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Fifth-year co-captain Meghan O’Leary and the Virginia softball team returns to Charlottesville this week for the team’s home opener Wednesday against James Madison and the Atlantic Coast Conference home opener this weekend against Florida State. Two games with the Seminoles will be broadcast on ACC Select at www.accselect.com.
QUESTION: Are you ready for the home opener this week?
O’Leary: It’s exciting. One, we have been on the road for too long. Two, the aspect of having lights on the field it’s more and more becoming home. And it will have been a week since we have seen a game so we will be excited to play again. We have proven to ourselves we can win but we want to show to the people who don’t expect a lot out of us that this year is going to be different.
QUESTION: How good did it feel to start the ACC season off on the right foot, with a series win at Georgia Tech?
O’Leary: I think starting off with a win was great; two wins was huge, especially trying to carry this momentum into the rest of ACC play. To already surpass our victories from last year, it shows us that we can do it. Georgia Tech has been ranked this season and is usually in the top half of the conference. We don’t like to lose to them. It felt great to grab two wins from them, especially on the road.
QUESTION: How was the spring break trip?
O’Leary: It was long and we had our ups and downs. In Jacksonville, we played one really bad day, then played really well the next day, then dropped the ball the next day. So we are still having ups and downs. Coming out against GT we were about where we wanted to be with ACC starting. Coming up to Louisville and not playing was disappointing but we had a good time. We made the most of it and I think everyone is glad to be home.
QUESTION: Does a long trip like that help bring the team together more?
O’Leary: I think it did. Well, I think it can go either way, but even though we were stuck in a hotel, we found ways to have our space. We learned how to solidify our team chemistry with trying to get to know each other better. All and all it was a good week in terms of on and off the field.
QUESTION: You’ve played for few different coaching staffs during your time here. What makes these coaches – Coach Schmidt, Coach Monroe and Coach Freed stand out?
O’Leary: I know for that me, my parents both came to watch us play last week. They have seen me over my five years, the reactions of myself, as well as the team, to our coaches. Both my parents have said we are smiling. We are having fun and playing the game. We are playing together and respecting each other. To have someone with an external viewpoint say that means a lot. I am just glad I have learned to love the game again. I truly enjoy playing. Our coaches are holding those principles in high regard. They make us work hard but they respect us and it is huge for the growth of this team and the future. We have had our ups and downs, as any team should, but we have done some great things and that is a testament to having a great coaching staff above us.
QUESTION: How would you describe your role as a co-captain?
O’Leary: I know Whitney (Holstun) and I have been working really hard to smooth out the kinks we had the first few weeks of the season. We are talking a lot about things we can do to bring each other together. We are making sure we have the same goals and part of that is holding each other accountable. I want to be able to lead by example but also lead with voice and give direction. I experienced good wins and terrible losses and trying to find my way to keep moving forward.
QUESTION: What are your future plans?
O’Leary: I do have a couple of job interviews coming up but I plan to go into TV and film production, whether it be sports, news, maybe even documentaries. That will either start this summer or next fall. I am looking at NBC, Fox Sports South, perhaps even ESPN we’ll see what happens.