Junior Blaire Burns is one of five returning players from last year's UNM volleyball team. She decided to return to the team after former head coach Laurel Brassey Iversen was fired, but six players left the program.
An outside hitter and defensive specialist, she led the team with nine digs against the University of Utah Saturday and has 60 digs for the season, which is fourth on the team.
Burns is originally from Carlsbad, Calif., which is just outside of San Diego.
She talked to the Daily Lobo about why she decided to stay at UNM and the volleyball team.
Daily Lobo: Why did you decide to come to New Mexico?
Blaire Burns: I was choosing between here, Fresno State and Manhattan College in New York, but New Mexico was a big school, which I wanted.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
It also had a really good athletic department and New Mexico just had everything I was looking for.
D.L.: Why did you stay with the program after the firing of Laural Brassey Iversen?
B.B.: I have it good here. I considered leaving for a few days, I like it here too much. I was excited for a change and for a new coach, there was no good reason for me to leave UNM.
D.L.: What are the things about Albuquerque that you really like?
B.B.: I like it here because it is a lot different from San Diego, it is like night and day between the two.
There is no ocean here, which I miss, but I like the mountains; Colorado is close by so I can go snowboarding.
UNM was a change and that is what I wanted.
D.L.: What are you majoring in and what are you going to do after volleyball is over?
B.B.: My major is broadcast journalism, and I want to work for ESPN.
I want to go back to San Diego or New York and start off small at a station there and work my way up.
D.L.: What has been the biggest highlight for you in sports?
B.B.: My biggest sports thrill was last year at the conference tournament.
I played the outside hitting position, which I hadn't played since I've been here. The team took the game (against San Diego State University) to five matches and I had 20 digs, I thought that was awesome.
D.L.: What do you do before the games to get yourself physically and mentally ready?
B.B.: I listen to music, I listen to rap and hip-hop the most and I dance in the locker room with (teammate) Lynzie Hayes.
D.L.: Who do you hang out with the most on the team?
B.B.: That would have to be my roommates, which are Kelly Griffin and Hayes.
D.L.: What do you hope will come out of this season?
B.B.: It is hard to play with all the new people we have playing for us.
We are definitely going to get more experienced and we are only going to lose one person next year. Right now we are just shooting for a win.
