Senior volleyball middle blocker Meg Wolowicz did not originally feel like she belonged at the 2018 U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryouts.

It was not until after August Raskie, Oregon University Ducks senior volleyball setter, asked Wolowicz to warm up with her and the try-outs actually started when the 2017 First Team All-Mid American Conference honoree’s nerves began to subside. She realized all she was doing was playing volleyball, the sport she has played for most of her life, just in a different setting.

After going through the try-outs, receiving feedback from Karch Kiraly, U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Head Coach, and soaking in the energy from the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Wolowicz is looking to use the experience and lessons she acquired for the betterment of the NIU volleyball program.

“Something that I want to bring back, and I talk about with Ray about this, is just how how you treat other people,” Wolowicz said. “Before I went I did not really know the difference between a good teammate and a great teammate. I want to be the person that gives people that energy and if I can show our girls little bits and pieces, hopefully other people can latch onto it too.”

Wolowicz participated with approximately 240 other volleyball players in the 2018 U.S. Women’s National Team Open Tryout March 2 through March 4 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

She had the opportunity to receive critiques on her game from U.S. National Team coaches and interact with the some of the best volleyball talent in the country. This included rooming with two Florida players who competed for the Division I women’s volleyball national championship in December.

Wolowicz said the competitive environment of the two hours drills the players participated in was awesome to be a part of and the positive energy was infectious.

She does not want to keep her experience to herself. Wolowicz hopes the vitality from the try-outs sticks with her and rubs off on her teammates.

“Hopefully I can bring back some of the energy and environment,” Wolowicz said. If you can help [teammates] be competitive and encourage each other, and if I can help I can start that other people will catch on to that as well.

Wolowicz’s teammates knew she was dedicated to her craft and can tell she is going to take it to the next level.

“Meg has always been a great student to the game,” redshirt senior middle blocker Chrystal McAlpin said. “She is an excellent leader because she is very diligent and disciplined when it comes to getting her work done. She will stay after or come in early for reps and she is always willing to help bring someone else along with her.”

Head Coach Ray Gooden was also at the try-outs. Wolowicz and Gooden did not interact with one another as much as they normally do, but Gooden knew the experience would be valuable.

“Any time you gets a chance to be around the USA gym, it just helps you understand how much pride there is in our sport,” Gooden said. “It is an amazing experience. Not only for her being a senior, but also experience because she is pretty focused on some goals.”

Wolowicz learned the difference between what it means to be a good teammate and a great teammate through her Olympic experience. It is reflected in her goals not only for herself or the final Huskie team she will play on, but for the NIU volleyball program as a whole.

“Hopefully this season I can bring as much energy and give them as much as I can,” Wolowicz said. “Hopefully I can empower them and inspire them so not only does that spark this year but I can leave something positive energy that it helps them in the future. Hopefully we do as many as many things as we can with our core group, but if we can build them a core group and they can build out for the next team, this team has so much potential that they can only carry that better for the future.”