Illana De Asis, a kinesiology senior from Chapadao do Ceu, Brazil, is an outside hitter for the UTRGV Volleyball Team. She was recently named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of The Week after her performance in three games at the Zips/Cleveland State University Invitational in Ohio, tallying 63 kills and 32 digs on .302 hitting.
Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: “I can play many sports, and I can play a little bit of guitar.”
Q: Who or what got you started in volleyball?
A: “I’m from a small town in Brazil. … My mom was like, ‘You have to play something. You can’t be just in the house all day.’ So, I started to do something because I started [school] in the morning and in the afternoon, I stayed home, so I was just playing with my dog. … I was upset because I had nothing to do. And then, my friends put me on sports. I started with soccer, but my mom didn’t like it because I got hurt every time, so I played volleyball.
Q: Who has been your biggest inspiration or role model?
A: “When I started playing volleyball, I [wanted] to be like [Gabriela “Gabi” Guimarães]. She’s an outside [hitter] from Brazil. She’s like my height and she’s very good. In volleyball, you have to be tall. So, I was like, ‘I can’t play pro.’ But, then, I saw her and I wanted to be like her.”
Q: What kind of music do you like to listen to?
A: “I do like country.”
Q: Any shows or movies you like to watch?
A: “[‘Facing the Giants,’] that’s my favorite movie.”
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: “I do play soccer and tennis and padel. We have a [padel] club here in McAllen.”
Q: What is your biggest motivation?
A: “I think having a degree. I think since I was a kid and I’m short, my parents forced me to go and study. When [I saw that] I could do both, it was perfect because I was about to stop playing volleyball. So, I’m motivated to finish my senior year good and have a degree.”
Q: What do you like the most about UTRGV?
A: “The community. … When I got here, everybody was nice and everybody is helping each other. And I like that.”
Q: What are your biggest goals?
A: “I think last year, I didn’t play that good in the season. I had many problems outside of volleyball and inside of volleyball. My biggest goal now is [to] finish strong this season and finish my degree and be able to look later in life and say, ‘I did that.’ It feels good.”
–Compiled by Ali Halloum
