Video Interview
WEST LAFAYATTE - With the season well underway, it is time to get to know your 2018 student-athletes. Today, we learn all about sophomore Julianna Reisinger.
Reisinger is a product of Coto De Caza, California. Playing in over 68 sets this season, the sophomore has been a reliable server for the Boilermakers. She is currently second on the team with 24 service aces, which is good for eighth among Big Ten opponets.
#StoryTeller
Why did you decide to come to Purdue?
JR: I decided to play at Purdue because I had been around the university, my whole family went here. At first I thought I wanted to do my own thing, but when I came to campus and I went to the games and I talked to Dave, it just felt like a family. I loved how rowdy everything was during the games, and how much people love coming. That sold me.
I fell in love with the campus and I knew I could do a lot of things here.
What is your earliest memory of Purdue?
JR: My earliest memory would be when I was five or six and I went to a Purdue basketball game with my grandpa, aunt, uncle, and dad. I remember being in Mackey and having the time of my life. There is a picture of that at my grandpa's house and I was all decked out in my little cheerleader uniform.
How would you describe your role on the team?
JR: My role on the team is being somebody that is positive and constantly bringing a lot of energy. I'm a loud person in practice and I pride myself on that. I want to be the person that is always talking on the court, so when I come into a game I want to be the person shouting "C'mon guys!", "Let's go!", "Let's have fun out here!"
What do you attribute to your success of having one of the best serves in the country?
JR: I think the reason my serve has been so good and consistent lately is because in the spring and in the summer I spent a lot of time working on it. I knew that last year I didn't get as many aces as I wanted to. Dave told me "Serve more aggressive, don't be afraid to make errors, just go out there and serve it." So during practices in the spring I would serve it as hard as I could and I would go in a lot in the summer and work on serving in specific zones, focusing on one thing at a time. I'm also stronger from all of our lifting in the spring and summer.
What do you want your legacy at Purdue to be?
JR: When I leave Purdue I want to be known as somebody who was nice to everyone and fun to be around. I never want to be known as a person others didn't want to be in a room with. I want to be known as down to earth and easy to talk to about anything.
I want to be that upperclassman that freshman can come talk to about any problems they may be having with school or volleyball. I enjoy being that person.
Outside of volleyball, what are you most passionate about?
JR: Outside of volleyball, I am most passionate about music. I have been singing ever since I was little and when I was in 8th grade I got my first guitar. I have been playing and singing ever since.
It's an escape for me. After a long day, I know I can come back and relax. If something wasn't going right maybe I can work through it with music. Even just a little jam in the car does the trick sometimes.
In addition to singing you also play the guitar and piano. How did you pick up those instruments?
JR: I got my first guitar for Christmas when I was in the eighth grade. From there YouTube became my best friend, because I taught myself how to play. The first song I learned how to play was You Belong with Me, by Taylor Swift. From there I slowly started learning more and more. And I learned piano pretty much the same way.
Where did your love for music come from?
JR: My love for music probably came from my dad, because he always made me listen to his old classic rock in the car. I learned all the words of those songs. I could probably sing to you any classic rock song you want. Those are some of my favorite songs now actually.
When do you realize your passion for singing?
JR: I got my first solo when I was in fourth grade. I sang Proud to Be an American at our Harvest Fest talent show and that was really cool for me. It was the first time I had ever sang in front of people and from then on I realized I loved it.
Describe how you feel when you're singing …
JR: When I am just in my room playing the guitar everything else kind of fades away. It's the most amazing feeling. If there was anything that's been bothering me, any problems I am having, they just kind of go away. It's just me and the music in the moment.
But then when I am in front of people singing, it is the most amazing feeling in the entire world. What I can compare it to is that it's like when you're in a really good volleyball game against a top-ten team. You're in the fifth set, they have match point, and you're back there knowing the serve is coming to you. The adrenalin is jumping. That's just how I feel every time I step on a stage. I just love that feeling.
Who is your favorite musician?
JR: My favorite musician in Carrie Underwood. I want to be her. I think she's the most perfect person in the whole world and I think she's so talented. I also think she's really stayed true to herself, which I think is really amazing. I love her music because it's very personable. It's more about the lyrics. She's known as being a story teller and that's what I try to do when I write music. I try to be as open as possible.
What's your go to song?
JR: I don't like singing the same song over and over, but a song I really like is Elton John's Your Song, but the Ellie Golding version. It's kind of my go-to song right now.
If you could collaborate with anyone on a song, who would it be and why?
JR: I would love to collaborate with Bruno Mars. He's so talented and such an amazing song writer. He's songs are also just so happy and upbeat. I think it would be absolutely amazing to do a song with him.
How would you describe yourself as a singer and a volleyball player?
JR: Julianna the singer is definitely very confident. I am somebody that's not afraid to take risks. Like you give me a hard song to sing and I know that I am going to nail it. I am going to do it. And then, Julianna the volleyball player is confident most of the time, but I still struggle with my confidence at times. If I am not playing well I can definitely get in my head and that is something I am really trying to work on.
If you were to become a fulltime artist, what would your sound be like?
JR: I would want my sound to be very acoustic, unplugged and focused on the lyrics.
If you could audition for any singing competition, which would it be and why?
JR: I would love to try out for American Idol, but on one condition. They have to bring back the original judges. With Simon Cowell, Reggie and Paula that was like best show ever. That's where Carrie Underwood was discovered, so that would definitely be the dream.
If you were to audition for a singing competition, what would you tryout song be?
JR: My tryout song would probably be Rolling in the Deep, because I know I can sing that song really well. I sang it my freshman year of high school at a recital and a piano bar one night. After my performance at the piano bar, I was actually approached by someone who worked in the music industry. He gave me his card and told me that I could go into a studio right at that moment, lay down a track and it wouldn't need any editing.
What's next for you?
JR: Right now I am focusing on passing my engineering classes because those are not easy. However, I have always told my dad that if I was able to graduate in December of my senior year, I think it would be so cool to go to Nashville for like six months and just see if there would be any opening in that industry. But again that's a dream and I don't know if it will actually happen.
Outside of music, I would really love to work for Disney as an industrial engineer. That's kind of my dream job right now, but the dream job also changes every few months so we will see.
WEST LAFAYATTE - With the season well underway, it is time to get to know your 2018 student-athletes. Today, we learn all about sophomore Julianna Reisinger.
Reisinger is a product of Coto De Caza, California. Playing in over 68 sets this season, the sophomore has been a reliable server for the Boilermakers. She is currently second on the team with 24 service aces, which is good for eighth among Big Ten opponets.
#StoryTeller
Why did you decide to come to Purdue?
JR: I decided to play at Purdue because I had been around the university, my whole family went here. At first I thought I wanted to do my own thing, but when I came to campus and I went to the games and I talked to Dave, it just felt like a family. I loved how rowdy everything was during the games, and how much people love coming. That sold me.
I fell in love with the campus and I knew I could do a lot of things here.
What is your earliest memory of Purdue?
JR: My earliest memory would be when I was five or six and I went to a Purdue basketball game with my grandpa, aunt, uncle, and dad. I remember being in Mackey and having the time of my life. There is a picture of that at my grandpa's house and I was all decked out in my little cheerleader uniform.
How would you describe your role on the team?
JR: My role on the team is being somebody that is positive and constantly bringing a lot of energy. I'm a loud person in practice and I pride myself on that. I want to be the person that is always talking on the court, so when I come into a game I want to be the person shouting "C'mon guys!", "Let's go!", "Let's have fun out here!"
What do you attribute to your success of having one of the best serves in the country?
JR: I think the reason my serve has been so good and consistent lately is because in the spring and in the summer I spent a lot of time working on it. I knew that last year I didn't get as many aces as I wanted to. Dave told me "Serve more aggressive, don't be afraid to make errors, just go out there and serve it." So during practices in the spring I would serve it as hard as I could and I would go in a lot in the summer and work on serving in specific zones, focusing on one thing at a time. I'm also stronger from all of our lifting in the spring and summer.
What do you want your legacy at Purdue to be?
JR: When I leave Purdue I want to be known as somebody who was nice to everyone and fun to be around. I never want to be known as a person others didn't want to be in a room with. I want to be known as down to earth and easy to talk to about anything.
I want to be that upperclassman that freshman can come talk to about any problems they may be having with school or volleyball. I enjoy being that person.
Outside of volleyball, what are you most passionate about?
JR: Outside of volleyball, I am most passionate about music. I have been singing ever since I was little and when I was in 8th grade I got my first guitar. I have been playing and singing ever since.
It's an escape for me. After a long day, I know I can come back and relax. If something wasn't going right maybe I can work through it with music. Even just a little jam in the car does the trick sometimes.
In addition to singing you also play the guitar and piano. How did you pick up those instruments?
JR: I got my first guitar for Christmas when I was in the eighth grade. From there YouTube became my best friend, because I taught myself how to play. The first song I learned how to play was You Belong with Me, by Taylor Swift. From there I slowly started learning more and more. And I learned piano pretty much the same way.
Where did your love for music come from?
JR: My love for music probably came from my dad, because he always made me listen to his old classic rock in the car. I learned all the words of those songs. I could probably sing to you any classic rock song you want. Those are some of my favorite songs now actually.
When do you realize your passion for singing?
JR: I got my first solo when I was in fourth grade. I sang Proud to Be an American at our Harvest Fest talent show and that was really cool for me. It was the first time I had ever sang in front of people and from then on I realized I loved it.
Describe how you feel when you're singing …
JR: When I am just in my room playing the guitar everything else kind of fades away. It's the most amazing feeling. If there was anything that's been bothering me, any problems I am having, they just kind of go away. It's just me and the music in the moment.
But then when I am in front of people singing, it is the most amazing feeling in the entire world. What I can compare it to is that it's like when you're in a really good volleyball game against a top-ten team. You're in the fifth set, they have match point, and you're back there knowing the serve is coming to you. The adrenalin is jumping. That's just how I feel every time I step on a stage. I just love that feeling.
Who is your favorite musician?
JR: My favorite musician in Carrie Underwood. I want to be her. I think she's the most perfect person in the whole world and I think she's so talented. I also think she's really stayed true to herself, which I think is really amazing. I love her music because it's very personable. It's more about the lyrics. She's known as being a story teller and that's what I try to do when I write music. I try to be as open as possible.
What's your go to song?
JR: I don't like singing the same song over and over, but a song I really like is Elton John's Your Song, but the Ellie Golding version. It's kind of my go-to song right now.
If you could collaborate with anyone on a song, who would it be and why?
JR: I would love to collaborate with Bruno Mars. He's so talented and such an amazing song writer. He's songs are also just so happy and upbeat. I think it would be absolutely amazing to do a song with him.
How would you describe yourself as a singer and a volleyball player?
JR: Julianna the singer is definitely very confident. I am somebody that's not afraid to take risks. Like you give me a hard song to sing and I know that I am going to nail it. I am going to do it. And then, Julianna the volleyball player is confident most of the time, but I still struggle with my confidence at times. If I am not playing well I can definitely get in my head and that is something I am really trying to work on.
If you were to become a fulltime artist, what would your sound be like?
JR: I would want my sound to be very acoustic, unplugged and focused on the lyrics.
If you could audition for any singing competition, which would it be and why?
JR: I would love to try out for American Idol, but on one condition. They have to bring back the original judges. With Simon Cowell, Reggie and Paula that was like best show ever. That's where Carrie Underwood was discovered, so that would definitely be the dream.
If you were to audition for a singing competition, what would you tryout song be?
JR: My tryout song would probably be Rolling in the Deep, because I know I can sing that song really well. I sang it my freshman year of high school at a recital and a piano bar one night. After my performance at the piano bar, I was actually approached by someone who worked in the music industry. He gave me his card and told me that I could go into a studio right at that moment, lay down a track and it wouldn't need any editing.
What's next for you?
JR: Right now I am focusing on passing my engineering classes because those are not easy. However, I have always told my dad that if I was able to graduate in December of my senior year, I think it would be so cool to go to Nashville for like six months and just see if there would be any opening in that industry. But again that's a dream and I don't know if it will actually happen.
Outside of music, I would really love to work for Disney as an industrial engineer. That's kind of my dream job right now, but the dream job also changes every few months so we will see.