San Jose
– What do Acorns become when they grow up? For three former Live
Oak High School girls’ volleyball players, the answer is Spartans.
Kristina Conrad, Danielle Orong and Justine Pingue did not all play
together at Live Oak at the same time, but now all are members of
the San Jose State University
women’s volleyball team.
San Jose – What do Acorns become when they grow up? For three former Live Oak High School girls’ volleyball players, the answer is Spartans.
Kristina Conrad, Danielle Orong and Justine Pingue did not all play together at Live Oak at the same time, but now all are members of the San Jose State University women’s volleyball team.
They all took different routes, but for one year, all three will be together representing Live Oak on the college courts.
The veteran
Conrad, who graduated in 2003 and who played with both Orong and Pingue, has the most time on the squad. She’s in her third year on the team.
In her freshman year, Conrad played in the Western Athletic Conference finals against perennial volleyball powerhouse Hawaii in SJSU’s losing effort.
During her tenure at Live Oak, Conrad went to the Central Coast Section playoffs twice, in 2001 and 2002, but only went as far as the second round, both times seeing her Acorns knocked out by Hollister.
Conrad, a recreation and leisure major who plans on graduating in 2007, downplayed the significance of playing for former teammates.
“It’s the same as playing with all the other girls,” Conrad said. “I knew (Orong) better than the other girls, then. But now, I’ve played with (the others) for two years.”
The transfer
Orong, who graduated from Live Oak in 2002, transferred from West Valley Community College last year and is in her senior year of college and eligibility.
Orong played with other former Live Oak players at West Valley, but coming to SJSU was a different monster, she said.
“The transfer was hard,” Orong said. “I felt intimidated. Coming to a big college, the speed of the ball is faster, the girls are bigger and more physical.”
After her two years at West Valley, Orong said she was ready to quit volleyball and focus on work and school. But at the urging of her family, and a recruitment effort by Spartan head coach Craig Choate, Orong chose to attend San Jose State.
“The coach actually wanted me to play my freshman year,” Orong said.
But she had opted out of attending a major university and went to West Valley instead.
With Conrad on the squad, Orong said her transition to SJSU was easier because there was a familiar face.
“It helped being the new girl, knowing a person on the team,” Orong said.
The walk-on
Pingue, a kinesiology major, is the newest member of the Spartan squad after walking on this season in her second year at SJSU.
“It’s not too much different from high school,” Pingue said. “It’s still all about the team and working with the people you play with.
“I saw that Danielle walked on and I thought if Danielle can do it, then (I figured) I can do it.”
When Pingue applied to SJSU, she intended to play for the volleyball team, but had a hard time getting information on how to join.
After a year of trying and nearly giving up, Pingue joined the Spartans for this season.
Pingue is a back-up defensive player, but said that she understands a starting position is something she needs to earn.
But Pingue has taken a positive attitude toward the effort before her. She said she enjoys proving to people just how good she really is.
“I love the feeling when I prove someone wrong,” Pingue said. “I want to bring something to this team. I have a lot of respect for the seniors and I know I am not going to get a lot of court time.”
In Pingue’s final year playing for Live Oak, the Acorns upset rival Salinas to move on to the CCS finals, where they lost to Piedmont Hills in five games. The Acorns, however, did qualify for the Nor-Cal tournament, where they made an early exit at the hands of Liberty High School.
Orong said she is trying to get Pingue accustomed to the next level of play, something she herself had to adjust to last year.
“We’re trying to help where we can, but she knows the game,” Orong said. “She’s quiet. You can’t afford to be quiet here. It will eventually bite you in the butt, which I learned the hard way.”
An overall perspective
Playing for the Spartans is completely different than playing in high school, all three former Acorns said.
In high school, the girls never traveled much outside the greater San Francisco Bay Area; however, at SJSU, games are played as far away as Hawaii.
“We have practice, we have weights then we have study hall,” Conrad said. “By the time we’re done, it’s eight or nine at night.”
The hardest thing about the schedule, Conrad said, is balancing classes with the rigors of traveling.
“I have to meet with the professors, and let them know my schedule,” Conrad said. “Then taking tests, I have to set up to take it either before or after I leave.”
Pingue said she is still trying to catch up with everything, but is willing to put in the work to continue playing volleyball.
Orong, a liberal studies major, said working around her classes was easier last year, but with an upper division course load, it is a little harder balancing school and sport.
“It is hard; it’s a challenge,” Orong said. “My first year, it was not as hard as I thought it would be. This year it is more of a challenge because I have upper division classes and not all of my professors like athletics.”
