“Taking Advantage of the Opportunity”

by Bryan Harvey, Student Assistant
NCCU Sports Information

Rachael Zastoupil

Rachelle Zastoupil, a sophomore volleyball player at North Carolina Central University, was born in Dickinson, North Dakota, and raised on a grain and livestock farm. The strenuous labor involved with life on a farm has taught her the meaning of hard work. “Coming from North Dakota, there are not too many opportunities,” Zastoupil said. “So, you have to take advantage of what you can get.”

She lived in North Dakota until the summer of 1998, when one of those “hard work” opportunities presented itself. Her sister received an ROTC scholarship to attend college in North Carolina. Zastoupil saw this as a chance to leave North Dakota, make some future plans and further her education. She also had a skill that would help around her future school. Zastoupil plays volleyball, and is a gifted setter. From what fans say at the games, her gift has quickly made her into a small, but rising star at NCCU. Zastoupil knows that the setter is an important position on the team, and she takes great pride in having the responsibility that it involves. “I guess I consider my role on the team to be the leader,” said the team’s top playmaker with 852 assists. But for now, Zastoupil just enjoys playing the game and having fun. She says that fun should be the first, and most important, reason that you play any sport. “If you are not having fun while you are playing, then you have no reason to be out on the court,” stated the second-year player. “We, as a team, are always having fun, especially before games. We are the true definition of a team.”

Besides having fun, she admits winning is a close second. “We win more here than we did at my high school,” Zastoupil said. “I like that.”

The competition of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association has given her the experience of a lifetime. She loves the C.I.A.A. because it has a rich history, and quality competition. “You think you are the team to beat a lot of times. And when you are winning, you are the team to beat.” Her passion for competition was nurtured in high school as a student-athlete on almost every team, including cross country, track and volleyball. She also participated in a variety of student organizations.

Zastoupil enjoys the fact that her coaching staff in high school is very similar to the staff at NCCU. She says that Lady Eagles head coach Ingrid Wicker has given her many things to learn from volleyball that can help her on and off the court. “Coach Wicker teaches us things on the court, and makes sure that we use it to better ourselves in life,” said Zastoupil.

Although she is having fun now, there were a lot of things different when she arrived in North Carolina. The first difference was the unusually warm winter climate. “There was no snow,” the North Dakota native said in disappointment. “I am used to about seven months of snow out of the year. It just doesn’t seem like Christmas without snow.”

The other difference that she is still adjusting to is the accent that many native Southerners speak with. “Everyone had this deep Southern accent that is still taking a while for me to get used to,” she said. “I am starting to get the hang of it.”

With such a hectic schedule, Zastoupil finds little time to socialize. “I’m not a real well-rounded individual when it comes to a social life,” she said modestly. She does, however, have quite a life outside of school and off the volleyball court. She works at a local mall in Dillard’s as a cosmetic/make-up artist in the Chanel cosmetics designer department. “I hope to move up in the field of Chanel, since I work with Chanel products, and get a high-level job in Chanel after graduation.” She also does a few things with friends, such as go to local hockey games. She has traveled to Greensboro to catch a few Carolina Hurricanes games. “I like to watch football too, although I know that sounds strange,” she said about hanging out on Sunday and watching the pigskin pastime.

The most inspiring thing about Zastoupil is the fact that she has the time to do all of these things, while maintaining a perfect 4.00 grade point average. As a Business Administration major, she is taking a challenging course-load of business classes, along with other electives that she enjoys. In spite of her demanding schedule, she is having fun at NCCU, playing volleyball, working, studying, and spending time with friends. However, the future world of business is not out of her mind. “I am having a lot of fun at NCCU, but it is going to end,” she explained. “I am here to get my degree so that I can move on in the business world.”

Zastoupil knows that she is going to have to be ready when another opportunity presents itself.