The University of Mississippi Athletics
Heck Leads Rebels To South Carolina, No. 10 Florida
10/22/2009 | Volleyball
Athletics Media Relations Assistant
OXFORD, Miss. -- The Rebel volleyball team will be filled with vengeance and intensity this weekend according to sophomore defensive specialist Catherine Heck as the Rebels travel to take on South Carolina and 10th-ranked Florida in a pair of weekend matches.
Ole Miss (8-12, 2-8 SEC) kicks off the second half of Southeastern Conference play this weekend on the road, taking on a pair of teams who defeated the Rebels in the first meeting to open SEC play a month ago.
"Everyone on the team is dying to beat South Carolina because of what they did to us here and the embarrassment they put us through," she said. "We're preparing more for them. We played Florida first last time. We were on a high with Florida and we didn't take South Carolina as seriously as we should have last time, so we are preparing more for them."
Heck is referring to the first conference matches played at the Gillom Center against the No. 5 Florida Gators on Friday, Sept. 18, and South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday, Sept. 20. The Rebels played five sets in the heartbreaking loss against the nationally-ranked Gators, then unexpectedly allowed South Carolina to beat them in three straight sets two days later.
This weekend, the situation is reversed. The Rebels play at South Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m. then take on Florida on their home court on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
"The Florida match here was one of the most awesome matches, and I think one of the biggest things (on our mind) is that we didn't really get a lot of credit when we took them to five sets here," Heck explained. "I think that's made everyone motivated. It makes us want to go to their court, play well and hopefully beat them."
Heck, a Kingwood, Texas, native who had 14 digs and one service ace against Florida in September, said she is attempting to improve her serve receive passing and defense to give her team a better shot of winning both rematches this weekend.
"I feel like my type of serve is the serve that could be a game-changer,"' she said. "I feel like if I go back there and nail my serve, that brings the whole team confidence. I think serving is one of my strong points, so I have to perform well."
The 5 foot 7 inch defensive specialist also had one service ace and eight digs against South Carolina the last time the two teams faced-off.
Heck wasn't always a defensive specialist, however.
"Coming to college was the first time I played defensive specialist," she said. "I've been an outside hitter all my life. I played front row and back row so it wasn't that big of a difference, but I just didn't get to hit anymore."
She was not deterred by the change in positions, stating that "hitting is fun, but defense was always my favorite part of the game."
The youngest of four, Heck has three older brothers who she says made her tough at home. "When I was younger, I was the biggest tomboy. I always wanted to be in baggy shorts and run around playing with them."
Now, her teammates and coaches make her tough on the court.
"I've learned so much more here," she said. "I've matured from my freshman year both as a player and a person."
Her boyfriend Andy Hartmann, senior fullback for the Rebel football team, also provides emotional support when things get difficult both off and on the court.
"It's easy because we both know the difficulties of being a student athlete," she said. "I was pretty down after the State game, and he knew what I was going through so he could pick me up pretty easily. He knew what to say to cheer me up and get my mind focused on the game on Sunday."
Heck said she is going to do her part this weekend to get revenge on both teams they are facing, whether that's playing to the best of her ability or encouraging her teammates.
"I think one of my strengths is being the voice on the team," she said. "I'm always talking to players on the court and during rallies. I try to keep everyone positive."
