The Stars on the Sand

Jenna Belton and Jo Kremer are three-time national champions looking to make it four in a row as seniors for USC beach volleyball. The duo, who are 14-3 on the season together, sat down to interview each other about their final season at USC.

Jenna: What is going to define this season as you go for a fourth national championship?

Jo: We have a really young team so I think our leadership is really going to define the season. I think our leadership and our ability to bring the team, the young members of the team, along with us, especially the freshman in their first season. They don't really know what to expect and it is important to just bring them into the USC Beach Volleyball culture. We are so competitive and we do anything to win and if we can get that mindset going on this team like we had last year, I think we have a good shot.

Jenna: What is your leadership style?

Jo: You and Terese [Cannon] are the captains, but we all play different leadership roles. I feel like I don't talk as much as they do, but I always try to lead by example, both in weights and at practice by always working hard and giving some of the younger players an example of what they should be doing. Whereas Terese is very vocal and she can be the one to call people out if they're not doing something right or if they're not working hard enough. Then, you're really nice, but so compassionate. You inspire people to want to, not necessary follow you, but work hard for their teammates because you're such a good teammate that you don't want to let you down. So we all kind of play different roles and I think it all works out well.

Jenna: It is your last season, so what are some of the things you think will get you sentimental?

Jo: Oh no! Well, I am not the most sentimental person, as we know, but I do think Senior Day is going to be very emotional. I don't know if I am going to cry. I don't normally cry at very many things, but I think it is going to be a very bittersweet moment. I am very sad to leave this team and this program, but I am also extremely grateful for what it has given me, and some of the funniest times I've ever had in my life, so it will be very bittersweet.

Jenna: What is the best or easiest part of living with me, and what is hardest part of living with me?

Jo: Oh God! I think the best or easiest part about living with you is just that we kind of want the same things in a roommate, so it works out really well because we can hang out and have a great time. We can also be alone in our rooms and not bother each other when we want to. One of my favorite things is when we are both just in our beds watching Netflix and we look up and see each other and wave. Our bedroom doors completely face each other and we just check in with a wave sometimes. It is really funny. We both like our alone time so it is great when we hang out, but we are also not worried about constantly needing to talk to the other one. The hardest part, honestly, I don't even now if there is a hardest part. We have never had any issues thus far. I think the hardest part is that, honestly, it is more on me than it is on Jenna, because she likes to have a clean kitchen and I like to leave my dishes for a few days before I work up the energy to clean them. The hardest part is probably me feeling guilty about leaving dishes out, but sometimes I just decide to take the guilt and not wash them for a day or two anyway.

Jenna: The hardest part for me is calling you out because I hate calling people out.

Jo: And I totally abuse that too because I know you hate calling people out!

Next, Jo takes the wheel and interviews Jenna.

Jo: You have won three national championships in a row so what are some of your favorite moments on the sand?

Jenna: That is a loaded question. There have been a lot of great moments. I think my favorite, honestly, even though we won three and all were very sweet, the last year's win was the best for me. It was the best because we were partnering together and we had a great season all year long, but I felt like at national championships we were especially flowing and everything was working out great for us. We were competing really hard and we were a consistent win for the team and in the finals we were able to dominate and felt really good about our match and then to have our 3s team clench the entire Championship just by two points made it really nerve wracking, but that much sweeter so that was awesome.

Jo: That was my favorite moment too, when they won. What is your funniest memory as partners?

Jenna: I am going to go with airport one because I can't think of anything else. When Jo and I were just freshman, we technically weren't partners then. We were known to be two very forgetful people and we left precious items at the TSA Security checkpoint. Jo left her laptop and I left my ID and so we had to be called back and retrieve our lost items. As our punishment, our coach made us stand up on chairs in the middle of our gate and sing the National Anthem to the whole airport and we were terrible singers.

Jo: It was really rough. Since it is your fourth year here, what are some of the biggest lessons you have learned on and off the court?

Jenna: That is a really tough question. I think a big one is being able to stay positive in the face of adversity. That applies to not only if you lose an entire match, but even if you lose a point within your match. Being able to move on and always keep moving forward and not let things get to you too much, and not letting doubts creep in. Also, just really buying into trusting your teammates and your coaching staff and everyone around you because I think that is how we have been able to win three National Championships so far and that is what is going to get us another this year. It is really committing to the team and knowing that they are committing to you too.

Jo: It is your last season too, so what are some of the things you think will get you sentimental?

Jenna: Definitely Senior Night will make me sentimental. I think for me, definitely, having my family come to matches just because my parents kind of introduced me to the game, especially my step dad. He played a huge role in my development and is the reason I got here. So his being at games will mean a ton. Winning will make me sentimental. I don't know it is hard. I feel like everything will make me sentimental. I can't really pinpoint just one time.

Players Mentioned

Jenna Belton

Jo Kremer

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