University of Minnesota Athletics
Stephanie Nucci Q&A
7/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Gophersports.com: What made your decision to transfer to the University of Minnesota?
Stephanie Nucci: “It was a combination of a lot of things. I obviously have nothing bad to say about UCLA, it was a great school that gave me a great education. I graduated in three years, and I was looking for a place where I could be a part of a team that could win a National Championship. In this program, that is the sole goal of everyone. It was also a good fit, because it has a good Sports Management Master’s program, which was one of the major things I was looking for.
GS: Talk about how you graduated from UCLA in three years.
SN: “I took some summer courses last year, and a full load, meaning 21 credits plus per semester, for a year and a half. I graduated and have two years of eligibility, and will pursue my Master’s Degree.
GS: What motivated you to graduate in three years?
SN: “I knew I had five years as a student-athlete, and I really wanted to win a National Championship. Graduating from UCLA in three years gave me options to pursue different avenues to achieve that goal. It was always a possibility to graduate early and go to grad school at UCLA. However, when I sat down with my counselors, they told me I had too many units to continue undergraduate and I did not have the work experience to go to grad school. The Sports Management program at Minnesota was what I wanted to go to school for, and that matched up well with how good of a fit the volleyball program was for me.”
GS: How has the transition to the University of Minnesota been so far?
SN: “Honestly, the toughest part of the transition was I had to go from Los Angeles to Phoenix to Minnesota all within five days. I accumulated a lot of stuff at UCLA in three years. So it was tough to get that together to move to Minnesota. The group of girls here have been awesome. They are a great group. We have done a lot of team-bonding stuff, in fact we just back from Katherine Harms’ cabin this weekend. That was so fun. It has been an easy transition, because the girls on this team are so welcoming.”
GS: How did the success of past players from California at Minnesota affect your decision to come here?
SN: “I don’t know if it made it easier. It puts a different perspective on things. Before I got here, I had no idea how many players had come from California to Minnesota. I was really mostly familiar with Taylor Carico. She is going to hate me for saying this, but she has really been a mentor for me throughout this whole process. When I got here she was really open to helping me out with a few things, and that really helped me out. Being able to know that she did this same transition successfully last year helps out a lot.”
GS: How beneficial has it been to able to be around the team, and to get to have player’s only practices to get used to your new teammates?
SN: “It has been great, they hit really hard and as a setter that is always an awesome feeling to be on the court with players that you know can put the ball away. It has been awesome to practice with everyone and get used to playing with them. Coming from UCLA, I did get a chance to watch Minnesota play in the Final Four. Watching them play Texas for instance (in the Final Four), you could tell the whole sole attitude of the team is so competitive. The attitude just shows the confidence and feeling that they were going to win, and if they did not they were going to put it all out there in an effort to win the match. That is what I love about playing with this group. The attitude that everyone has seems to be on the same page.”
GS: What are some of the things that you think make someone a successful setter?
SN: “I think it is a combination of things. I have talked to Mike about what he is looking for in a setter, and it is obviously a big leadership role. Not only that, but you really need to connect with your hitters, know the offense and know what to do in certain situations. I think that is what makes a great setter.”
GS: How much will it help this year to have two great setters (yourself and Mia Tabberson) to compete to raise each other’s level in practice.”
SN: “It definitely raises my game, and makes me know I have to step up to get playing time out on the court. At UCLA I sat behind Nellie Spicer, who was an All-American, and whose accomplishments spoke for themselves. I gained a lot of experience with that, and also playing for Andy Banachowski, I learned so much and absorbed as much as I could. I think the competitive atmosphere for the whole team here is great. There is a lot of depth and competition for every spot on the roster. That will help us out a great deal in the long run. Everyone has to step up and be on their game in practice as well as the matches.”
GS: What has been your toughest adjustment since coming to Minnesota?
SN: “The first week is always the toughest, because you are just trying to get settled in a new place. On top of that, I am taking four classes through UCLA to finish, because I had some units to complete. Starting out at Minnesota in the middle of finishing up the classes at UCLA is tough. However, I am used to moving around so the adjustment has not been that hard.”
GS: Talk about the high school and club programs you played in prior to attending UCLA?
SN: “I would play high school volleyball in Arizona, and when the second semester (day after Christmas) arrived I would fly out to Illinois and play for the Sports Performance club team where I lived with my aunt (Sue Nucci played at Illinois from 1991-94), who played for Mike (Hebert). That whole experience made me the player I am today, and made me very goal oriented and independent. Living on my own away from parents and playing for that caliber of a club really helped shape me as a person.”
GS: Did that experience play a part in how driven you have been since you got to college?
SN: “That sums it up right there. Sports Performance develops setters and gives you mentality of letting you know what has to be done to succeed. It is really beneficial for any player who plays in that program.”
GS: Your Aunt played at Illinois for Mike Hebert and right after assistant coach Laura Bush. Talk about being able to share the connection of being around those two as coaches, and what your experiences your aunt told you about at Illinois.
SN: “She has nothing but good things to say about play for Mike. It was a different era when she played, and we are different players. She was a hitter and I am a setter. We shared stories, and it is a pretty cool connection. She also played for Sports Performance the club I played for, which is a good common experience as well.”
GS: What are some of your strengths as a setter?
SN: “I think my discipline, location, consistency, and this summer really developing a connection with the hitters has helped a lot. That will continue to improve as the season progresses. I hope to help provide some upper classmen leadership. I just want to help bring the team together to have a great season.”
GS: Talk about the benefit of practicing with the team informally in the summer.
SN: “Coming from UCLA, we did not have be there in the summer. We always reported for practice around Aug. 10. Just seeing how that was and coming in here, especially for the freshman, is great. Coming in here as a setter has been a wonderful experience. I am learning the system from the returning players, and really getting a chance to communicate and get some time out on the court with players on this team. It has been a good head start on the season.”
GS: What are some goals for the year?
SN: “Go as far as we can, and to get a lot out of the Master’s program in Sports Management. I am just so excited to be here, and to have this opportunity to play at the University of Minnesota.”
