Middle blocker brings good attitude, offense to team

If there's anything sophomore Katie Pollom brings to the volleyball team besides experience and athletic ability, it must be her enthusiasm.\n"I think first you have to look at Katie's spirit," coach Katie Weismiller said. "She's got a great outlook on life. Katie is almost always in a good mood and that brings so much to the team." \nThis 6'3" Indianapolis native graduated from Cathedral High School, where she was a four-year varsity starter in volleyball. Pollom, a middle blocker on the team, was an Indiana All-Star as a senior and in 1999 received the Class 3A IHSAA Mental Attitude Award. \nShe attributes her accomplishments to her coaches and family.\nPollom's father played basketball for Hanover College, and her grandfather played basketball for Butler. Pollom tried basketball in high school, but found she liked volleyball better. \n"I played basketball for two years in high school," Pollom said. "I wasn't aggressive enough as I needed to be on the basketball court, so I decided to focus on volleyball."\nPollom began playing volleyball in the fifth grade and started club volleyball in the eighth grade. \nAfter high school, Pollom wanted to play for a Big Ten school.\n"I love the competition in the Big Ten," Pollom said. "I also chose IU because it's close to home. I really like the coaches and the team as well."\nAn injury kept Pollom red-shirted last season. Two stress fractures in her back kept Pollom from being able to play as a freshman.\n"Katie has learned so much," Weismiller said. "I think she learned a lot sitting out and not being able to go through the drills or practice. It really gave her the want and desire to be on the court. \n"A lot of players take that for granted and she knows what its like to be on the sidelines. She's worked really hard to be in the position that she's in today."\nHer teammates had compliments for Pollom on the court as well.\n"More than anything, Katie is a great offensive player," junior Laurie Gardner said.\nPollom said she was excited to play in her first college game this past weekend. She said although college volleyball is a lot of tough work, it's worth it just to have the experience. \n Weismiller said she has seen Pollom improve throughout last year and said she is impressed with where her abilities are today.\n "A year ago, I might have been doubtful that she would step on the court this year at this point in time, but now she's looking at a starting position, and certainly providing us with a lot more offense," Weismiller said.\nLike many athletes, Pollom has goals for the team and herself.\n"I definitely hope to make it to the NCAA tournament this year, and to get as far as we can go. We have a strong team this year. We're a little older than we were last year and we've got a lot of potential with this team," Pollom said. "I hope to be a leader even though I'm young, and to help the team in any way I can by being an offensive threat and a strong blocker, are some of my goals."\nWeismiller said she believes Pollom has good leadership qualities as well.\n"She's a leader to some extent, even though just a freshman on the court," Weismiller said.\nIn high school, Pollom earned Academic All-State Honorable Mention. Now in college, although studying with an undeclared major, Pollom has to work even harder at grades, she said.\n"It's difficult, I definitely have to budget my time," Pollom said. "It makes me get things done because I know I have to do my homework."\nPollom is often seen joking with her team, but her teammates also said she knows when to get down to be business and be serious.\n"She's just a great girl," Gardner said. "She's such a fun person to have on the team and she makes me laugh. Katie brings a lot of humor to practices."\n"You look at her personality and athletic ability, and she's quite an individual," Weismiller said.