Q&A with Paige Selenski

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The fourth-ranked Virginia field hockey team welcomes Boston University and No. 9 Boston College for games at the University Turf Field this weekend. The Cavaliers and Terriers play at 6 p.m. Friday before UVa opens Atlantic Coast Conference play at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Eagles. Sophomore Paige Selenski recently sat down with VirginiaSports.com to talk about the season, playing at the next level with high school teammate Tara Puffenberger and what she likes to do for fun.

Question: How is the team playing right now?
Selenski: We are really coming together and are able to get our combinations going. We are starting to pass really well and are working together as a team. We started off a little rough but now are pulling things together and it couldn’t have happened at a better time.

Question: What is it like playing with Tara (Puffenberger) at UVa after playing with her in high school?
Selenski: It was weird for me at first last year to come here and play with a new bunch of people. It’s kind of fun now to have her mixed in with everyone. I think we work well together because we have a good feeling of where each other is on the field. It’s great to have her here.

Question: What advice have you given her about playing college field hockey?
Selenski: It’s a lot more intense than high school, as far as practice goes, and lifting and film sessions. She has adjusted to it well.

Question: What kind of challenges will BU and BC present this weekend?
Selenski: They always come out really hard against us and we went into overtime with both teams last year. We have to come out with the same intensity that we did last Sunday against Michigan State.

Question: What about opening up ACC play on Sunday?
Selenski: It’s important for us to get off to a good start with as tough of a conference as the ACC is. Boston College is always really good and they have been playing well this season.

Question: How did you get started playing field hockey?
Selenski: I always wanted to play ice hockey when I was younger but my parents never let me. My mom saw an article in the newspaper for a field hockey camp, so I went to it. I had so much fun that I kept going every year. I stuck with it and then started playing in middle school during the season and also on an indoor team.

Question: What do you like about it?
Selenski: I like the way it is such a team sport and it’s a fun thing for me to be able to play with different people here and also on the USA U-21 Team. I love being able to travel and see different places.

Question: You have been to Mexico, Australia, Canada, Argentina and China. What has been your favorite place?
Selenski: I think I liked Australia the best. I had always wanted to go there since I was young. I thought it was beautiful there, in Sydney especially. But I liked China too because it’s such a different culture; it’s something totally different from life here.

Question: What did you take out of playing at the Junior World Cup and that whole experience?
Selenski: It’s just such a high level of play that you can only get better. It’s great to be able to take what I learned there and mesh it into this team. We help each other get better. It was so amazing to play against teams from all over the world.

Question: What are you thinking about majoring in?
Selenski: I’m thinking economics. I took Econ 201 and 202 and really enjoyed them. We’ll see.

Question: What do you like to do for fun?
Selenski: I love to go shopping. Michelle (Vittese) is such a bad influence of me. She has tactics for making me buy stuff. But I just like to hang out with my friends and family. I have an older brother and a younger brother, and my dad, they are always out here at the games supporting me.