Elia Rubin looks to bring senior leadership to Stanford
As Stanford women’s volleyball looks to make a Final Four run this season, all eyes are on senior outside hitter Elia Rubin. Rubin so far is averaging a team-high 2.62 kills per set and is coming off a junior season in which she averaged 3.93 kills per set. With so many new faces on the team and some key players from last year graduating, more is going to be expected of Rubin than in season’s past.
While there are a lot of changes for Rubin and the team coming into this season, she is keeping a hopeful outlook, excited for what lies ahead. She sees tremendous opportunity for growth and likes the way the team has come together during the summer months in preparation for the season.
“Yeah, I’m excited,” Rubin said. “We’re very young, which opens up a lot of opportunities to kind of try new things and be open to change, so it’s been really fun, good energy in the gym. And yeah, everyone’s just ready to get better and then we’re also really excited to start competing and kind of able to show what we got and also kind of learn along the way. So, we’re excited.”
Having a positive attitude about change and new beginnings is something that head coach Kevin Hambly has been stressing coming into the season. Rubin has taken that message to heart and is using it as motivation to make the most of her senior year.
“Just being open to change and you know, like I said, we’re young, so we’re trying out a lot of new things and just being receptive to change and like super engaged with each other and how we can learn from each other has been really important,” Rubin said of Hambly’s message to the team. “So yeah, we’re just trying to kind of figure out what’s going to work, what’s not going to work, with a lot of new players on the court. So, the main thing has just been head down and grinding. Trying to focus on what we can do on our side of the net. Kind of like mute the distractions, focus on what we have to offer, and just really kind of honing in on that.”
Through all the change and opportunity for growth, Rubin is enjoying the journey. She likes the freshman class that they have and the way they are eager to gel as a team. She is excited about the chance to help show them the ropes and foster their development as players both on and off the court.
“Yeah, I mean, we said this is one of the first years where we’re not returning a big chunk of our starters at least since I’ve been here. So, it’s been so fun,” Rubin said. “Our freshman class is amazing. They’re doing so well. They’re working really hard and they’re excited to compete and be on the court and just know, play new roles for this squad. And so it’s been really cool to just to help these freshmen out as they navigate it and obviously once we start competing, it’ll look a little bit different. But yeah, excited to have them all here and they’re, like I said, they’re doing such an amazing job. So, it’s been really fun to be part of it. It’s just like new energy and it’s exciting. It’s definitely new.”
While some players might feel pressure that comes with being in Rubin’s position, she’s seeing it as an opportunity to take on more responsibility and provide the same kind of leadership that she looked up to when she was a freshman. She wants to be someone that they can lean on and depend on when times get tough.
“Yeah, I think, kind of like I said, I’m just trying to be present and just enjoy it, have fun with it because it’s short and it goes by fast,” Rubin said. “But, I think, you know, I’ve played a certain role on the team for the past couple of years, but, you know, being one of two seniors, it’s a little bit different, but Pringle and I are just kind of trying our best to be solid leaders because we’ve seen a lot of it before. We know what to expect.
“So yeah, we’re just trying to be solid consistent leaders, holding everyone accountable and then kind of just setting the tone for what’s expected in this gym, because there’s a lot of new faces. So just getting everyone on the same page with that. But, I mean, so far so good. We got great supporting cast. But yeah, as a senior I mean there’s definitely always pressure when you’re a senior. People look to you, but it’s, you know, it’s been a role that I’m used to. And so I’m just kind of excited to see how it goes with, you know, the new group of people.”
At the end of the day, the biggest thing for Rubin is to stay in the moment. She knows the season goes by quick and with this being her final ride on The Farm, more than anything she wants to enjoy every match and every moment she gets being with her teammates. If she does that, she’ll feel like she made the most of her senior year:
“Yeah, I mean, I just really want to enjoy it. I know how fast it goes. Like, it’s crazy that I’m a senior. So, just trying to enjoy every moment, be super present, and then just being like, you know, I’m one of two seniors. So just kind of trying to be a solid presence on the court, someone that’s consistent that people can count on. So yeah, that’s just really my focus is just keeping the intensity, but also like being present and enjoying the moment.”
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