University of Minnesota Athletics
Volleyball Media Day Quotes
8/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Mike Hebert
Opening Statement:
“Like every coach right now, we are still getting ready to face tough opponents and it is early so there are still things we are working on, but so is everyone else. I do like our team a lot. I like our chemistry, which is crucial at this level. More than our chemistry, I really like our athletic talent and our size. We will be very physical, meaning we will have a good hitting and blocking team. I think the returning core of veterans has really embraced a leadership role, really welcomed the new players and spent a good amount of time showing them the ropes in terms of the system of play, the offense and the defense. In fact, most of them returned to the gym a week and a half early and worked with each other during the time that coaches could not be around them due to NCAA rules. The players did a nice job of teaching newcomers about how we play. So we did not start from scratch at the first practice.”
On team captains:
“I don’t have any one player in mind. Our team leads by committee right now. There are a group of older returning players making sure everything goes well.”
On newcomers to the team:
“Taylor (Carico) has been very impressive. She walked in the building, took over the team and has played with a lot of confidence. It is tough to walk in as a new player in any program and do that. Megan (Wilson) has really impressed me so far, she has been a great all-around player. Tabi Love right now is like the volleyball equivalent of a newborn dear. She is still learning, but within a brief period of time will really be someone to watch out for. Her size and athletic ability are really going to turn her into one of the great players in the game over the next four years.”
On junior class:
“We have a strong group of veterans returning. In terms of the group of juniors, we have Lauren (Gibbemeyer) in the middle, Brook on the outside and Hailey as one of our top ball-control players. Those three have played together their first two years here, and as club teammates.”
On preseason practice:
“Practice is always tough here with the heat in the gym, but it has been a great preseason for us. I am extremely excited about this team. It is probably the most athletically gifted team we have had at the University of Minnesota in my tenure.”
On team’s potential:
“Our potential to be a quality team is as high as it has been since I have been here, but the minute I say that I will go back into coach-speak and say we need to wait until we play to answer those questions. It looks on paper that we will have an extremely good squad this season.”
On having a challenging non-conference schedule:
“Absolutely, for me it is about playing about the best and seeing how good you are. It is great for the team and creates a great atmosphere when you play teams of that caliber and challenge yourself. I would rather play teams that people think will beat us. I love having a tough schedule, and testing our players so they will learn important lessons and improve as the year progresses.”
On Big Ten race and two-time defending national champion Penn State:
“I have been in the Big Ten for 25 years and someone is always really good. Right now, it is Penn State’s run, and it has been a very good run. We will try to play the best we can play and look forward to the challenge of the Big Ten schedule and facing Penn State. It is always fun to test yourself against high-level opponents, and we get that opportunity throughout Big Ten play.”
On core of returning players:
“Number one, they are talented and can really play. Number two, they have taken ownership of the program. They have bought in and believe in what we are trying to do. This group is athletically gifted and three of them have played with each other for about six years, which is unusual.”
On Taylor Carico:
“Taylor was a kid who was all everything in Southern Cal, was an All-American in her sophomore year and we got a call from her about coming her for her senior year, so that worked out well for us. We have gotten to know her well, and she is getting comfortable with the way we do things around here. She is also playing extremely well in practice. Taylor has managed herself very well, and has been a leader on the floor. Things come very natural for her.”
On Megan Wilson:
“Megan is a real volleyball player, who I would say is probably underappreciated. She does everything really well, from passing, to ball control and really understanding the offense and defense incredibly well. Megan is a player you can put on the floor and not worry about at all.”
On freshmen class:
“Tabi Love from up north (Canada), and is a 6-6 outside hitter with a lot of athletic ability. She is a little green, but as she begins to mature as a player she will be a force to deal with. She hits the ball high over the net and does a good of terminating when she gets the chance. Katherine Harms is from St. Michael-Albertville is a really powerful hitter. I could list all of our freshmen; they are all going to be really good.”
Christine Tan
On the upcoming season:
“As far as a team we have high expectations. A lot of people from the outside also have high expectations for us and feel we have good potential. It is really a matter of how quick we get everything together. We have expectations to do well in the Big Ten and nationally, and we really would like to qualify for the NCAA Regionals, which are being played her in Minnesota. As for myself, I want to be a good leader. I don’t like individual goals. I just want to focus on helping the team.”
On newcomers:
“We have transfers and freshmen joining team. The transfers all have college experience, and are adjusting well to our system. The freshmen are adjusting well, they are picking things up as fast as they can, and we are trying to integrate them as quick as possible.”
On helping the newcomers transition:
“We understood coming in there would be a lot of new faces on this team. We knew it would be difficult to adjust if we just started regularly. Over the summer, whoever was in town worked out together. The week before preseason, we got everyone together and went over the system with newcomers.”
Lauren Gibbemeyer
On the upcoming season:
“We expect big things, and are hoping to get a shot at going to the Final Four this year. We have a lot of good returning players with an awesome incoming class and three transfers, and we expect big things.”
On preparation the returning players put in going in to the season:
“We took it upon ourselves to gather the incoming players with the returnees and start preseason practice a little earlier. We ran some captains practices two weeks before season to help get people on the same page. I think that has helped us a lot in terms of being ready prior to fall camp.”
On transition of new players:
“It has been an easy transition. The competitiveness in the gym has been awesome. Everyone is contributing, and I think the freshmen are getting acclimated very quickly.”
On individual and team goals this year:
“I want to raise the level of my game this year and improve in all aspects, but goals are more team-oriented and I am more focused on what we can accomplish this year as a team.”
On competitiveness in the gym with new players:
“This is the highest level of talent of team I have played on. Not sure what it is, but the newcomers have come in and played at a high level.”
On Taylor Carico transferring to Minnesota:
“I think Taylor will help a lot. She provides senior leadership, along with Christine Tan and Megan Wilson. She is also very vocal on the court, and we trust her. She carries herself well, is confident and has played at All-American level before. Taylor also has great presence on the floor when it comes to being direct and to the point. She does not beat around the bush. Those are all good qualities for a senior setter. When Coach Hebert told me she was coming here, I was excited because we played together on the U.S. Junior National Team and I knew how good she was. I was excited to be her teammate again.”
Brook Dieter
On the upcoming season:
“Coming into preseason we had a high expectations with the number one recruiting class and group of transfers we have coming into the program. We all expected the preseason to go well, but it has surpassed our expectations in terms of how well it has gone. Every drill has been very competitive and I think that is really important. I see us having a good season.”
On newcomers:
“We have five new freshmen, which is a big class. We have the number one recruit out of Canada in Tabitha Love. It is great to have athletic player who is 6-6 like her. She has a big block and hits strong. We also have a few left-handed girls which add a different dimension to the team. I think this group of newcomers really add a different dimension to the program.”
On the AVCA Showcase:
“I am very excited for our first match on Friday against Kansas State. I can’t wait to get back on the court and play. Watching from the sideline at the end of last year was tough. However, it helped give me a different outlook on the team, and I am very positive heading into the year.”
Opening Statement:
“Like every coach right now, we are still getting ready to face tough opponents and it is early so there are still things we are working on, but so is everyone else. I do like our team a lot. I like our chemistry, which is crucial at this level. More than our chemistry, I really like our athletic talent and our size. We will be very physical, meaning we will have a good hitting and blocking team. I think the returning core of veterans has really embraced a leadership role, really welcomed the new players and spent a good amount of time showing them the ropes in terms of the system of play, the offense and the defense. In fact, most of them returned to the gym a week and a half early and worked with each other during the time that coaches could not be around them due to NCAA rules. The players did a nice job of teaching newcomers about how we play. So we did not start from scratch at the first practice.”
On team captains:
“I don’t have any one player in mind. Our team leads by committee right now. There are a group of older returning players making sure everything goes well.”
On newcomers to the team:
“Taylor (Carico) has been very impressive. She walked in the building, took over the team and has played with a lot of confidence. It is tough to walk in as a new player in any program and do that. Megan (Wilson) has really impressed me so far, she has been a great all-around player. Tabi Love right now is like the volleyball equivalent of a newborn dear. She is still learning, but within a brief period of time will really be someone to watch out for. Her size and athletic ability are really going to turn her into one of the great players in the game over the next four years.”
On junior class:
“We have a strong group of veterans returning. In terms of the group of juniors, we have Lauren (Gibbemeyer) in the middle, Brook on the outside and Hailey as one of our top ball-control players. Those three have played together their first two years here, and as club teammates.”
On preseason practice:
“Practice is always tough here with the heat in the gym, but it has been a great preseason for us. I am extremely excited about this team. It is probably the most athletically gifted team we have had at the University of Minnesota in my tenure.”
On team’s potential:
“Our potential to be a quality team is as high as it has been since I have been here, but the minute I say that I will go back into coach-speak and say we need to wait until we play to answer those questions. It looks on paper that we will have an extremely good squad this season.”
On having a challenging non-conference schedule:
“Absolutely, for me it is about playing about the best and seeing how good you are. It is great for the team and creates a great atmosphere when you play teams of that caliber and challenge yourself. I would rather play teams that people think will beat us. I love having a tough schedule, and testing our players so they will learn important lessons and improve as the year progresses.”
On Big Ten race and two-time defending national champion Penn State:
“I have been in the Big Ten for 25 years and someone is always really good. Right now, it is Penn State’s run, and it has been a very good run. We will try to play the best we can play and look forward to the challenge of the Big Ten schedule and facing Penn State. It is always fun to test yourself against high-level opponents, and we get that opportunity throughout Big Ten play.”
On core of returning players:
“Number one, they are talented and can really play. Number two, they have taken ownership of the program. They have bought in and believe in what we are trying to do. This group is athletically gifted and three of them have played with each other for about six years, which is unusual.”
On Taylor Carico:
“Taylor was a kid who was all everything in Southern Cal, was an All-American in her sophomore year and we got a call from her about coming her for her senior year, so that worked out well for us. We have gotten to know her well, and she is getting comfortable with the way we do things around here. She is also playing extremely well in practice. Taylor has managed herself very well, and has been a leader on the floor. Things come very natural for her.”
On Megan Wilson:
“Megan is a real volleyball player, who I would say is probably underappreciated. She does everything really well, from passing, to ball control and really understanding the offense and defense incredibly well. Megan is a player you can put on the floor and not worry about at all.”
On freshmen class:
“Tabi Love from up north (Canada), and is a 6-6 outside hitter with a lot of athletic ability. She is a little green, but as she begins to mature as a player she will be a force to deal with. She hits the ball high over the net and does a good of terminating when she gets the chance. Katherine Harms is from St. Michael-Albertville is a really powerful hitter. I could list all of our freshmen; they are all going to be really good.”
Christine Tan
On the upcoming season:
“As far as a team we have high expectations. A lot of people from the outside also have high expectations for us and feel we have good potential. It is really a matter of how quick we get everything together. We have expectations to do well in the Big Ten and nationally, and we really would like to qualify for the NCAA Regionals, which are being played her in Minnesota. As for myself, I want to be a good leader. I don’t like individual goals. I just want to focus on helping the team.”
On newcomers:
“We have transfers and freshmen joining team. The transfers all have college experience, and are adjusting well to our system. The freshmen are adjusting well, they are picking things up as fast as they can, and we are trying to integrate them as quick as possible.”
On helping the newcomers transition:
“We understood coming in there would be a lot of new faces on this team. We knew it would be difficult to adjust if we just started regularly. Over the summer, whoever was in town worked out together. The week before preseason, we got everyone together and went over the system with newcomers.”
Lauren Gibbemeyer
On the upcoming season:
“We expect big things, and are hoping to get a shot at going to the Final Four this year. We have a lot of good returning players with an awesome incoming class and three transfers, and we expect big things.”
On preparation the returning players put in going in to the season:
“We took it upon ourselves to gather the incoming players with the returnees and start preseason practice a little earlier. We ran some captains practices two weeks before season to help get people on the same page. I think that has helped us a lot in terms of being ready prior to fall camp.”
On transition of new players:
“It has been an easy transition. The competitiveness in the gym has been awesome. Everyone is contributing, and I think the freshmen are getting acclimated very quickly.”
On individual and team goals this year:
“I want to raise the level of my game this year and improve in all aspects, but goals are more team-oriented and I am more focused on what we can accomplish this year as a team.”
On competitiveness in the gym with new players:
“This is the highest level of talent of team I have played on. Not sure what it is, but the newcomers have come in and played at a high level.”
On Taylor Carico transferring to Minnesota:
“I think Taylor will help a lot. She provides senior leadership, along with Christine Tan and Megan Wilson. She is also very vocal on the court, and we trust her. She carries herself well, is confident and has played at All-American level before. Taylor also has great presence on the floor when it comes to being direct and to the point. She does not beat around the bush. Those are all good qualities for a senior setter. When Coach Hebert told me she was coming here, I was excited because we played together on the U.S. Junior National Team and I knew how good she was. I was excited to be her teammate again.”
Brook Dieter
On the upcoming season:
“Coming into preseason we had a high expectations with the number one recruiting class and group of transfers we have coming into the program. We all expected the preseason to go well, but it has surpassed our expectations in terms of how well it has gone. Every drill has been very competitive and I think that is really important. I see us having a good season.”
On newcomers:
“We have five new freshmen, which is a big class. We have the number one recruit out of Canada in Tabitha Love. It is great to have athletic player who is 6-6 like her. She has a big block and hits strong. We also have a few left-handed girls which add a different dimension to the team. I think this group of newcomers really add a different dimension to the program.”
On the AVCA Showcase:
“I am very excited for our first match on Friday against Kansas State. I can’t wait to get back on the court and play. Watching from the sideline at the end of last year was tough. However, it helped give me a different outlook on the team, and I am very positive heading into the year.”
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballHighlights: Gophers 3, Purdue 1
Wednesday, November 26
Highlights: Gophers 3, Rutgers 0
Sunday, November 23
Highlights: Gophers 3, Maryland 0
Friday, November 21
Highlights: Gophers 3, Iowa 0
Sunday, November 16