Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with David Wolff, New Trier volleyball

David Wolff is a 6-foot-8 senior outside hitter for the Trevians. Wolff was selected as USA Volleyball’s junior male athlete of the year and is committed to Stanford University. He was also a forward on New Trier Green hockey, which recently won the AHAI state championship.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

For volleyball, I’d say I’m more superstitious than hockey. I usually have a Liquid IV right before the game and always tie my right shoe before my left. But for hockey, I’m not very superstitious at all.

2. Why is Stanford a good fit for you?

I’ve always wanted to go to a prestigious school. My former teammate Stefan Gjaja went to Princeton and I thought about Princeton, but when I went to Stanford and I saw that the campus was beautiful and the coaches and players were great. And I like being on the West Coast too.

3. If you had to choose, volleyball or hockey?

If I had to choose, I’d say hockey — actually, I’d say volleyball, because I think it’s more rewarding to play volleyball at a high level.

4. Are there benefits to playing those two sports?

To be honest, there are not too many connections, but I’ve been playing hockey a lot longer than I’ve been playing volleyball. One thing that’s helped me a lot is the hand-eye coordination. A lot of guys who are tall like me might have trouble making hard contact with the volleyball, but because I played hockey and so many ball sports, the hand-eye coordination goes a long way.

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

I really like golf, going with my friends. I actually like watching golf too. I just have a lot of respect for professionals who go in and grind and work every day. Golf is one of the only sports that you have complete control over. It’s a mental game, and I think i’m mentally tough. It would be fun to play golf at a high level.

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

Probably just hang out with my friends. We like to play poker a lot. Just talking with my friends. We play pickeball and paddle, too.

7. What is your favorite athlete?

I’d say Michael Phelps. I watched a documentary (on Phelps) when I was young and the amount of work he puts in is really respectable and I’ve always admired his dedication to the sport, even through controversy and stuff like that.

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

I like sunflower seeds, so probably a bag of Bar-B-Q Biggs and probably just a Smart Water.

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

I’m really organized. I’m not diagnosed but I think I have some sort of (obsessive compulsive disorder). My room is always super clean and I always have tasks I have to do each day. And I like to clean, always helping my parents out in the kitchen

10. What are the volleyball team’s hopes for this season?

We’re only one game in, but we’re already a team showing a lot of promise, especially defensively we’ve made a lot of strides. I think we’re already better defensively than last year. We have a couple big games coming up. I think our ultimate goal is obviously winning state, but that starts with a sectional championship and that’s something we’d have to battle for. I think we’re capable of that.

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