University of Minnesota Athletics
Volleyball Player Spotlight: Tabitha Love
8/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
As fall practice rapidly approaches, gophersports.com sat down with freshman outside hitter Tabitha Love to talk about the upcoming season, some of the adjustments she will have to make to the Division I level and how excited she is to play with her new teammates.
Gophersports.com: What put Minnesota ahead of all of the other schools that were recruiting you?
Tabitha Love: “When I was making my decision I made a list of things I was looking for, like closeness to home, academic strength, how much I liked the coaches and the girls. That’s how I knew Minnesota was the school for me. It was the closest school to home of all of the schools I was looking at, which was really important to me. Also the Big Ten Conference is known for strong athletic competition as well as strong academics. When I met the coaches and the team I just totally loved it here.”
GS: At what point in the recruiting process did you know you were coming to the University of Minnesota?
TL: “I verbally committed on my birthday, so it was September 11th of grade eleven.”
GS: Has the incoming freshman class been able to bond yet?
TL: “I tried to keep up with the other girls on the internet, but I didn’t play in any tournaments in the United States this year, so I didn’t get to watch them play or play against them. We try to email each other, and as we’ve gotten closer to moving to campus we’ve been talking about stuff for our apartments. I got to come down to the University of Minnesota on my official visit and spend the night, so through that experience I’ve gotten to know the team better.”
GS: How have your experiences playing for the Canadian Junior National Team and national program prepared you to take the next step to playing Division 1 volleyball?
TL: “The Junior National Program gave me the opportunity to measure myself against better players. We all trained together and lived together, so I got used to living away from home and training for several hours a day, which is what I think the preseason will be like this year. It totally opened my eyes to the dedication and commitment that all of these other national teams are giving. The U.S. did awesome, so it was exciting to know that I would get to play against some of the players that I got to see on Team U.S.A.”
GS: What do you think the adjustment will be like from high school to college and from Canada to the United States?
TL: “I haven’t really gotten to experience the transition from high school to college yet. Leaving my family to come here was really tough, but I’m enjoying living in my apartment. I just moved in yesterday. As far as being a Canadian in the U.S., that’s been a little bit tougher, because I’ve had to do lots of paperwork, and I had to get lots of forms at the border. I had to fly back to Canada and get my passport stamped so I wasn’t called an alien anymore. It’s definitely been a big transition that way. Even little things like money and temperature- Fahrenheit vs. Celsius- and the metric system, everything’s been wack since I’ve gotten here, but it’s getting easier. People are really welcoming, and they help me a lot. I went to the immigration office on campus, and they set me up with everything I need. Everyone here is making it really easy, so it has been a good experience.”
GS: Have other Canadian players who have excelled as this level, like Sarah Pavin and Stacy Gordon, had any influence on your college choice?
TL: “Seeing them being successful really made me realize what that this experience could offer me something, and that maybe I could come here and be successful. Talking to some of the other players that have come down from Canada to go to college in the States showed me that the most important thing is to choose a school that you feel comfortable with, and I felt that Minnesota was the right school for me. I look up to those players, but I’m excited to make my own path too.”
GS: You’ve excelled in a lot of different sports athletically. When did you know that volleyball was the sport that you wanted to pursue?
TL: “I started playing in grade six, but up until this year I was playing lots of sports competitively. I excelled at volleyball and there were better coaches that were able to develop me more in volleyball, which made me choose it more over other sports. As volleyball got more intense I had to give up other sports. Volleyball was never the only sport I cared about. I enjoy lots of sports, but volleyball is one that I can excel at which is why I chose it.”
GS: Talk about the process of the first couple of weeks on campus and mixing with your new team.
TL: “We just finished our physical testing today, so now that that’s over the players have been practicing. We’ve been doing lots of team bonding activities. We’re going to the movies tonight, and we’ve gone to a pool. We’ve been trying to hang out together because there are so many new players, so we want to get to know everyone and get used to spending time together. Everyone is really welcoming and nice. You can’t tell that the transfers are new here because they still have those leadership qualities, and they’re still really helpful and comforting to the freshmen, even though they probably have anxiety about being at a new school too. I’ve heard that preseason is kind of tough, but I’m really excited to be playing. We’re going to Omaha at the end of August, and that’s coming soon, so it’s really exciting to get it all started.”
GS: Your class has been labeled as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. What kind of pressure does that bring to the freshmen?
TL: “I’ve tried not to think about it. When the article came out a newspaper called me, and I told them that I hadn’t even read the article, and I just had to focus on getting through this season. It’s obviously an honor to be called the number one recruiting class, and it’s very exciting for the coaches, the rest of the team, and us as well. The season is going to be tough, and we’re still going to have tough competition, and we’re going to have to work hard. It’s exciting to know that we have so much potential, but we still have to get it done on the court.”
GS: What kind of strengths do you think that you bring to the Gopher team, and what are some of the things you want to improve on?
TL: “I feel like I bring height, and I’ve been working really hard on my hitting and passing. I have had some experience, not as much as some of the older girls, but I know that I can handle tough situations. I’ve been a team captain before, so I feel that I do have qualities that I can contribute to the team.”
GS: How excited are you for that first match against Kansas State on Aug. 28?
TL: I’m very excited to get the season going. It will be very exciting to play in front of that big of a crowd for the first time.”
GS: What are you looking forward to about playing with the returning players?
TL: Luckily for me I’m living with one of the returning players, so I see a lot of them because they’re over at my apartment often. I was amazed watching them play. The game is so different down here. It’s so much more emotional and vocal. It’ll be a transition for me to get to that point, but it also looks much more exciting to play in that type of atmosphere, so I’ve been working on being louder and more excited about everything. They’re amazing people so I’m excited to play with them.”
Gophersports.com: What put Minnesota ahead of all of the other schools that were recruiting you?
Tabitha Love: “When I was making my decision I made a list of things I was looking for, like closeness to home, academic strength, how much I liked the coaches and the girls. That’s how I knew Minnesota was the school for me. It was the closest school to home of all of the schools I was looking at, which was really important to me. Also the Big Ten Conference is known for strong athletic competition as well as strong academics. When I met the coaches and the team I just totally loved it here.”
GS: At what point in the recruiting process did you know you were coming to the University of Minnesota?
TL: “I verbally committed on my birthday, so it was September 11th of grade eleven.”
GS: Has the incoming freshman class been able to bond yet?
TL: “I tried to keep up with the other girls on the internet, but I didn’t play in any tournaments in the United States this year, so I didn’t get to watch them play or play against them. We try to email each other, and as we’ve gotten closer to moving to campus we’ve been talking about stuff for our apartments. I got to come down to the University of Minnesota on my official visit and spend the night, so through that experience I’ve gotten to know the team better.”
GS: How have your experiences playing for the Canadian Junior National Team and national program prepared you to take the next step to playing Division 1 volleyball?
TL: “The Junior National Program gave me the opportunity to measure myself against better players. We all trained together and lived together, so I got used to living away from home and training for several hours a day, which is what I think the preseason will be like this year. It totally opened my eyes to the dedication and commitment that all of these other national teams are giving. The U.S. did awesome, so it was exciting to know that I would get to play against some of the players that I got to see on Team U.S.A.”
GS: What do you think the adjustment will be like from high school to college and from Canada to the United States?
TL: “I haven’t really gotten to experience the transition from high school to college yet. Leaving my family to come here was really tough, but I’m enjoying living in my apartment. I just moved in yesterday. As far as being a Canadian in the U.S., that’s been a little bit tougher, because I’ve had to do lots of paperwork, and I had to get lots of forms at the border. I had to fly back to Canada and get my passport stamped so I wasn’t called an alien anymore. It’s definitely been a big transition that way. Even little things like money and temperature- Fahrenheit vs. Celsius- and the metric system, everything’s been wack since I’ve gotten here, but it’s getting easier. People are really welcoming, and they help me a lot. I went to the immigration office on campus, and they set me up with everything I need. Everyone here is making it really easy, so it has been a good experience.”
GS: Have other Canadian players who have excelled as this level, like Sarah Pavin and Stacy Gordon, had any influence on your college choice?
TL: “Seeing them being successful really made me realize what that this experience could offer me something, and that maybe I could come here and be successful. Talking to some of the other players that have come down from Canada to go to college in the States showed me that the most important thing is to choose a school that you feel comfortable with, and I felt that Minnesota was the right school for me. I look up to those players, but I’m excited to make my own path too.”
GS: You’ve excelled in a lot of different sports athletically. When did you know that volleyball was the sport that you wanted to pursue?
TL: “I started playing in grade six, but up until this year I was playing lots of sports competitively. I excelled at volleyball and there were better coaches that were able to develop me more in volleyball, which made me choose it more over other sports. As volleyball got more intense I had to give up other sports. Volleyball was never the only sport I cared about. I enjoy lots of sports, but volleyball is one that I can excel at which is why I chose it.”
GS: Talk about the process of the first couple of weeks on campus and mixing with your new team.
TL: “We just finished our physical testing today, so now that that’s over the players have been practicing. We’ve been doing lots of team bonding activities. We’re going to the movies tonight, and we’ve gone to a pool. We’ve been trying to hang out together because there are so many new players, so we want to get to know everyone and get used to spending time together. Everyone is really welcoming and nice. You can’t tell that the transfers are new here because they still have those leadership qualities, and they’re still really helpful and comforting to the freshmen, even though they probably have anxiety about being at a new school too. I’ve heard that preseason is kind of tough, but I’m really excited to be playing. We’re going to Omaha at the end of August, and that’s coming soon, so it’s really exciting to get it all started.”
GS: Your class has been labeled as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. What kind of pressure does that bring to the freshmen?
TL: “I’ve tried not to think about it. When the article came out a newspaper called me, and I told them that I hadn’t even read the article, and I just had to focus on getting through this season. It’s obviously an honor to be called the number one recruiting class, and it’s very exciting for the coaches, the rest of the team, and us as well. The season is going to be tough, and we’re still going to have tough competition, and we’re going to have to work hard. It’s exciting to know that we have so much potential, but we still have to get it done on the court.”
GS: What kind of strengths do you think that you bring to the Gopher team, and what are some of the things you want to improve on?
TL: “I feel like I bring height, and I’ve been working really hard on my hitting and passing. I have had some experience, not as much as some of the older girls, but I know that I can handle tough situations. I’ve been a team captain before, so I feel that I do have qualities that I can contribute to the team.”
GS: How excited are you for that first match against Kansas State on Aug. 28?
TL: I’m very excited to get the season going. It will be very exciting to play in front of that big of a crowd for the first time.”
GS: What are you looking forward to about playing with the returning players?
TL: Luckily for me I’m living with one of the returning players, so I see a lot of them because they’re over at my apartment often. I was amazed watching them play. The game is so different down here. It’s so much more emotional and vocal. It’ll be a transition for me to get to that point, but it also looks much more exciting to play in that type of atmosphere, so I’ve been working on being louder and more excited about everything. They’re amazing people so I’m excited to play with them.”
Players Mentioned
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