Lady Vols Media Day Player Quotes

RS-Senior Center Mercedes Russell

(On playing in the U24 Four Nations Tournament)
"I would say (the biggest thing was) just getting real games during the summer. That is something a lot of colleges do not get. It is just usually weights and conditioning with limited hours of practice. I think getting games under us, and especially international competition, is way different. Then getting to play alongside some of the best college players in the nation, I think it really helped my game a lot."

(On whether this team can get better defensively)
"I think so. Our practices have been great, just as Holly (Warlick) was talking about, very competitive. We have been working hard on the defensive end day in and day out, and we are going to continue to do that every day, because this season, defense is going to be huge for us. It is definitely going to be a priority."

(On how you view your role on the team)
"(Both Jaime Nared and I), we have to be leaders. We are both seniors, and have been here for a while. We are kind of the seasoned vets on the team, so just in every possibly way helping the freshman as much as we can, but also bringing everyone together and just leading the best way we can."

(On being more physical and more demanding)
"I know this year my role has to be huge. Also, Jaime (Nared) and I have to be playing big every single game. We are going to have to do a lot, probably lead in scoring and rebounding. I definitely spent a lot of time in the weight room this summer and on the court, just trying to improve my game as much as I can and getting stronger at the same time."

(On why she opted to come back to Tennessee)
"Honestly, I came back to spend another year as a Lady Vol. Being in college and a Lady Vol at the same time is an experience you cannot really share with anyone, because not everyone gets the chance. I came back for me, but also the team. Knowing the freshmen class coming in, they are going to be very talented, but on top of that, they work hard. They are going to be a great group of kids, but also just coming back and hopefully making my last year the best year ever."

(On double-doubles and how important they are to her game)
"It is definitely important to me. Not just for me, but my team, because that is me helping my team in every way I can. It is definitely a goal of mine to average a double-double. I was so close last year. It is a goal for me this year."

(On not achieving the goals in past, and does it motivate you)
"Yeah, definitely. Obviously, we have not lived up to standards. It is definitely motivation for us, as a team, just to do better and go as far as we can."

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"Honestly, I have a long list of goals just as a senior."

(On the competition in practice so far this season)
"The competition has been great. Every single practice we have been competitive, and we come to work hard day-in and day-out, so it's been very good."

(On a teammate who will surprise people this season)
"I would say any of our freshmen. I know everyone keeps talking about how talented they are, but outside of just their talent, they work so hard in practice and outside of practice that I think it could be any of them."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"This offseason I just worked overall on being a better player, so I spent a lot of time in the weight room, and obviously on the court just developing my game more to become a better, stronger player."

Senior Guard/Forward Jaime Nared

(On the benefits of playing in the U24 tournament and how it has helped her game)
"It was the best of the best who were there this summer. Learning from the best players and coaches, it was a good experience and helped us grow. We (Mercedes Russell and I) went in with a mindset that we don't know everything and to take everything that was said and learned and apply it to our (Lady Vols) team."

(On improving defensively with a large number of young teammates)
"I don't think (in the past) we've made defense as big of a priority as we have this year. We focused a lot on making sure everyone knows what they're supposed to do and that everybody is taking care of their person and that we're helping each other. We're not playing defense just one person, we're all five playing defense together. We're doing whatever we can to stop the other team, and we're really working together."

(On how the freshman have blended in to the team dynamic)
"They've blended in really good. I think freshman year is difficult. We (Mercedes Russell and I) have been there so we know how it is, especially now practicing all the time and learning a lot. I think something freshman year is is that you have to learn a lot and kind of come in with an open mindset and take in everything that players before you and coaches teach you. I think that's where they are right now. Obviously it will be different when we actually play games and play in a competitive schedule. I think they have taken in what we've said, and they are eager to learn. They ask a lot of questions when they don't understand, and they are wanting to get better."

(On developing consistency in winning games)
"I think the consistency aspect we were missing (last season) was because of our lack of leadership. You see some of the best teams and their leaders are some of the hardest workers, and they are doing everything they can to win. I think that's the difference between this year and last year. Mercedes and I are working our hardest and trying to be great examples. We know we're not perfect, and we're able to listen to other players, and when they have questions or things they want to tell us about what we're doing, we're listening. Not only being a player that can do certain things for the team, but also being someone that people can approach, and being in the gym working as hard as we can. I think that's the biggest difference."

(On what made her rise to the challenge of being a leader this season)
"I think something that I've learned as I've gotten older is that the best teams have the hardest working leaders. I think that's why teams are so successful, and I think that's a reason why we haven't been. I look at my freshman year. You had Izzy, Cierra, and Ariel who all worked so hard, so I think we had a pretty good run then, but I think we can have an even better run now just because of how talented everyone is and the work that everyone puts in. I think that starts with the leaders of the team and trickles down. If we're in the gym and working hard, everybody follows. It's something that we have learned, and it's why we have stepped up in our role this season.

(On preseason rankings being a motivator)
"I really don't think it matters. You look a month or two from now and the Top 25 changes. You could care what the people in the polls have to say, or you could work hard and focus on what you have to do, so I think that's what we're doing. People can say what they want about our team or any team, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter. It matters when you step on the court."

(On being motivated from previous season letdowns)
"I think the biggest thing from the past couple of years is what we have learned from it and not to be in that situation again. It's a whole new team which is why we have so much potential and why we have a different perspective this year. I think that's what makes it different because we're trying to teach the new players to not be in that situation and to come in and be consistent. We can't have days where people don't want to practice or we're not together and that's something that we've learned, and we're getting there. We're learning as a team that we have to come in everyday ready."

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"Win a National Championship. I am going to do whatever it takes each game to win."

(On competition in practice)
"It is a whole different team. Everybody is competing every day. We do not know who's going to be playing as much. Everyone is competing against one another and to gain the trust of Holly (Warlick)."

(On a teammate who could surprise people)
"I think Rennia (Davis). She is super athletic. She also has a lot of potential. Her potential is endless. It is a matter of what she does with it."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"I worked on a lot of different aspects. I worked on creating my own shot. I was travelling a lot this summer. I went to Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, as well as Oregon and Colorado. I played a lot of basketball this summer. I learned a lot, especially in Colorado, playing against the best players in the world, and learning from some of the best coaches."

Senior Forward Kortney Dunbar

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"I would probably say defensive commitment, lead the team in 3-point percentage, and be more of a presence in the rebounding aspect."

(On competition in practice)
"We go at it every day. Holly (Warlick) tries to put us against the guys, she tries to put us in down scenarios. So I would say that's something you would want to see, just very SEC-looking, and very tough."

(On a teammate who could surprise people)
"I would probably say either Evina (Westbrook) or Rennia (Davis) are my top picks. Obviously everyone has their expectations for Mercedes and Jaime, but they are always going to be the top."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"I did a lot of footwork, just coming back from an injury. Just doing a lot of foot skills, speed, ladders and hurdles. Obviously I get my shots up every day, but I'm working on getting my foot speed for the defensive end.

Freshman Guard Anastasia Hayes

(On her personal goals for upcoming season)
"To get better as a point guard, and try to be on the SEC All-Freshman Team."

(On competition in practice)
"We go hard at practice. I think it is going to help us be prepared for the games."

(On a teammate who could surprise people)
"I would say Meme (Jackson). I think she has improved from last year."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"I worked on my pull-up jumper. I am still working on my voice and being able to be louder."

Freshman Guard/Forward Rennia Davis

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"Just to be as competitive and consistent of a player as possible and to do whatever I can to help my team out."

(On competition in practice)
"It has been really tough. My teammates are all excellent offensive players and can guard me well. Even the practice players are quick, and you have to try and stay in front of them."

(On a teammate who could surprise people)
"Us as a team are going to surprise people. I feel like every game there is going to be a different key player."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"I shot the ball a lot this offseason. From practice, I feel like that has been paying off."

Sophomore Center Kamera Harris

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"My personal goals would be to contribute and to play my role on the team - rebound and defend, and do whatever the coach asks of me."

(On competition in practice so far)
"Everybody is really competitive. It feels like a big difference from last year. Everybody wants to play and everybody is competing every day. It's great energy. It's competitive, but they're your teammates, so you still root and cheer for them."

(On a teammate who will surprise people this season)
"Probably Rennia (Davis). She's been having a lot of great practices and she has been putting in a lot of work."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"I worked more so on my offensive game and going through post moves and rebounding."

RS-Junior Forward Cheridene Green

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"My personal goal is to mainly keep healthy and stay focused."

(On competition in practice so far)
"The competition has been pretty high. Everyone has been working on defense. We've been really competitive going at each other. Jaime (Nared) has been pushing the freshman and bringing them along which is really good."

(On a teammate who will surprise people this season)
"I would say it will be one of the freshmen, either Annie (Anastasia Hayes) or Evina (Westbrook). Their offensive game is really good. Annie is really quick and she plays really good defense. She is able to keep up, even when we practice against the guys. She's really good at that, and she scores. She's really small, but she gets by them, and it's like Evina never gets tired."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"I worked mostly on my rehab with my knee and staying healthy. There would be a few times where I would do extra work in the weight room to make sure my knee was strong. I would also say I worked on staying in shape because those were important to me."

Junior Guard/Forward Meme Jackson

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"My personal goal for this team is to be a vocal leader for my teammates and stand out with that. Not just every other day, but be more vocal every day."

(On competition in practice so far)
"It has been very competitive. Lately we've been going against each other, plus our practice players, which is really good because we see how each other plays, and we know each other's weaknesses and strengths."

(On a teammate who will surprise people this season)
"I would have to say Rennia Davis. She's just special. I think she's special in a way that she doesn't even know it yet. I think she has a lot of potential."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"I worked on hitting shots."

Freshman Center Kasiyahna Kushkituah

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"To learn. It's a faster pace, so I need to learn everything I can and adjust. Also bringing all that I can to the game."

(On competition in practice so far)
"It's really intense. We can be doing any drill and it's competitive. Everyone is trying to win, and we don't let up either. There's no sympathy, and it's always intense and fast. It's definitely different than high school, so I'm adjusting, but at the same time, it's such a great environment where everyone wants to win."

(On a teammate who will surprise people this season)
"I think everyone will, I can't even name one. We've all been in the gym working hard."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"Mostly my free throws. That's one thing I struggled with in high school, so I've been in the gym working on those."

Freshman Guard Evina Westbrook

(On her personal goals for the upcoming season)
"For me I don't feel like I really have any personal goals other than having the most successful year possible for my team. My biggest thing is winning, so I just want to win. I want to win big, and I think that's all of our goals really. I really don't think about things like SEC All-Freshman Team. If it happens, it happens; if not, it doesn't happen. I just want to be successful for my team."

(On the competition in practice so far this season)
"It's been crazy. We compete like crazy, we're always going at each other, and I think that will really help us when we get to the tougher teams. I think playing against each other, playing with each other, just really helps in knowing how everyone plays, everyone's strengths and weaknesses. It's been really fun, and we go at it every day, so it's been fun."

(On one teammate that will surprise people this season)
"I think Rennia Davis, just with her athleticism. She's really long, she looks intimidating, and she is intimidating to some people, but she can shoot like crazy. If she's open in the corner, it's going to her. I think she'll surprise a lot of people."

(On what she worked on most during the offseason)
"A lot of everything - ball handling, my shooting. But I just have to get ready personally because I know I'm going to have a big role on this team."