by Bryan Harvey, Student Assistant
NCCU Sports Information
 Rachael Zastoupil |
She lived in North Dakota until the summer of 1998, when one of those "hardwork" opportunities presented itself. Her sister received an ROTC scholarshipto attend college in North Carolina. Zastoupil saw this as a chance to leaveNorth Dakota, make some future plans and further her education. She also hada skill that would help around her future school. Zastoupil plays volleyball,and is a gifted setter. From what fans say at the games, her gift has quicklymade her into a small, but rising star at NCCU. Zastoupil knows that the setter is an important position on the team, and shetakes great pride in having the responsibility that it involves. "I guess Iconsider my role on the team to be the leader," said the team's top playmakerwith 852 assists. But for now, Zastoupil just enjoys playing the game andhaving fun. She says that fun should be the first, and most important, reasonthat you play any sport. "If you are not having fun while you are playing,then you have no reason to be out on the court," stated the second-yearplayer. "We, as a team, are always having fun, especially before games. Weare the true definition of a team."
Besides having fun, she admits winning is a close second. "We win more herethan we did at my high school," Zastoupil said. "I like that."
The competition of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association has givenher the experience of a lifetime. She loves the C.I.A.A. because it has arich history, and quality competition. "You think you are the team to beat alot of times. And when you are winning, you are the team to beat." Her passion for competition was nurtured in high school as a student-athleteon almost every team, including cross country, track and volleyball. She alsoparticipated in a variety of student organizations.
Zastoupil enjoys the fact that her coaching staff in high school is verysimilar to the staff at NCCU. She says that Lady Eagles head coach IngridWicker has given her many things to learn from volleyball that can help her onand off the court. "Coach Wicker teaches us things on the court, and makessure that we use it to better ourselves in life," said Zastoupil.
Although she is having fun now, there were a lot of things different when shearrived in North Carolina. The first difference was the unusually warm winterclimate. "There was no snow," the North Dakota native said in disappointment. "I am used to about seven months of snow out of the year. It just doesn'tseem like Christmas without snow."
The other difference that she is still adjusting to is the accent that manynative Southerners speak with. "Everyone had this deep Southern accent thatis still taking a while for me to get used to," she said. "I am starting toget the hang of it."
With such a hectic schedule, Zastoupil finds little time to socialize. "I'mnot a real well-rounded individual when it comes to a social life," she saidmodestly. She does, however, have quite a life outside of school and off thevolleyball court. She works at a local mall in Dillard's as acosmetic/make-up artist in the Chanel cosmetics designer department. "I hopeto move up in the field of Chanel, since I work with Chanel products, and geta high-level job in Chanel after graduation." She also does a few things withfriends, such as go to local hockey games. She has traveled to Greensboro tocatch a few Carolina Hurricanes games. "I like to watch football too, althoughI know that sounds strange," she said about hanging out on Sunday and watchingthe pigskin pastime.
The most inspiring thing about Zastoupil is the fact that she has the time to do all of these things, while maintaining a perfect 4.00 grade point average. As a Business Administration major, she is taking a challenging course-load ofbusiness classes, along with other electives that she enjoys. In spite of herdemanding schedule, she is having fun at NCCU, playing volleyball, working,studying, and spending time with friends. However, the future world ofbusiness is not out of her mind. "I am having a lot of fun at NCCU, but it isgoing to end," she explained. "I am here to get my degree so that I can moveon in the business world."
Zastoupil knows that she is going to have to be ready when anotheropportunity presents itself.
