Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Jack Lopez, Loyola volleyball

Jack Lopez is a senior outside hitter for the Ramblers. He racked up 18 kills in a three-set victory against New Trier on Wednesday, April 24.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

This year especially, I’ve worn those tights, the leggings, in every single game. I wore them last year during club and this year during club. I feel like I won’t jump the same if I don’t wear them. It feels different. And pregame I always just listen to music, keep it simple, just try to get some energy going.

2. What are your plans for next year?

I don’t have anything set in stone. It would be nice to play, but I’m also considering education pretty strongly. I would like to study chemistry and then play club (volleyball) definitely. I’m just looking forward to going to college and getting a good education.

3. When did you get into volleyball?

It’s a funny story. I was a kid when it started. I would always go to my sisters tournaments, and my dad was always a coach. … I enjoyed the sport and watching it, but I was always a basketball player and pursued it heavily. It wasn’t until about sophomore year that I fell in love with (volleyball) as a player after I broke my arm and switched over. I’ve loved it ever since. But it was definitely my dad. He taught me how to dig and has always been my biggest supporter.

4. What do you enjoy most about volleyball?

There are team sports that are just called that because of the people out there, but I love that in volleyball other people have to come together. You have to work with other people. I’ve always enjoyed my teammates and have been blessed with great teammates who are friends off the court — both club and in school. I love to get a whole team firing. There’s no better feeling. And personally, I love blocking. There is nothing I love more than getting a block.

5. If you could play another sport, what would it be?

Hockey. I’ve never really played hockey. I’ve always been a bad skater. I feel like hockey would be a fun sport to be good at. It’s really fast paced. I love the pace of hockey. It’s so fun to watch in person.

6. What is your favorite thing to do off the court?

Honestly, my favorite pastime would be spending time with friends. But I love just shooting hoops, turning on some music. I also like golf. So golf or basketball I’d say.

7. What is your dream job?

I would love to be in a front office for a pro team. Outside of being a player, I’d love to be a GM for an NBA team. I love being in the sports world. There is no other world that even compares to it. I’d love to be able to manage things, use my skills however I am best equipped.

8. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

I’d probably go with an Arizona (Iced Tea), just like the original half and half, one of the tall ones, and then probably like sour gummy worms, like Trollis, whatever they have there.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

Something random about me is my dad kicked me out of practice once in middle school. That’s pretty funny. I was just talking too much and he kicked me out.

10. What is crucial to this team getting to where it wants to be?

We’ve done a good job so far — we could do better — but what’s crucial for us is just to win the next touch. The only thing that matters is the next touch. Whoever wins state, wins state. Anything could happen, but I’ve always learned about enjoying the moment, playing and having fun, and giving everything. We have to make the most of every moment. I learned that from our seniors last year. For me and the 10 seniors on the team, we can’t worry but just enjoy the next rep and make the most of it.

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