FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (May 7, 2019) – Neche Newton, a middle blocker from Chandler, Ariz., is featured in the third of a four-part bi-weekly Q&A with each member of the Northern Arizona volleyball team's incoming freshman class of 2019.
Q: What is the one thing that excites you most about joining the NAU Volleyball program?
A: It's really simple, I'm excited to play college volleyball. I've always dreamed of going to school and continuing to play volleyball; not letting it go after high school. Speaking specifically about NAU Volleyball, I played with Taylor Jacobsen in club and getting to play with her again as well as the other girls is exciting. They're all super friendly and I'm exciting to getting close with a new team for the next four years.
Q: How would you describe yourself as a volleyball player?
A: I'm extremely competitive. I don't like losing. I hate losing much more than I love winning.
Q: What specific skills or traits make a successful middle blocker?
A: For middle blockers, you have to accept that you won't always be set and you won't always make the big plays. But it's important to get positive touches on blocks and to be aware. Your teammates depend on you to be there for every touch, get to either side for a pin block or block the other (team's) middle if they're getting set. It's really hard to be calm in the middle because you feel like to have to be everywhere, but it's important to be smart about what your next move will be.
Q: What are some of your hobbies away from the volleyball court?
A: I read a lot; a lot of people don't know that about me. I also have a dog that I'm hoping to bring up to NAU. I enjoy hanging out with my dog as well.
Q: What type of novels do you like to read?
A: It's kind of weird but I read a lot of sad books. I feel like I have to get a little sadness from my reading. I don't have a lot of sadness in my real life, but I also enjoy science fiction and fantasy. I tend to stay away from non-fiction, but I will go to it every now and then.
Q: Why have you decided on pursuing a degree in environmental science and what do you hope to do with that degree after college?
A: I can give a shout out to Mr. Davis, my junior year high school teacher. I took environmental science my junior year. After taking that class and speaking to a professor at ASU, who spoke to us a few times, it honestly changed my life. I learned about how environmental science can go into engineering and other things and decided this is what I want to do.
Neche Newton At a Glance
Height: 5-11
Position: Middle Blocker
Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.
High School: Chandler
Stats to Know: 1.5 kills and 1.0 blocks per set during junior season in 2017
What Head Coach Ken Murphy is saying: There's a couple of things that impress me about Neche. First, she's athletically talented, plays above the net and she's strong. But she's also eager to learn. She watches her own film and she thinks about volleyball deeply. She's so motivated to become a great volleyball and the combination of those two things makes her ceiling really high.
Previous Class of 2019 Q&A's
April 9 - Jasmine West
April 23 - Taylor Jacobsen
