The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
VOLLEYBALL ALL-AMERICANS: Where are they now? LAUREN PAOLINI
04.01.2016 | Volleyball
Longhorn Lauren Paolini is playing professionally and competing with Team USA.
AUSTIN, Texas - Longhorn Lauren Paolini graduated from the University of Texas in 2009, earning AVCA All-America honors in consecutive years, including a First Team accolade in 2008. She led the Longhorns to a 2008 NCAA Semifinal appearance in her senior season after posting a single-season record .478 hitting percentage, a mark that ranked second nationally. In her four years at Texas, she finished with a .373 hitting percentage (1,026-260-2,055), which ranks as the second-highest mark for any Longhorn in history.
Q. What are you doing now?
LP: Currently playing in the Japanese V-League for Hitachi Rivale. It's my 3rd season playing for Hitachi and my 6th season abroad. We have just completed the playoff round of 6 and my team has finished in first place, which allows us to bypass the semi-finals and advance directly to the championship match on in Tokyo! We are all very excited. It is a major step for this program.
Also, I have been training and competing with Team USA every summer since graduating from college. This summer is the Rio Olympics and I'm really hoping to make the team!
Q. What has your professional career been like (where have you played, any highlights)?
LP: My first professional season I played for Asystel Novara, an A1 team in Northern Italy. We were a young team with a great coach and many of the players from that team are now doing really well in many different leagues and national teams across the world.
My second season I played for an A2 team in Crema, Italy. We won the championship that year the team moved up to the first division. It was a really fun year with a great group of people.
My third season I returned to Crema to compete as the team had now advanced to A1 division. The team was comprised of mostly the same players from the previous year whom I had already formed friendships and court relationships with. Italy had a lot of economic problems that year and the team ended up shutting down mid-way through the season along with some other teams in the Italian league including Ashley Engle's team in Giaveno. Ashley and I spent that Christmas in Italy, essentially unemployed, but it still remains as one of my all-time favorite memories of living abroad.
In February, I picked up a contract in Baku, Azerbaijian with Iqtisadchi Baku and finished out the season there earning best blocker of the league. After Baku, I signed in Japan with Hitachi Rivale, a club that would be playing their first season in Japan's top division, and I have played the past 3 professional seasons here.
Q. How do you adjust to playing with different teams and learning different cultures?
LP: In the beginning it was really difficult, because every coach had his or her own philosophy and I was feeling overwhelmed having to learn new techniques with every new team. Some coaches would train the exact opposite technique of other coaches. As I grew older and gained more experience, I learned to appreciate the different styles and found that some techniques worked better with some teams and vice versa. What's important was always trying to learn and perfect my skill.
Q. What is your training regime like?
LP: In Japan, we play every Saturday and Sunday. Mondays are a recovery lift day, Tuesdays are free, Wednesday we have practice and weights, Thursday we practice in the morning and then travel to our game location, Friday we practice in the game gym and then play on Saturday. Traveling from Thursday to Sunday every week may seem like a lot, but it keeps the season moving and we get to travel to a lot of cool places in Japan!
Q. Do you have a favorite moment from your time at Texas?
LP: Absolutely. My favorite moment, without a doubt, was my senior season when we qualified for the final four for the first time in many years and were able to do it on our home court in Gregory Gymnasium in front of 5,000 of our own fans. It was an incredible experience and something that had been talked about since my recruiting days on campus. There had been so much blood, sweat and tears that it took to get the program to that point but, looking back, it was totally worth it. I still remember the dog pile, hugging my teammates, singing the "Eyes of Texas" and looking up to see my parents in the stands after that match. An incredible moment.
Q. What has been the highlight of your professional career so far?
LP: The highlight of my professional career abroad was probably winning a championship with my Italian team, Crema Volley, in my second season. That is my volleyball- specific highlight, at least. I think if we are talking about my professional career as a whole, the highlight would be the number of incredible people I have met and friends I have made along way. I, of course, have seen some incredible things and have been to unimaginable places across the world, but it really comes down to the people I have met. They are what make the journey worth it. I have been really fortunate to have really enjoyable experiences abroad with great teams and organizations.
Q. What advice do you have for the current/future Longhorn volleyball players?
LP: Enjoy college! So many people say that college was the best four years of their life and they are RIGHT! Live it up! :) Not that life after college is so bad, but college volleyball was such a fun (and organized) experience! I, like many, grew up on college athletics and rivalries. Having the chance to be a part of a university that so strongly supports its athletic program is really an opportunity unique to Texas.
For those who decide to continue playing post-college, make the most of your time abroad. Travel, explore, try new foods, meet new people, learn and new language and take it all in. You get out what you put into the experience.
