Sydney Schoen, a graduate student pursuing a master’s in bioethics, is the libero for UTRGV’s Volleyball Team. Schoen attended Hauser Junior-Senior High School in Hope, Indiana, and was volleyball team captain her last two years there. She then attended Eastern Kentucky University and opened the season with a win her last year there.
Q: What are some of your hobbies/things you do for fun outside of volleyball?
A: “When I’m not playing volleyball, I like to watch TV. I’m a big Netflix and Hulu person. I like to work out when I’m not in season, like, on my own. I also like to spend time with friends and family, whether that’s being outside by the pool or at the beach or something like that. I really enjoy being out in the sun and doing some sort of activity.”
Q: What movies or shows do you like?
A: “I am a huge fan of reality TV shows. I like ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians,’ ‘Selling Sunset.’ Anything on HGTV or the Food Network. … I like to watch Netflix series. It just depends on what the series is. … Right now, I’m watching ‘Bridgerton.’ It’s pretty good. But I watch ‘Selling Sunset’ on Netflix.”
Q: What kind of music do you like listening to?
A: “I like a wide variety of music. Probably, my favorite genre is R&B. … I like Bryson Tiller, Rod Wave. The new album just came out. Drake, those types of things. Like, some of the older music. I like pretty much anything except I’m not a huge country fan. I like listening to it before practices and games. … I feel like it gets me ready for the game or whatever I’m getting ready to go do. I also really like female artists like Arianna Grande, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, and Nicki Minaj is probably my favorite. Also, since I’ve been at UTRGV, I’ve listened to a lot of music, like Spanish music. Bad Bunny. Since I’ve been here, I’ve heard a lot of Bad Bunny.”
Q: What do you like about reality TV shows?
A: “I honestly think I like watching the drama. … Like, ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians,’ for instance. I’m just interested in their life. I really think it’s the drama, and you really don’t know what you’re going to expect or something that’s always going to happen. I’ve just been drawn to that type of stuff. Also, I feel like sometimes with like series, they kind of get played out. They just kind of drag on for a while if the series gets too long. So I think that’s why I like reality TV shows.”
Q: What is ‘Selling Sunset’ about?
A: “It’s about LA real estate. It’s women working in an office and two men who own the company. They dress up all glamorous and go sell houses. Yeah, I like anything HGTV cooking. I like Gordon Ramsey. I like his shows. … I love ‘Master Chef.’ I don’t like the first seasons as much as the later seasons. … I like watching because I’m like, ‘Oh, I can definitely make this.’ Then I go try to make it and it’s, like, ‘No.’ But, yeah, I like cooking shows.”
Q: What are your career plans?
A: “Right now, I am getting my master’s in bioethics. And then I plan on attending medical school once I’m done with my master’s in bioethics. My overall goal would be working in orthopedics with a professional sports team. I really would love to be a team doctor and work with athletes.”
Q: Who inspires you?
A: “Definitely my family probably inspires me the most. My parents, they both were Division 1 athletes, and then my dad played in the minor leagues for baseball. … Being a part of a team inspires me just to work hard and do my best for the team.”
–Compiled by Jose Medina
