University of Minnesota Athletics
Volleyball Player Spotlight: Mia Tabberson
8/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
As fall practice rapidly approached, gophersports.com recently sat down with freshman setter Mia Tabberson to discuss the upcoming season, along with several other topics.
Gophersports.com: What made you decide to come to the University Of Minnesota?
Mia Tabberson: “My end decision is that I wanted to stay in the Big Ten. I looked at a few of the different Big Ten institutions. I really liked the coaches, the campus and the girls at Minnesota and everything felt just right here.”
GS: When did you verbally commit to the University Of Minnesota?
MT: “It was towards the end of my sophomore season going into my junior year. I have known for a while that I would be going to the University of Minnesota, so I am looking forward to finally starting my career here this year.”
GS: Most of incoming freshman class that you came in with committed early like yourself, can you talk about the growth that you and this class will have over years to come?
MT: “It has been very nice to know where I am going to school for a long time now. It has given me the opportunity to get to know some of the girls in my class prior to getting here, especially Katherine (Harms). She and I have kept in touch. I have also had a chance to talk to my classmates and players on this team to get to know everyone as well as possible before I cam here. I definitely have had the chance to get to know the people that were already on the team as well. It is kind of nice because that gives me a comfort level coming into fall camp.”
GS: Can you talk about the pressures of being rated the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation?
MT: “To be honest, I have not thought and did not know about it for the longest time. It definitely set the bar a little bit higher. The coaches and the returning players will expect a lot out of us and we hope to make a big impact right from the start.”
GS: How do you feel to have the presence of a senior setter (Taylor Carico) to help you make the adjustment, and have you continue to grow and develop your skill?
MT: “I definitely feel that there is a lot to learn from Taylor (Carico). She had a successful career in her first three years at USC. I hope to learn as much as I can from her, and continue to go in with an open mind about taking advantage of playing time when I am on the court. I am hoping to learn as much as I can from the experienced players on this team, because they have already played in the Big Ten and they know what to expect. I want to learn as much as I can from those players.”.
GS: Did the club season you had and winning the MVP at the AAU Championships give you more confidence about taking on the challenge of playing at this level?
MT: “You work your whole high school and club seasons to get an opportunity to play at the college level and do the best you. I have come to Minnesota not cocky but confident after our team had a great finish this year. Winning the MVP at the AAU Championships definitely boosts your confidence, but playing in the Big Ten is a different game and style of play. There are new coaches, new players and new game ideas. It does help a lot though to come off of a strong finish during the club season.”
GS: What are some of the adjustment that you will have to go through coming into your freshman year?
MT: “I have had the opportunity to work with Brook (Dieter) and Lauren (Gibbemeyer) with set tempo after camp had just ended. They stayed after to help me with set location, tempo and plays. The new offensive patterns are the biggest thing that I will have to learn. However, there are some similar patterns to here and what I did in high school which is nice. Not everything is completely changing, but the biggest change is that it is a different game here and I will have to learn quickly.”
GS: What are some of the strengths as a player that you bring on and off the court?
MT: “I bring energy and am a vocal player. I love to play the game of volleyball and have a lot of passion for it. My biggest asset would be my heart and passion to the team whether it would be on the court or on the bench.”
GS: Since watching the Gophers from afar, have you had the opportunity to see and hear about some of the great setters of the past in this program? Can you talk about how it feels to become a part of that.
MT: “I think it a testimony about how great the coaching staff is and Mike (Hebert) ability to train the setters and it is just more for me to learn from him.”
GS: What are some of the things that you hope to gain out of fall camp?
MT: “I think going into it I want to absorb as much as I can from the girls and the coaching staff and compete for that spot. I want to also learn as much from Taylor (Carico) as much as I can as well because she has a couple years on me and is someone I can use as a teacher.”
GS: Can you talk about how excited you are to start the season?
MT: “I can not wait to get the season started. We had camp the last two days and got to play with the girls for a little bit after practice. To see the competition of girls that we have on the team playing with a whole new group of people is nerve-racking but exciting. Our non-conference schedule includes some of the best teams in the nation, and I am very excited to get the season started.”
Gophersports.com: What made you decide to come to the University Of Minnesota?
Mia Tabberson: “My end decision is that I wanted to stay in the Big Ten. I looked at a few of the different Big Ten institutions. I really liked the coaches, the campus and the girls at Minnesota and everything felt just right here.”
GS: When did you verbally commit to the University Of Minnesota?
MT: “It was towards the end of my sophomore season going into my junior year. I have known for a while that I would be going to the University of Minnesota, so I am looking forward to finally starting my career here this year.”
GS: Most of incoming freshman class that you came in with committed early like yourself, can you talk about the growth that you and this class will have over years to come?
MT: “It has been very nice to know where I am going to school for a long time now. It has given me the opportunity to get to know some of the girls in my class prior to getting here, especially Katherine (Harms). She and I have kept in touch. I have also had a chance to talk to my classmates and players on this team to get to know everyone as well as possible before I cam here. I definitely have had the chance to get to know the people that were already on the team as well. It is kind of nice because that gives me a comfort level coming into fall camp.”
GS: Can you talk about the pressures of being rated the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation?
MT: “To be honest, I have not thought and did not know about it for the longest time. It definitely set the bar a little bit higher. The coaches and the returning players will expect a lot out of us and we hope to make a big impact right from the start.”
GS: How do you feel to have the presence of a senior setter (Taylor Carico) to help you make the adjustment, and have you continue to grow and develop your skill?
MT: “I definitely feel that there is a lot to learn from Taylor (Carico). She had a successful career in her first three years at USC. I hope to learn as much as I can from her, and continue to go in with an open mind about taking advantage of playing time when I am on the court. I am hoping to learn as much as I can from the experienced players on this team, because they have already played in the Big Ten and they know what to expect. I want to learn as much as I can from those players.”.
GS: Did the club season you had and winning the MVP at the AAU Championships give you more confidence about taking on the challenge of playing at this level?
MT: “You work your whole high school and club seasons to get an opportunity to play at the college level and do the best you. I have come to Minnesota not cocky but confident after our team had a great finish this year. Winning the MVP at the AAU Championships definitely boosts your confidence, but playing in the Big Ten is a different game and style of play. There are new coaches, new players and new game ideas. It does help a lot though to come off of a strong finish during the club season.”
GS: What are some of the adjustment that you will have to go through coming into your freshman year?
MT: “I have had the opportunity to work with Brook (Dieter) and Lauren (Gibbemeyer) with set tempo after camp had just ended. They stayed after to help me with set location, tempo and plays. The new offensive patterns are the biggest thing that I will have to learn. However, there are some similar patterns to here and what I did in high school which is nice. Not everything is completely changing, but the biggest change is that it is a different game here and I will have to learn quickly.”
GS: What are some of the strengths as a player that you bring on and off the court?
MT: “I bring energy and am a vocal player. I love to play the game of volleyball and have a lot of passion for it. My biggest asset would be my heart and passion to the team whether it would be on the court or on the bench.”
GS: Since watching the Gophers from afar, have you had the opportunity to see and hear about some of the great setters of the past in this program? Can you talk about how it feels to become a part of that.
MT: “I think it a testimony about how great the coaching staff is and Mike (Hebert) ability to train the setters and it is just more for me to learn from him.”
GS: What are some of the things that you hope to gain out of fall camp?
MT: “I think going into it I want to absorb as much as I can from the girls and the coaching staff and compete for that spot. I want to also learn as much from Taylor (Carico) as much as I can as well because she has a couple years on me and is someone I can use as a teacher.”
GS: Can you talk about how excited you are to start the season?
MT: “I can not wait to get the season started. We had camp the last two days and got to play with the girls for a little bit after practice. To see the competition of girls that we have on the team playing with a whole new group of people is nerve-racking but exciting. Our non-conference schedule includes some of the best teams in the nation, and I am very excited to get the season started.”
Players Mentioned
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