April 10, 2007

University of Washington's Lauren Greer has been instrumental in the team's early success in the Pac-10, raising her average from .277 to .313 during the first two weeks of the conference season. She leads the Huskies with five RBIs in league play and boasts a .625 slugging percentage. GoHuskies.com was able to catch up with the junior outfielder and talk about her secret to success in the Pac-10 and what it's been like to be a three-year starter for UW.

GoHuskies.com: You always seem to elevate your game once the Pac-10 season starts. How have you been able to increase your level of success as the competition stiffens up?

Lauren Greer: "I don't know what it is really. Maybe it takes me a little while to get into the swing of things. It could be that I have faced all of these Pac-10 teams before so I have an idea of what to expect. It could also be because I know how important these Pac-10 games are heading into the postseason and I want to help out the team in the best position possible."

GH: You seem to play really well every time you face UCLA. Do you think you get up for those games more because you as a Southern California girl?

LG: "Maybe, I grew up there and I know a lot of those girls on that team. It's always a really fun series to play."

GH: Did you have a lot of teammates from high school that went on to play Division I softball?

LG: "Oh yeah. Our whole class went on to play Division I. I had teammates go on to play for teams like UCLA, Notre Dame and Oregon State."

GH: What is it like to go up against a former teammate?

LG: "It's weird because you grew up with them and a part of you just wants to cheer for them but you want your team to win too."

GH: How do you think your game has progressed over the past two years?

LG: "This year I have been working a lot on the mental side of the game. At this point in my career I feel that I have all of the fundamentals down and now it's just more of a confidence thing and knowing that I can get the job done."

GH: You have been a three-year starter here at the University of Washington, which is quite an accomplishment. How do you feel to know that you have been starting since day one in a program that has such a rich tradition?

LG: "I am very thankful that I was able to come into the program and help the team right away. I feel like I am trying to help out the team even more each year with more responsibilities added to my role."

GH: Do you think that you will finish out your career in right field? Do you have any aspirations for another position, like centerfield perhaps?

LG: "I like right field, it's a lot of fun, but centerfield is the main outfield spot that comes with the charge of leadership, so that would definitely be a fun position to play. I am content as long as I can help the team win, that's my main goal."

GH: What are some of your own personal goals that you are trying to accomplish this year? How about as a team?

LG: "Personally, I am trying to get into a better role, be clutch and be consistent. I feel like I have been that in the past, but you try to be an even more consistent player each year for yourself. For the team, we definitely are shooting for a return to the World Series. We haven't done that since I have been here, so I really want to get there. I think that we have a really good chance. As long as we work hard and believe that we can get there, I think that we will be okay."

GH: Husky softball has gone to Super Regionals the last two years. What do you think would make the difference this year to get the team over that hump and on to the World Series?

LG: "I think that seeding is important, but I know that the past couple of years we have came into Super Regionals losing. Looking back we think that we could have beaten those teams, that's what we think to ourselves. I think that we are to the point now where we could beat anyone if we really want to. Losing Super Regionals twice makes us look back and think, whoa, we could have won and moved on to the World Series."

GH: As you look at the Pac-10 standings this year there is more parity than in years past. How does that motivate you each weekend when you go to play?

LG: "Each weekend, no matter who we are playing, it could be up or down, win or lose. It is important each game, each inning, to go out there and win. That is the most important thing this year because there is no one at head of the pack yet."

GH: Has there been a player, either present or past, that has mentored you in your time at the UW?

LG: "All the players in general really. The past two years in the outfield my biggest mentor has probably been Aimee Minor. She has been there for me through everything. Probably Ashley (Charters) too because she is the same year as me and we have been playing together my whole time here."

GH: Are you and Ashley rooming together? Who else are you rooming with?

LG: "Yes. We are also rooming with Danielle Lawrie and Ashlyn Watson, so it's us four in the house. It's kind of like two pairs of best friends."

GH: How did you wind up at the University of Washington?

LG: "I visited Washington on my fourth recruiting trip after I looked at UCLA, Tennessee and Florida. I fell in love with UW as soon as I got here. I really liked the girls and I knew quite a few of them from previous years. I think that I made a good choice in becoming a Husky."

GH: Your dad played professional baseball, how did his athletic background influence you as an athlete?

LG: "So much. He has been my coach ever since I was five. He knows how to handle the game and growing up he was teaching me everything on both sides, physically and mentally. It helped me grow a lot."

GH: Was he an outfielder?

LG: "Yeah, he was an outfielder. So he was able to help me out in all aspects of my position."

GH: What would you say, so far, has been your proudest moment as a Husky? Is there any particular moment that just really stands out for you?

LG: "It hasn't happened yet. I am waiting for the World Series on that one. We just have to make it there, because anyone can win once they get there. It would probably be the best feeling ever, that is what I am looking forward to."

GH: What would you say is the best part about being a Husky?

LG: "There are a lot of good things about being a Husky. There is so much tradition here in both the school and the team that everyone has just laid out for us. I really enjoy being a student-athlete, having both aspects of athletics and academics around. We are treated really well and this school has helped teach me to be really ambitious with my goals here and in everything that I do."

GH: What are you majoring in?

LG: "I am doubling in Psychology and Sociology."

GH: What do you want to eventually do?

LG: "I don't know exactly what I want to do, but I know that I want to do something that helps people. That is my main goal, because my passion is helping people."

GH: Are you involved in anything like that right now?

LG: "I do some lessons for little kids. I am also involved with WASAAC right now, so we do volunteer work outside of the area with food drives and things like that."

GH: What have been some of the fun things that you have done through WASAAC?

LG: "I really like going to the hospital to try and help little kids that are sick. I just went through that with my brother because he was in the hospital for a long time. Two years ago he was in a coma for a month, it was bad. Going back there is a good experience for me."