Q & A WITH WHITNEY PAVLIK:

Whitney Pavlik grew up playing volleyball on the sand in Laguna Beach, so it was no surprise that she passed on a chance to play indoors overseas to pursue a career on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tour, after earning first-team All-Big West Conference honors at UC Irvine in 2006

But Pavlik was pleasantly surprised to be named AVP Rookie of the Year last week, after posting 10 top-10 finishes in 15 AVP events in 2008. She began the year playing with Jennifer Snyder, but had most of her success with Stacy Rouwenhorst, including a fifth-place showing in Boulder, Colo.

Pavlik, who turns 25 on Monday, took some time to discuss her breakthrough season.

Question: When did you first consider playing pro beach volleyball?

Answer: After I was done playing at UCI, I thought about going oversees and playing, but decided I wanted to stay home. And I had a lot of leg problems indoors. There’s less impact on the beach.

Q: What was the most difficult thing about transitioning from indoors to the beach?

A: I think just kind of learning that it’s a totally different game. All the things you learned from indoors don’t mean much on the beach, so you have to put all those things aside, except for the basic fundamentals.

Q: What are your lasting memories from your experience at UCI?

A: I was very happy when I transferred there [after two seasons at Montana out of Mater Dei High]. I played for [UCI Coach] Charlie [Brande] at the Orange County Volleyball Club, so I felt like I wanted to finish up with him. That kind of meant a lot. And, I’ll remember the friends and relationships.

Q: What are your lasting memories of your club career?

“My sophomore year, our 16-and-under ones made it to the championship match in Davis. My older sister’s Nike team made her division final and they played right before us. That was fun.

Q: Can winning Rookie of the Year translate to bigger sponsorship dollars?

A: I’m hoping so, but I’ve heard nothing yet.

Q: Will the absence of Newport Harbor High product Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, the two-time Olympic gold medalists and the top team in the world, on the AVP tour next season energize the other players?

A: I think so. They are such great and talented players and people wanted them to win [in Beijing] this year. They deserve all the awards and accolades they get. But it will be fun to see what happens. It’s usually Misty and Kerri against someone in the final. I think them not being there will fire up people.

Q: What makes Misty and Kerri so dominant?

A: We didn’t play them this year. But they just both do their roles so well. And, they are such hard workers. Playing with them and practicing with them, I was amazed how hard they push themselves all the time. When you put that together with the type of athletes they are, you get perfection, which is what they are together.

Q: What’s your favorite AVP Tour stop?

A: Boulder, was fun, because we finished fifth, but I really had a good time in Louisville, [Ky.]. My parents went to school there and I have family there. We stayed with family friends there and it was a great atmosphere for the tournament.

Q: Do you have aspirations of playing in the Olympics?

A: Yeah, that’s definitely a goal. I’m young enough that if 2008 doesn’t work, I can shoot for 2012.