Lizzy Fitzgerald is a college athlete "ready to pounce." After a successful spring training season, she and the University of Wisconsin Badgers volleyball team are anxious to take their winning ways to the regular season when it begins in August.

But before Fitzgerald can look too far ahead, she is gearing up for a summer stint with the USA National Volleyball Program in Colorado Springs, Colo. "This summer will be great for me because I will be able to play at a high level for a month and then come back to Madison to train with my teammates for the second half of the summer," says Fitzgerald.

The National Team training places emphasis on strong defense, something Fitzgerald hopes to work on to aid in her all-around game. "The National Team is definitely something I would love to be a part of some day, but the most important thing right now is improving for the Badgers."

Fitzgerald, a 6-foot setter and junior from New Orleans, La., still relishes in the three state championships her high school team won and hopes to repeat the success during her upcoming senior year. She wants to lead the team to its second Big Ten Championship and first national title. The team finished second in the 2000 NCAA Championships. "My role will be to keep the team together as a unit to reach these goals," she states.

Fitzgerald notes that there is a huge adjustment when going from high school athlete to college athlete. For her, it was difficult getting used to the speed of the game compared to high school play. "In college, everyone is stronger. They jump higher and move more quickly, making for a faster and more powerful game," says Fitzgerald.

She continues to be amazed at the vertical leaps many of the Big Ten opponents possess. The first thing Fitzgerald did when she made the Badger team was to build up her strength to play at a higher, more physical level.

This September brings a new challenge for Fitzgerald. She will face the Central Florida team, coached by her sister Meg. "It will be really weird to look across the net and see her sitting on the bench plotting strategies to beat my team. But I am just excited to see her in action as a coach for the first time," she says.

Fitzgerald comes from a long line of athletes. Her father, brother and sister all played sports. Her father has been a coach for 28 years. Growing up, she could always be seen in a gym or on the field. Fitzgerald loves competing but hates losing. She hopes this spells trouble for the rest of the competition.