A visit to the monuments and the White House, check. An excursion to Georgetown, check. A pasta party at the parents’ house with teammates and coaches, check. UCLA senior volleyball player Nana Meriwether’s got it all covered in her latest visit back home to Washington.
All that’s left is for the former Sidwell Friends star and Potomac native is to put on a show in her first collegiate matches in the area since she transferred from Duke to UCLA as a freshman.
“I haven’t played back here for four years so all my friends, and family back on the East Coast haven’t seen me progress over the four years,” said Meriwether. “It’s going to be great to play at Maryland.”
Progress puts it mildly. A first-team All-Pac-10 and third-team All-American last season, Meriwether is the third-ranked Bruins’ (10-0) top returning player, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker who could be an early front-runner for national player of the year.
She was named American Volleyball Coaches Association player of the week on Sept. 5 after landing a massive 22 kills in a win over then-No. 5 Florida. Meriwether hit .875 in that match, a UCLA record and in the top five in NCAA history for attack percentage with 20 or more attempts. She’s hit over .500 in half of her matches this season, less than a year after shoulder surgery.
“I think I’m going to have all my players have the same shoulder operation she had,” said Bruins coach Andy Banachowski. “I’m really amazed at how well she is able to hit the ball since her shoulder surgery was in April.”
Meriwether transferred to UCLA after just one semester at Duke, drawn to California by the weather, an older sister at Stanford, and most importantly, the increased importance of her sport – Cameron Indoor Stadium may be the place for basketball, but a packed Pauley Pavilion is unmatched for volleyball.
“She loves volleyball, and she wanted to experience the best,” said Nomvimbi Meriwether, Nana’s mother.
The West Coast has become home, and Meriwether may attempt to join the professional beach volleyball circuit when she’s done with college.
“In the spring we actually go train on the beach every week so I’ve actually had some experience in it, and it’s real tough,” said Meriwether.
But first she wants a national championship, which would mean another trip back to Washington in the winter to meet the President, a fact she was keenly aware of during the team’s tourist stops this week.
“I’m like, guys don’t worry about it,” said Meriwether. “We’ll be back if you don’t see anything.”
Hilton Garden Inn Greenbelt Invitational
University of Maryland’s Comcast Center
Today
» UCLA vs. Florida International, 2 p.m.
» Maryland vs. Long Island, 7
Saturday
» Maryland vs. Florida International, 10 a.m.
» UCLA vs. Long Island, 1 p.m.
» Long Island vs. Florida International, 5:30
» UCLA vs. Maryland, 7:30
