a little kid I wanted to be a dolphin trainer when I grew up.

CalBears.com: If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy?

LS: A kitten.

CalBears.com: What is one thing you can't live without?

LS: My family.