Sisters and fellow Panther volleyball teammates Eliza and Alex Zwettler are the first EIU sisters to play volleyball together at the same time. Senior Eliza and her freshman sister discuss their upbringing, sports and how to play on the same team together without too much trouble.

Since you were both athletes living together in the same household, was it very competitive?

Eliza: It was very competitive. Both of our parents are coaches and athletes, and our older sister Callie Meiller (whom was recently married) actually played at the University of Minnesota. She had a very, very good career there and was actually a two-time All-American.

Growing up, we all always played softball, basketball, volleyball and soccer. We didn’t do that very long. We would always go to the back yard and play homerun derby and lighting. It was very competitive, but we all enjoyed it and were all each other’s biggest fans.

My dad was a high school basketball coach and my mom coached all three of us for three years each in volleyball. We have a younger brother, Jack, who is very competitive as well. He’s a really good sport about coming to all of our games and we try to do the same for him for baseball and football.

When did you discover volleyball was your sport?

Alex: I thought ever since I was very young, probably since 8th grade, that it was going to be mine. I grew up watching my sisters play volleyball. I did play basketball and softball, but I always thought that volleyball was going to be my thing because of my sisters and growing up in their footsteps.

Eliza: My first love was basketball and it still is. I think it just came natural to play volleyball in college because of the opportunities there are with club ball and all and I never played basketball.

I am very short, even for a volleyball player and I would have been short as a basketball player. My whole life I was told that if I wanted to play collegiate volleyball, I would play back row, which is something I wanted to show they were wrong, and that I could play front row being 5’6 .

What does Coach Lori Bennett and the other coaches say about you two sisters on the same team?

Eliza: There hasn’t been a lot said about it. I think they look at us as two individual players and two individual teammates. I don’t think they treat us any differently than they treat the rest of the team as teammates or player-coach relationship.

What is it like to come to a team where your sister has already played here before you? Was it encouraging or difficult?

Alex: Yeah, it was probably part of my decision to come here. I thought it would be an easier transition from high school to college. And Eliza got to play with Callie in high school when she was a freshman and Callie was a senior and I never got to play with Eliza and so its kind of an opportunity for me to play with her. It also allows my parents to kill two birds with one stone.

And how do you feel about it?

Eliza: It was real exciting for me because I feel that in your freshman year you make so many good friends and strong bonds and have those connections last throughout your college career. Coming into my junior year here as a transfer, I felt like I had made a lot of friends, but none as close as the ones I made in Troy.

So it’s real fun to know that this year there would be someone always here that would understand me and know where I’m coming from. A great friend even though most times probably arguing. She really understands me and has my back.

I knew it would be fun to play with her and I really hope we’ll both be on the court at the same time. It’s fun to have a family atmosphere so my parents can come down and watch us as well as the rest of our family.

Now with the season approaching, do you think the pressure is mounting and the whole sister thing may cause even more pressure?

Eliza: I think it’s harder for Alex because I expect more out of her than anyone else and she knows that which I think is extra stress. But she does knows how to deal with it and she knows what she has to get done with me kind of riding her back.

Alex: I know playing in the grass tournaments and stuff that if got on my case, I’d be like “chill out, it’s a grass game, it’s just for fun.” Now I do feel the pressure her but I know all she wants is a winning season.

She’s probably the most competitive person I’ve ever met in my life. She’ll do anything to get the job done and anything to have her teammates get the job done.

What do your fellow teammates think of you two being on the same team?

On and off the court?

Alex: I’m not really sure.

Eliza: I know my friends like Alex and get along with her. I think its fun to have the two of us competing against each other. I think often when we are on the opposite side of the net because it seems like there is more of an incentive for each of our teams to win because I’m always trying to beat her. I always want to beat her and I’m sure she always wants to beat me just to have the upper hand.

Alex: It is fun blocking her every once and awhile, using her off the block and stuff.

Eliza: That never happened.

Alex: Oh OK.

How does your family feel about the two of you on a team together?

Eliza: Excited. Very excited. And it cuts down on the traveling expenses. My mom felt that Alex can help us on the team and make a great season for me. The ultimate goal, of course, to win conference and go the NCAA tournament. It would be great to share the accomplishment with her.

Alex: Yeah, our parents are really excited. They didn’t get to see Eliza play that much before. They’re happy now that they get to see us both in one trip.

Sisters and fellow Panther volleyball teammates Eliza, right, and Alex Zwettler are the first EIU sisters to play volleyball together at the same time. Senior Eliza and her freshman sister discuss their upbringing, sports and how to play on the same team

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