When senior volleyball player Stephanie Robbins talks about Georgia Tech history, people listen. Nicknamed "Miss Georgia Tech" by her friends and teammates, the second-generation Yellow Jacket bleeds white and gold. She took some time to talk to the theACC.com about volleyball, Georgia Tech and the Ramblin' Wreck.
When someone says Ramblin' Wreck or Georgia Tech or Buzz, what feelings do you get?
Being a third-generation Tech fan, I get really excited because that is how I grew up - on Tech athletics. I went to my first basketball game when I was two weeks old. I get really excited knowing about the history of Tech and all of the awesome traditions. The Institute is really amazing in athletics, with tradition in football and volleyball. And the academics are great too.
When and how did you start playing volleyball?
Quick Facts
Favorite Movie: Gladiator
Favorite Pro Athlete: Mia Hamm
Hidden Fear: Flying
Favorite Musical Group: Rascal Flatts
Favorite Pregame Meal: Chili's
Favorite Place on Campus: Our Locker Room
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I started playing when I was a freshman in high school. My dad and my mom both went to Tech and we started going to volleyball games here when I was eight or nine. I always loved volleyball, but being from Georgia, the (developmental) volleyball programs are a little behind so the first leagues you can play in are your high school teams. When I made the team my freshman year, that's when I really fell in love with the sport.
Did you play any other sports in high school?
I swam and I played soccer.
How does it feel to carry on your family's athletic tradition at Georgia Tech?
It is really awesome. (My parents) were so excited when Coach (Shymansky) offered me the position as a walk-on during the Spring of my senior year in high school. We were ecstatic that I would represent an entity that I absolutely love.
Did you ever consider going anywhere else?
I did. I got accepted at Purdue. I wouldn't have played volleyball there. I was looking at other schools for academics, but I'm an industrial engineer and obviously Tech has the number one program for that. When the whole volleyball thing worked out, it was a perfect fit.
What are your thoughts on earning a scholarship for your senior season?
It is truly an honor. I never would have expected it. When Coach set up the meeting with my parents about "fundraising", we were really confused about what was going on. It turns out that the "fundraiser" was for me to have a scholarship my senior year. I was really grateful he gave me the scholarship.
What is the Iron Jacket Award and how did you earn it?
It is the strength and conditioning award. It goes to the person on the team that the strength coach thinks is the hardest worker, the most dedicated - the person that is always loving the weight room and going the extra step.
What has been your best volleyball trip? Either during the season or off-season?
We went to Europe the summer after my sophomore year and that was absolutely amazing. We traveled around Germany and Austria and went to the Czech Republic for two weeks. It was absolutely amazing. I had never been to Europe before. Being able to spend so much time with my teammates and my coaches and seeing all of the sights while still being able to play volleyball was great.
What do you want to do after you graduate?
I have been thinking about that a lot recently. I am really interested in consulting, mainly because I worked in a cubicle this summer and didn't like it. I am pretty outgoing, pretty social and love to interact with other people, so the cubicle wasn't my thing. Consulting offers a lot of diversity as far as the projects you are working on (they change every few months). Recently I have become interested in sports management. It would be awesome to be an athletic director.
What do you do when you're away from the court?
I am involved a lot around campus. I am in the Ramblin' Reck Club, which is a history and traditions spirit club on campus. We just made a book called the "T Book" which used to be made back in the '60s. I was the designer of that. I worked with nine of my closest friends in the Reck Club went through and researched athletics, history and traditions. That is what I have been doing for the last five or six months.
What does the Ramblin' Reck Club do? Have you ever driven it?
The Ramblin' Reck Club takes care of the Ramblin' Reck. I was actually privileged enough to be in the Georgia Tech PSA this year. The Reck was in it and they approached the Reck driver, who is a really good friend of mine, and he thought I would be perfect for driving it (you have to be in the club to drive the Reck). I happened to be one of the girls in Atlanta this past summer, so I was able to be in the commercial. It was awesome because that is such a huge part of Tech. It is a symbol that people around the country know.
How many people called you the first time it aired?
I tried to keep it a secret for a while. I didn't tell my teammates until it was released to the media. The only people that knew about it for a while were my mom and the people that were involved in the filming. I really tried to keep it quiet. Then I told my teammates and most of my closest friends. The first game I didn't get too many calls. It was actually the second game, when people realized that really was me, because they didn't believe it the first time they saw it. My phone was going crazy with people calling and saying "I saw you on TV!"
How do you manage to maintain a strong academic record and still play volleyball and participate in other activities?
It takes a lot of discipline. I work better when I have more of things to do. Then I have to budget my time and be constantly doing something. I get bored really easily and if I don't have anything to do then I am going crazy. The more stuff I have to do, the more productive I am.
What is the best advice you have ever received from a coach?
Never give up. I have had my strength coach and volleyball coaches all tell me to keep fighting, to stay with it. The rewards will come from it. The reward came this year with my scholarship and a lot more playing time than I have had before. Just never giving up and knowing that you can achieve what you are fighting for.
What is your game day routine?
I'm not superstitious. I don't have anything that stands out. For home games, I have to go to class before the game, which kind of stinks. We go to our pregame meal. I don't go sit in a corner and hang out with myself. I try to be social, listen to some music - just try to stay relaxed.
What does the team still hope to accomplish this season?
We want to win out the rest of the games in the ACC. We want to win the ACC and go on to the NCAA's. We have to bounce back from a loss to Virginia Tech, but we are looking forward to going out this weekend and showing that we are the best team in the ACC.
What does Georgia Tech mean to you?
I don't even know where to start with that. Georgia Tech is my life. I am from Atlanta, and being on the campus growing up and now being a part of the Tech community is awesome. I wouldn't change anything for the world. It is my inspiration. It is who I am. People joke and say "Miss Georgia Tech did this." I know all of the Tech trivia. I know everything about the school and how amazing it is.
Robbins and Georgia Tech return to action on Friday against Florida State at 7:00 p.m.
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