10 Questions With ... Preslee Richelieu -- Beach Volleyball

Our first of two 10-question features for beach volleyball comes courtesy of Preslee Richelieu, who has played for the Pirate beach and indoor programs during her career at Orange Coast College.

1. Do you remember when you first started playing beach volleyball? What is it about the sport you love so much? And … tell us how you made it here to OCC??

"I started when I was a junior in high school. I actually started playing Misty May-Trainor at the Dream in Gold Beach Program and when she got the job at Long Beach City College, she asked me to play for her. I spent some time there, but wasn't completely happy, so Misty helped me find a place where I could be happy, so she reached out to Chuck and he and I got in touch.  I transferred to OCC in 2018-19 and I had to redshirt for the beach team. I just fell in love with the coaching staff, which made it even easier. Chuck is so encouraging, and he sees the best in his players … I just love it!"

2. In addition to your time with the Beach VB program, you've also been a part of the OCC indoor volleyball team. Tell me about the differences and similarities between the two sports? What is it about the beach game that you like that the indoor sport doesn't offer?

"Beach, as a whole, I enjoy better. I love being in the sand, down by the water … you really can't beat it. Beach is a bit more laid back and since we are 2-on-2, if you make a mistake, you're not going to be taken out or anything. You have to rely on yourself to overcome the hurdles. This sport pushes yourself to get out of your head without anyone else helping. You get the opportunity to do all facets of the game, whereas in indoor, you focus one or two particular skills. Indoor has six girls on one side and the momentum that can bring with everyone's energy … it's harder to find that same energy and feed off of that in a two-person game. I also think training at the beach really helps your indoor game. With beach, its more of a mental game and reading the ball and physically speaking it takes less toll on my body."

3. How has it been playing for Chuck? What have you learned from him during your time at OCC?

"For my case, when I was going to Long Beach, I just wasn't enjoying the sport. I forgot why I was playing the sport and why I loved it. I would dread going to practice and going to games and when I came to OCC, with how welcoming Chuck was and how he makes it such a positive environment, I found the love of the sport again.  Of course, coaches get mad at players during a match, but that wasn't a huge deal for me. When we are conditioning, or even when we are in trouble, he's encouraging us to finish. You can tell he really cares about his players. He will send us random texts to check up on us and see how classes have been and our holidays. He really wants the best."

4. What has it been like during this pandemic and what have you been able to do to stay sharp as we head towards the 2021 season?

"Beach is a public place! They can't really top us from doing that, so I've been playing lots of beach. Playing during the pandemic is not just for practice, but for a stress outlet from what's going on. When I'm on the beach, I can focus on what I'm trying to do. I'm also working at a gym, which is tough for me with us opening and closing back and forth. I've been doing a lot of home workouts. My family loves the outdoors, but I don't think we've been as outside as much as we've been during this time."

5. OK … fun volleyball question for you … so if I gave you an opportunity to partner up with any famous beach volleyball player, who would it be and why?

"Easy … Misty May-Trainor. I've gotten the privilege of playing with her. She is someone who is very encouraging, and she believes in their partner more than her partner believes in themselves. Her game is so smart and strategic. The way she reads the ball is something I wish I could learn."

6. If I gave you a 24-hour pass from COVID and you could do anything that you used to do, what would it be?? What do you miss the most from this isolation??

"I would just love to just have a normal practice or scrimmage with my teammates! Or, just go on vacation without wearing a mask."

7. All kids like to eat … what are your favorite meals??
   1. Favorite food in general – "Cheeseburgers …"
   2. Favorite pre-match snack – I don't typically eat before a match. Maybe a few hours before, I'll listen to some music and drink a Bang."
   3. Favorite post-match meal – "Indoor – going with parents to Woody's. It's nice to just sit down and decompress."
8. When you're not playing volleyball, what do you enjoy doing?? Any hobbies or interests???

"Work at a gym and I also am a nanny and enjoy babysitting. I'm a pretty big homebody and really enjoy time with family. I've been a leader for a special needs kids group for the past five years and we meet every week so that occupies my time too."

9. In the COVID world, we've all been binge-watching TV shows. What have you been watching during this isolation time?

"Friends … Schitt's Creek … Grey's Anatomy …"

10. What are some of your plans after OCC?? Perhaps a career beyond the beach courts??

"I'm enrolled at Cal State Fullerton and I'm taking units at OCC to compete for beach this year. I'm a psychology major and I'm going to school to pursue a career as a special needs teacher … perhaps middle school or high school level. When I was 10, doctors found a tumor in by tibia bone and I needed to have surgery to remove it, but it came back bigger. During my freshman year, I was teacher's aid for special needs class. I had no experience, so I was nervous. But within the first month, I absolutely fell in love with those kids. I just needed to be their friends and treat them like they didn't have any disabilities."