In Focus: 'We Are Washington, And We're Good At Beach'
April 15, 2016 | General, Beach Volleyball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
For Crissy Jones, life is about learning.
The sophomore is growing side-by-side with Washington's beach volleyball team. Two years into her collegiate career, Jones has become an integral part of the third-year program.
“To grow with the program definitely means a lot to me,” Jones said. “At this stage of my life, it's all about learning, whether that's school or on the volleyball court, in life. It's definitely about learning and adjusting to everything life or volleyball throws at me.”
The next challenge being thrown at Jones is the program's first, and only, home competition of the season against Oregon at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Alki Beach in West Seattle.
“It will be exciting,” Jones said. “A lot of people don't expect much from us, being Washington. We definitely get after it here. It will be fun to have our own home tournament and have people see what we're all about.”
For Jones and the Huskies, the goal is to prove they can compete as well in the sand and they do on the court in the fall. The program is determined to show people, “We are Washington, and we're good at beach, too,” Jones said.
Washington has come a long way in a short period of time, and Jones has been a pivotal part of the program's success after going 8-0 in dual matches during her first season.
However, when it comes to her success in the sand, Jones – a highly touted beach recruiting coming out of high school – credits her connection to teammate Tia Scambray. Friends since they met at a volleyball camp, the duo is so close they often finish each other's sentences.
“Playing with your best friend is awesome, because they understand your mannerisms and you understand theirs,” said Jones, who was a part of a duo that finished fifth in the 2014 FIVB Under-19 World Championships. “You don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing, because they have your back just as much as you have theirs.
“We connect on another level. You want the best for her. She wants the best for you. You want to kick some butt together.”
This year, the challenge is tougher for the duo as they are now the program's top pair.
“We're playing tougher competition,” Jones said, “but we're excited for matchups against big beach schools.”
The duo wants to win a pairs tournament and, with their “super close” connection, Jones believes it is only a matter of time before that goal becomes a reality.
“In terms of strategy and game plan, we're almost always on the same page,” Jones said. “We try to come up with little plays together. We brainstorm really well.”
In her second season on the beach, Jones prides herself on being mature for her age. She watches film. She studies Kerri Walsh Jennings. She works to grow her game to help Washington win.
“Everyone is learning and I'm excited to be a part of a beach program,” she said. “I'm really blessed to be someone who can play in college, because a lot of people don't have that opportunity.”
