Q&A with Beth Wildermuth

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Junior setter Beth Wildermuth (San Clemente, Calif.) recently talked with VirginiaSports.com about the 2011 season, playing an important position like setter and her love of motion pictures.

Question: Rate last weekend’s performance against Clemson and Georgia Tech and how is the team preparing for this weekend’s matches at Miami and Florida State?
Wildermuth: Last weekend was disheartening with two losses to teams that we could have beaten. A few things broke down and we let Clemson and Georgia Tech control the pace of the game. We let them off the hook a little bit. Overall, we showed we can play with teams like that and were able to have good energy. I think this weekend more than ever, we just need to be fired up and look for some redemption. We’re working really hard in the gym on passing this week, so hopefully it will pay off.

Question: With only a couple seniors on the team, what can you take from this season to build on?
Wildermuth: I think next year is going to be really great. We are winning a few games here and there against some really big teams and the games we are losing, we’re not being blown out of the water, so I think we know we can hang with them and a year more of maturity and a year more of playing together will pay off. Everyone is dedicated to working really hard, so the more time we have to work at it, the better we’ll be.

Question: With being the setter, what is the hardest part about being the ‘quarterback’ of the offense?
Wildermuth: I think being a setter your mind has to be in so many different places at the same time. You have to be thinking about the offensive game plan, the defensive game plan, trying to make sure your hitters are all in check, making sure everyone is pumped up and when anything goes wrong, it’s your job to patch everything up. You have to hustle down the balls and make sure it’s a good ball for the hitter, no matter what. There’s a lot of pressure and there’s a lot of strategy involved, but I love it.

Question: What’s more satisfying, getting the point yourself or setting the ball up for a perfect kill by a teammate?
Wildermuth: I definitely would say getting the assist. If I can trick the other team’s blockers and get Mallory (Woolridge) or Simone (Asque) one-on-one and they kill the ball, I know I did my job and I don’t need the kill, I’m excited to get them the kill.

Question: You started your collegiate career at Notre Dame, how did you end up at UVa?
Wildermuth: After I transferred back home after my first year at Notre Dame, I was back in California looking to go somewhere. I knew I wanted to get out of California again. Coach Lee Maes is from Huntington Beach and knew my club coach, so it magically worked out. They got me over here on a visit and I fell in love with the team, fell in love with school, knew this was it and said sign me up.

Question: What part of UVa outside of volleyball attracted you the most?
Wildermuth: Overall, the school’s history and tradition of being such a good academic and athletic school and having such deep historical roots. I just wanted to be a part of that.

Question: What are your plans after Virginia?
Wildermuth: To be determined! I honesty do not know because I am the most competitive person I know, so something along the lines of being able to compete. Whether it’s trying to do running or beach volleyball, I need to pick something else up so I can keep competing in something. Maybe even coaching, because I love the game and I don’t think I can get away from it, but I’m definitely going back to California and figuring it out from there.

Question: What’s your favorite class at UVa?
Wildermuth: My favorite class I’ve taken is American Film Noir, it’s like 1940’s gangster movies. I took it in the summer with the coolest teacher at this school and fell in love with old movies and film.

Question: Based on your newfound love of movies, would you want work in them?
Wildermuth: After taking that class, I’ve taken American Stardom and 1930’s Film, so I really do like film and I love going to the movies. Ask anyone on the team, if anyone wants to go to the movies, I’ll say yes, no matter what. It’s definitely impacted me, but I don’t know if I want to work in them.

Question: What’s the best movie you’ve seen lately?
Wildermuth: In the theatre, I saw Moneyball with Brad Pitt last weekend with my parents and it was really good. It’s a sports movie, which I really like and it was witty, funny and had a good story. In class, I would have to go with Shadow of a Doubt. It’s an Albert Hitchcock film from 1943, so it’s very creepy but really good at the same time. I highly recommend it.