There's nothing like doing homework while hurtling down the freeway at 60 miles an hour. While many University students find a quiet table in Clemons Library to study, Stephanie Everett, a junior middle and English major from Cincinnati, Ohio, has to improvise on long road trips with the volleyball team, often getting her work done on planes, buses and in crowded airports.
"Usually teachers are really good about it," Everett said. "Especially when we have big buses, there's always a table set up for studying on the bus. We also have time in the airport. As long as you use your time wisely, you can get it done."
Although it can be tough being away many weekends during the fall, Everett says her friends have gotten used to her being away after three seasons on the volleyball team.
From her perspective, Virginia coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton said she appreciates the relatively low-key time spent in Memorial Gymnasium compared to a breakneck schedule on the road.
"It's a huge stress-reducer when girls can actually go to class instead of having to make up work," Shelton said.
For Everett and the rest of her team, though, the trade-offs are just another casualty of being in season -- something other athletes can understand.
"There is some balance [between sports and a social life]," Everett said. "A lot of my friends are athletes, so it's understandable because we're all in season at different times. We have occasional nights, but it's not really that big of a deal."
The Cavaliers have had to juggle their personal schedules a lot lately with two road trips over the past two weekends. Time away from Charlottesville has paid off, however, as Virginia now boasts a team-record five-game winning streak and sits in third place in the ACC.
"I think the winning streak has brought us together and given us more confidence," Everett said. "Our team chemistry is really good."
This weekend, the Cavaliers travel south once again to face Clemson and Georgia Tech, fourth and seventh in the ACC, respectively. The team then has a home stand against second-place North Carolina and the Wolfpack of N.C. State.
Virginia, which holds a 7-2 ACC record, leads the conference in kills, averaging almost 17 per game.
Individually, sophomore outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood's average of 4.94 kills ranks first in the conference, while her sister Emily's 13.73 assists per game also tops the ACC.
While it may be tough to balance school work and practice on the road, Everett and the rest of the Cavaliers are happy to trade some homework inconvenience for a shot at the ACC title -- something this weekend's road trip will bring much closer.
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