University of Minnesota Athletics
Volleyball Player Spotlight: Katherine Harms
8/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Gophersports recently sat down with freshman outside hitter Katherine Harms to talk about her decision to play at Minnesota, the No. 1 ranked recruiting class she is part of and the excitement she has to finally to get to play on the court for the University of Minnesota in less than a month. The fourth remaining freshmen and the six returnees will talk to gophersports.com in the upcoming couple of weeks. Feel free to send questions to gelle014@umn.edu if there is anything you would like to ask the players.
Gophersports.com: In recent years many Gopher volleyball players have committed to the University of Minnesota early in the recruiting process. Talk about your mindset during the recruiting process and what you’re looking forward to about coming to the University of Minnesota.
Katherine Harms: “Minnesota started recruiting me early, and I visited a couple of other schools and then finally visited the University of Minnesota. From the moment I stepped on campus I just knew that this was where I wanted to be. My dad, grandfather and uncles went to the University of Minnesota, so it seemed like the right fit right away. Getting to know the girls over the past couple of years has been really nice. I feel like I’m not “new” coming in because I have had the chance to get to know the girls on the team. I’m just excited to start playing volleyball at this level.”
GS: At what point in your high school career did you make the verbal decision to come to the University of Minnesota?
KH: “It was my sophomore year of high school, so it was pretty early.”
GS: That’s similar to current Gopher players Brook Dieter and Lauren Gibbemeyer, and players in the past as well. Talk about the trend in this program with in-state players who are excited about playing here committing very early in the process.
KH: “Having those girls (Brook, Hailey Cowles and Lauren) ahead of me I knew I would be coming into a really good program where everyone would be willing to work hard to achieve our goals. It’s a really big step up from high school, but it’s one I’m looking forward to.”
GS: Describe the excitement for the upcoming season.
KH: “I’ve started going in and playing with some of the returning players a little bit, which shows me that I have some work to do because they are playing at college level, and I need to zone into that, and that’s going to be the biggest thing. I think this season will be really exciting with the group of freshmen and transfers coming into the program, and it being a fairly newer team, but I think the girls we already have here are ready to help us step it up and make us the best team possible.”
GS: How exciting is it to be part of the group that has been labeled the best recruiting class in the country?
KH: “It’s very exciting. It adds a little bit of pressure, but I think all of us realize that this is a higher level, and we are going to have to prove that we deserve that rank by stepping up our game to play with the girls that are already in the program.”
GS: What do you think will be the biggest adjustments you’ll have to make to play at this level?
KH: “It’s a much faster game than anything that I’ve ever played, so that will probably be the main adjustment, and just the time that you have to put into volleyball is a step up at this level.”
GS: How did it feel to represent the University of Minnesota at the Under Armor High School All-Star match that you played in during the Final Four festivities in Omaha?
KH: “That was really cool. It was a great experience. I got a chance to meet a lot of players that I will hopefully be playing against in the upcoming years. It was a really good experience to get a feel for how it’s going to look for the next four years.”
GS: What experiences have you had with your Gopher teammates so far?
KH: “I’ve been to a ton of Gopher matches. That was always a big thing to do once I knew I was coming here. Moving closer to the University of Minnesota has made it so easy to get down here and be in the atmosphere and with the girls. I’ve seen a ton of the girls through Junior Olympics; some of them are coaching now, and I’ve played against some of them. It’s been really good always having them around and being able to be a part of the team.”
GS: How does it feel to be able to represent your state with eight Minnesotans on the roster on this year’s team?
KH: “It’s great. It shows that the University of Minnesota has a good program, and that people want to stay in-state and the team is homegrown. It’s awesome to have girls I’ve seen around for the past couple of years be there for me, and also have them there on the team to make it a better program.”
GS: Have you had much of a chance to talk to the other incoming players and figure out what to expect from this coming season?
KH: “The girls who are here now have made it really easy to understand what I’m getting into, and I’ve been working out with them, so they’re getting me ready for the season. I know it will be a lot harder than anything I’ve ever experienced, but they’re doing job of helping me understand what I’m going to go through.”
GS: Right off the bat you get to play some of the other top teams in the nation. How much will it help you to have that exposure early on in the season?
KH: “I think it will be really good for the team. A lot of us are coming to campus early to get used to the team and being with each other, and I think those early matches will be a really good test of how our team is going to play this year. They will be good matches to show what we’ll be capable of doing throughout the year.”
GS: What are some of your individual goals for this year?
KH: “A big goal of mine is definitely to improve my defense. That’s going to be my main goal. It’s the part of my game that was put on the back burner early in my career, so I really want to get up to par with all of the other girls on the team.”
GS: How much are you looking forward to playing for the coaching staff at Minnesota?
KH: “They were a huge part of why I decided to come to the U. Mike [Hebert] is an awesome coach, and I know that Scott [Swanson] is one of those people who will be able to work me really hard and get the best out of me. Laura [Bush] is just a great person all-around, and I think that all three of them are going to help me improve in all aspects of my game. They’ve always been helpful and answered any questions I’ve had throughout the entire recruiting process.”
GS: You’ve had the chance to watch a lot of matches at the Sports Pavilion. How exciting is that first match as a Gopher going to be for you, and how long did you have thoughts of being a Gopher before the recruiting process started?
KH: “Before recruiting started I thought of volleyball as just for fun, and I didn’t really know if I could ever go anywhere with it. Once I started getting recruited, and I found the University of Minnesota, I just fell in love. Every match I watched made me think, “I’m so ready to get here, and I just want to step out on that court and wear that jersey.” The team and the atmosphere are so great, and I’ve been looking forward to it for the past two years, and I’m so ready to be here.”
GS: At what point in your career did you make the jump from playing “just for fun” to realizing that volleyball was something you could play collegiately?
KH: “It was probably when colleges started recruiting me when I was fifteen. I’ll always be playing volleyball for the love of the game, but that was the age that it really took off, and I realized that I can do this for so much longer than just high school.”
GS: Talk about how much you’re looking forward to fall practice and putting this team together on the court?
KH: “I think that this upcoming season is going to be a lot of hard work. Everyone is new and getting used to each other, but I think it will go really well, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m very anxious and a little bit nervous. I’m moving on campus in a week, and I’m ready to start and to have all the girls with me.”
Gophersports.com: In recent years many Gopher volleyball players have committed to the University of Minnesota early in the recruiting process. Talk about your mindset during the recruiting process and what you’re looking forward to about coming to the University of Minnesota.
Katherine Harms: “Minnesota started recruiting me early, and I visited a couple of other schools and then finally visited the University of Minnesota. From the moment I stepped on campus I just knew that this was where I wanted to be. My dad, grandfather and uncles went to the University of Minnesota, so it seemed like the right fit right away. Getting to know the girls over the past couple of years has been really nice. I feel like I’m not “new” coming in because I have had the chance to get to know the girls on the team. I’m just excited to start playing volleyball at this level.”
GS: At what point in your high school career did you make the verbal decision to come to the University of Minnesota?
KH: “It was my sophomore year of high school, so it was pretty early.”
GS: That’s similar to current Gopher players Brook Dieter and Lauren Gibbemeyer, and players in the past as well. Talk about the trend in this program with in-state players who are excited about playing here committing very early in the process.
KH: “Having those girls (Brook, Hailey Cowles and Lauren) ahead of me I knew I would be coming into a really good program where everyone would be willing to work hard to achieve our goals. It’s a really big step up from high school, but it’s one I’m looking forward to.”
GS: Describe the excitement for the upcoming season.
KH: “I’ve started going in and playing with some of the returning players a little bit, which shows me that I have some work to do because they are playing at college level, and I need to zone into that, and that’s going to be the biggest thing. I think this season will be really exciting with the group of freshmen and transfers coming into the program, and it being a fairly newer team, but I think the girls we already have here are ready to help us step it up and make us the best team possible.”
GS: How exciting is it to be part of the group that has been labeled the best recruiting class in the country?
KH: “It’s very exciting. It adds a little bit of pressure, but I think all of us realize that this is a higher level, and we are going to have to prove that we deserve that rank by stepping up our game to play with the girls that are already in the program.”
GS: What do you think will be the biggest adjustments you’ll have to make to play at this level?
KH: “It’s a much faster game than anything that I’ve ever played, so that will probably be the main adjustment, and just the time that you have to put into volleyball is a step up at this level.”
GS: How did it feel to represent the University of Minnesota at the Under Armor High School All-Star match that you played in during the Final Four festivities in Omaha?
KH: “That was really cool. It was a great experience. I got a chance to meet a lot of players that I will hopefully be playing against in the upcoming years. It was a really good experience to get a feel for how it’s going to look for the next four years.”
GS: What experiences have you had with your Gopher teammates so far?
KH: “I’ve been to a ton of Gopher matches. That was always a big thing to do once I knew I was coming here. Moving closer to the University of Minnesota has made it so easy to get down here and be in the atmosphere and with the girls. I’ve seen a ton of the girls through Junior Olympics; some of them are coaching now, and I’ve played against some of them. It’s been really good always having them around and being able to be a part of the team.”
GS: How does it feel to be able to represent your state with eight Minnesotans on the roster on this year’s team?
KH: “It’s great. It shows that the University of Minnesota has a good program, and that people want to stay in-state and the team is homegrown. It’s awesome to have girls I’ve seen around for the past couple of years be there for me, and also have them there on the team to make it a better program.”
GS: Have you had much of a chance to talk to the other incoming players and figure out what to expect from this coming season?
KH: “The girls who are here now have made it really easy to understand what I’m getting into, and I’ve been working out with them, so they’re getting me ready for the season. I know it will be a lot harder than anything I’ve ever experienced, but they’re doing job of helping me understand what I’m going to go through.”
GS: Right off the bat you get to play some of the other top teams in the nation. How much will it help you to have that exposure early on in the season?
KH: “I think it will be really good for the team. A lot of us are coming to campus early to get used to the team and being with each other, and I think those early matches will be a really good test of how our team is going to play this year. They will be good matches to show what we’ll be capable of doing throughout the year.”
GS: What are some of your individual goals for this year?
KH: “A big goal of mine is definitely to improve my defense. That’s going to be my main goal. It’s the part of my game that was put on the back burner early in my career, so I really want to get up to par with all of the other girls on the team.”
GS: How much are you looking forward to playing for the coaching staff at Minnesota?
KH: “They were a huge part of why I decided to come to the U. Mike [Hebert] is an awesome coach, and I know that Scott [Swanson] is one of those people who will be able to work me really hard and get the best out of me. Laura [Bush] is just a great person all-around, and I think that all three of them are going to help me improve in all aspects of my game. They’ve always been helpful and answered any questions I’ve had throughout the entire recruiting process.”
GS: You’ve had the chance to watch a lot of matches at the Sports Pavilion. How exciting is that first match as a Gopher going to be for you, and how long did you have thoughts of being a Gopher before the recruiting process started?
KH: “Before recruiting started I thought of volleyball as just for fun, and I didn’t really know if I could ever go anywhere with it. Once I started getting recruited, and I found the University of Minnesota, I just fell in love. Every match I watched made me think, “I’m so ready to get here, and I just want to step out on that court and wear that jersey.” The team and the atmosphere are so great, and I’ve been looking forward to it for the past two years, and I’m so ready to be here.”
GS: At what point in your career did you make the jump from playing “just for fun” to realizing that volleyball was something you could play collegiately?
KH: “It was probably when colleges started recruiting me when I was fifteen. I’ll always be playing volleyball for the love of the game, but that was the age that it really took off, and I realized that I can do this for so much longer than just high school.”
GS: Talk about how much you’re looking forward to fall practice and putting this team together on the court?
KH: “I think that this upcoming season is going to be a lot of hard work. Everyone is new and getting used to each other, but I think it will go really well, and I’m looking forward to it. I’m very anxious and a little bit nervous. I’m moving on campus in a week, and I’m ready to start and to have all the girls with me.”
Players Mentioned
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