Dec. 22, 2003
When your career at Iowa is completed, how do you want Hawkeye fans to remember you?
“I hope they will remember me as a hardworking player that always gave her best effort on the court.”
What is your favorite volleyball-related memory?
“After winning the Junior European beach volleyball championship in Greece, I was standing on the ceremonial stands with a gold medal hanging down of my neck and had flowers in my hand. I was listening to the Czech national anthem and watching the Czech flag going up on the ceremonial post while 15,000 people got up in the stands to show the respect for the foreign national anthem and the winning team from the Czech Republic. The awards ceremony is similar to the Olympic Games.”
While on the road, how do you like to spend your spare time?
“I’m buried in my books because my graduate program requires a lot of studying.”
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Stehnova finshed the year leading Iowa in double-doubles with 10. |
How would you describe yourself on the court? Off the court?
“On the court, I’m a hardworking player fighting to the last ball and always striving for the best. Off the court, I think I’m pretty easy going and laid back.”
Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
“No. I believe that it can cause more troubles than actually help.”
What has surprised you most about the University of Iowa?
“How similar it was to the environment I came from. If I wouldn’t hear people speaking English around me, I would think that I’m somewhere in the Czech Republic.”
What is the best part about being a student-athlete at Iowa? The toughest part?
“The best part is being a member of the team and sharing special team bonds that can’t be developed in the ‘outside’ world. On the other hand, I have been having a tough time trying to manage both school and athletics lately so that has been tough.”
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Hard work and striving for excellence always pays off.”
If you were on a deserted island, which of your teammates would you want to have with you and why?
“Both Aussies, Laura and Louise. We would laugh through anything.”
What activities/hobbies do you do in your spare time or in the off-season?
“I don’t really have any spare time, but in the off-season I play beach volleyball a lot.”
If you could meet anyone (past or present) whom would you want to meet?
“Charles IV, our most famous king.”
What movie have you watched the most amount of times and why?
“I’m a big fan of Tolken so Lord of The Rings is at the top of my list.”
Of all the teammates you have competed with at Iowa, who has been the most inspirational, or who have you learned the most from?
“Sara Meyermann. She was actually done the year I came in, but she was coaching and occasionally played with us. Whenever she stepped on the court, it was like watching a perfection in volleyball.”
The Stehnova File
Full Name: Jitka Stehnova
Nickname: Jitty
Major: mathematics
Parents: Stanislav and Anna
Birthday: May 3, 1981
Sibling: Martin