Augusta, Ga. - With the volleyball season winding down it also means the last time some players will suit up for Augusta University as they will be graduating. One of them is Giulia Rodrigues, who has certainly left her mark on the program in her time wearing the Jaguar uniform.  

This year has been vastly different than last since Rodrigues is a nursing student, working towards her masters degree. To say there's a large demand on her time would be an understatement. She knew it would take a different mindset to be able to pull both off without shortchanging one or the other. 

"It was going to be something I had to multitask, and it is a lot. I have a great support system with my team," said Rodrigues. 

Not just with the team, but beyond. Tuesdays are her big day. She has clinicals starting at 6:45 a.m. and going until 3:30 and then usually a match that night. It doesn't leave a lot of time to get to games, both home and away. But they were able to adjust the start times to make it all work out. The support from all parties was overwhelming and she wanted to make sure she gave it her all, not only in the clinic, but for her teammates with the effort she gave. 

"I feel like they adjusted a lot for what I'm doing now and I know I have to give 100%, no matter what I'm doing," added Rodrigues. "Dr. (David) Hunt communicated to the Dean of the College of Nursing, so I was like if they're able to make the adjustments, they really want me to succeed. I was a little bit taken aback." 


  
It took some time for her to adjust to the new schedule of volleyball and nursing, but she adapted and was able to find that balance to make it work. 

For student-athletes, there usually isn't a lot of downtime anyhow.. So even getting an extra hour was a difference maker. She also admits, the time on the court gave her a chance to forget about the day and recharge her batteries. 

Rodrigues added that if she wanted it bad enough, she was going to have to work hard for it and  never shied away from that challenge. 

"I know I want to be on that court so I have to do my job so I  can't be counting on my teammates to pick up the slack. I have to be that leader and I have to pick up my slack and their slack," said Rodrigues. 

Having great teammates that support and push her has made the season easier on her. That not only helps physically, but mentally as well and said that's where the real challenge has been. 

Rodrigues is the libero for Augusta, and doesn't come off the court that much. She's played in every set of every match and recently eclipsed the 1,000 dig mark for her career. If you've seen her play,  you've seen her diving for a ball nearly every time it goes over the net. She equates each bruise to a little trophy that shows the hard work pays off. 

With just two home matches left,  Rodrigues knows her time playing volleyball on the collegiate level is quickly coming to an end. Her parents and family will be coming for senior day and she knows it'll be a little sad to see the journey come to a close.

"This is just a little chapter in my life," said Rodrigues. "It'll come and pay off at the end of the day. This is the only semester that I'll be doing volleyball and nursing together so I won't have to mulittask as much." 

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