University of Minnesota Athletics
Steffi Sooter Q&A
8/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Minnesota freshman Steffi Sooter sat down with gophersports.com to talk about her experiences this summer getting ready for the 2010 Gopher Volleyball season. Sooter joins setter Stephanie Nucci as one of two Golden Gophers who hail from the state of California.
Gophersports.com: How has the process been since you arrived here, and what are the advantages of getting to work out and practice together with the players on this team during the summer?
Steffi Sooter: "It has been a long process. I came here for orientation, and I had so many suitcases it was ridiculous. I am really glad that I came early, it has been extremely beneficial. The lifting, running, getting adapted to the girls on the team and what they do every day has put me a step ahead of the game. I am really glad I came early, despite the fact I that I do still miss my friends and family from California. It has been great so far, I really love it here."
GS: How has it helped the team as a whole working with each other through most of the summer to get ready for the season?
SS: “At first it was hard for me, being the new person. You want so much to impress people and fit in. Overall, everyone on the team has been real welcoming and nice. There is a very good chemistry on the team that we all have. That is a big reason I wanted to come here early. I wanted to get to know how everyone was on an off the court. Everything is going real well, we are meshing well together, and we all have the same goals and missions which is nice.”
GS: What made your decision to come to play at Minnesota?
SS: “The position I play (libero/DS) has a great tradition at the University of Minnesota. It is a program known for having great defensive players. I remember watching the team play one day, and I said I want to go here. It has been a dream of mine to play in the Big Ten, and I have had my eye on Minnesota for a while. My mom and dad also always told me for college I should experience something new and different in my life, and to go somewhere new. When I came here for my official visit and met the coaches and girls it felt right. Something about it made me feel like I had to come here. I did not look anywhere else. That is how it happened. I had a dream of wanting to come here and I made it happen.”
GS: How exciting is to part of the defensive tradition here at Minnesota, and how has it been preparing with Hailey (Cowles) and Jessica (Granquist) heading into the season?
SS: “To be honest, I can’t wait because in the back of my head I want to play up to the potential and the name players have made here defensively in the past. Playing with Hailey (Cowles) and Jessica (Granquist), we definitely challenge each other and that is a good thing. It is very competitive, which I think brings out the best in all of us. Getting a feel for how they are on the court is great. Some of the techniques here defensively are a little different. However, the players have been very welcoming in terms of showing me the ropes of what to do. We definitely will thrive off each other.”
GS: Does learning some of the new defensive techniques at Minnesota help make you a more well-rounded player?
SS: “Definitely, I think the whole Minnesota program is well-rounded. We don’t just practice on passing and digging. Mike wants the whole experience to be about hitting, setting and having a great all-around knowledge. He always wants his players to work to get better all the way around.”
GS: When did you start playing volleyball?
SS: “I was a tomboy when I was little. I played everything. I started playing volleyball in fourth grade.I was also involved in soccer. I eventually had to choose between soccer and volleyball, because of my schedule. I had played soccer since I was four years old. However, I made my decision and chose volleyball. I really loved the game. Once I started playing beach volleyball, my love for the sport continued to grow even deeper. Ever since that point, I had the dream of playing Division I volleyball.”
GS: How have the experience players helped you prepare for the season?
SS: “Lauren (Gibbemeyer) has been an amazing person on and off the court. I really look up to her. She is very intense. She knows what she wants and goes after it. To me, she definitely is on the ball. I look up to her. She is a leader who is very open, and is nice and caring about everyone. In fact, all of our older players have been like that to the newcomers so far. They have been here before and they know what you need to do to succeed at a high level. When you are a new player, you know but you are still learning. I want to bring enthusiasm and play my game. I think freshmen can get scared and overwhelmed by school when they first arrive. I want to come in and prove myself?
GS: What are some of your strengths as a player?
SS: “I am very lively on the court, and am also a very talkative and emotional player. Defensively I think I am well-rounded. Overall, I think my skill set is well-rounded. I really think my enthusiasm is a big part of my game. When I step on the court, I feel like I can communicate well and provide an emotional spark after every point. I am also good at staying cool in tough situations. My demeanor on the court is also a big strength I bring.”
GS: With both you and Stephanie (Nucci) joining the team from California, have you helped each other with the transition to a new program?
SS: “We definitely are both in a situation where we had to adjust. She played at UCLA for three years and made good bonds there. We are both reserved people, and we do not walk into the gym and spill everything out. It has been nice to have her on the team to help ease my transition. We talk every day, and even though she is an older player, we can definitely relate to each other. It is nice knowing she is feeling the same way as me at times. Everyone coming in had played with each other pretty much, and so it makes it hard sometimes for new players because they all know each others’ skills. Stephanie and I feed off each other. It has been really nice to have her here. She has been like an older sister I can always go to. It is really nice.”
GS: Talk about how excited you are to be part of a freshmen class that has a chance to make an impact on an already very good team.
SS: “Both Ashley (Wittman) and Tori (Dixon) bring so much to this program. Ashley is such a well-rounded player. She is amazing. When we play with and against each other I am always amazed by what she can do. She is another person, who has a calm demeanor and does not let little things bug her. That is an excellent trait to have, because a lot people need that mentality at times. There are different personalities on the court, and it is good to have someone calm when people are freaking out. It is good to have someone like Ashley. Tori has amazed me because did not play club this spring, and she has come in and not missed a beat. She is an amazing and aggressive player. All three of us bring so many different qualities to the team. I think everyone has their own role on the team, and I think we fill our roles that are needed perfectly.”
GS: Did you play against Ashley and Tori in club competition, and what is it like to be on the same side as them now?
SS: “It is a small world. I thought they were really good players at the club level. It is funny because we played the Northern Lights team they were on in JOs and I did not want to let them hit by me. I remember one play where Tori slammed ball down in front of my feet. It was impressive. I have always heard of them, but when you see them play in person you are even more impressed. They are really good players, and am excited to be playing with them.”
Gophersports.com: How has the process been since you arrived here, and what are the advantages of getting to work out and practice together with the players on this team during the summer?
Steffi Sooter: "It has been a long process. I came here for orientation, and I had so many suitcases it was ridiculous. I am really glad that I came early, it has been extremely beneficial. The lifting, running, getting adapted to the girls on the team and what they do every day has put me a step ahead of the game. I am really glad I came early, despite the fact I that I do still miss my friends and family from California. It has been great so far, I really love it here."
GS: How has it helped the team as a whole working with each other through most of the summer to get ready for the season?
SS: “At first it was hard for me, being the new person. You want so much to impress people and fit in. Overall, everyone on the team has been real welcoming and nice. There is a very good chemistry on the team that we all have. That is a big reason I wanted to come here early. I wanted to get to know how everyone was on an off the court. Everything is going real well, we are meshing well together, and we all have the same goals and missions which is nice.”
GS: What made your decision to come to play at Minnesota?
SS: “The position I play (libero/DS) has a great tradition at the University of Minnesota. It is a program known for having great defensive players. I remember watching the team play one day, and I said I want to go here. It has been a dream of mine to play in the Big Ten, and I have had my eye on Minnesota for a while. My mom and dad also always told me for college I should experience something new and different in my life, and to go somewhere new. When I came here for my official visit and met the coaches and girls it felt right. Something about it made me feel like I had to come here. I did not look anywhere else. That is how it happened. I had a dream of wanting to come here and I made it happen.”
GS: How exciting is to part of the defensive tradition here at Minnesota, and how has it been preparing with Hailey (Cowles) and Jessica (Granquist) heading into the season?
SS: “To be honest, I can’t wait because in the back of my head I want to play up to the potential and the name players have made here defensively in the past. Playing with Hailey (Cowles) and Jessica (Granquist), we definitely challenge each other and that is a good thing. It is very competitive, which I think brings out the best in all of us. Getting a feel for how they are on the court is great. Some of the techniques here defensively are a little different. However, the players have been very welcoming in terms of showing me the ropes of what to do. We definitely will thrive off each other.”
GS: Does learning some of the new defensive techniques at Minnesota help make you a more well-rounded player?
SS: “Definitely, I think the whole Minnesota program is well-rounded. We don’t just practice on passing and digging. Mike wants the whole experience to be about hitting, setting and having a great all-around knowledge. He always wants his players to work to get better all the way around.”
GS: When did you start playing volleyball?
SS: “I was a tomboy when I was little. I played everything. I started playing volleyball in fourth grade.I was also involved in soccer. I eventually had to choose between soccer and volleyball, because of my schedule. I had played soccer since I was four years old. However, I made my decision and chose volleyball. I really loved the game. Once I started playing beach volleyball, my love for the sport continued to grow even deeper. Ever since that point, I had the dream of playing Division I volleyball.”
GS: How have the experience players helped you prepare for the season?
SS: “Lauren (Gibbemeyer) has been an amazing person on and off the court. I really look up to her. She is very intense. She knows what she wants and goes after it. To me, she definitely is on the ball. I look up to her. She is a leader who is very open, and is nice and caring about everyone. In fact, all of our older players have been like that to the newcomers so far. They have been here before and they know what you need to do to succeed at a high level. When you are a new player, you know but you are still learning. I want to bring enthusiasm and play my game. I think freshmen can get scared and overwhelmed by school when they first arrive. I want to come in and prove myself?
GS: What are some of your strengths as a player?
SS: “I am very lively on the court, and am also a very talkative and emotional player. Defensively I think I am well-rounded. Overall, I think my skill set is well-rounded. I really think my enthusiasm is a big part of my game. When I step on the court, I feel like I can communicate well and provide an emotional spark after every point. I am also good at staying cool in tough situations. My demeanor on the court is also a big strength I bring.”
GS: With both you and Stephanie (Nucci) joining the team from California, have you helped each other with the transition to a new program?
SS: “We definitely are both in a situation where we had to adjust. She played at UCLA for three years and made good bonds there. We are both reserved people, and we do not walk into the gym and spill everything out. It has been nice to have her on the team to help ease my transition. We talk every day, and even though she is an older player, we can definitely relate to each other. It is nice knowing she is feeling the same way as me at times. Everyone coming in had played with each other pretty much, and so it makes it hard sometimes for new players because they all know each others’ skills. Stephanie and I feed off each other. It has been really nice to have her here. She has been like an older sister I can always go to. It is really nice.”
GS: Talk about how excited you are to be part of a freshmen class that has a chance to make an impact on an already very good team.
SS: “Both Ashley (Wittman) and Tori (Dixon) bring so much to this program. Ashley is such a well-rounded player. She is amazing. When we play with and against each other I am always amazed by what she can do. She is another person, who has a calm demeanor and does not let little things bug her. That is an excellent trait to have, because a lot people need that mentality at times. There are different personalities on the court, and it is good to have someone calm when people are freaking out. It is good to have someone like Ashley. Tori has amazed me because did not play club this spring, and she has come in and not missed a beat. She is an amazing and aggressive player. All three of us bring so many different qualities to the team. I think everyone has their own role on the team, and I think we fill our roles that are needed perfectly.”
GS: Did you play against Ashley and Tori in club competition, and what is it like to be on the same side as them now?
SS: “It is a small world. I thought they were really good players at the club level. It is funny because we played the Northern Lights team they were on in JOs and I did not want to let them hit by me. I remember one play where Tori slammed ball down in front of my feet. It was impressive. I have always heard of them, but when you see them play in person you are even more impressed. They are really good players, and am excited to be playing with them.”
Players Mentioned
S
/ Volleyball
LIB
/ Volleyball2025 Season Recap
Tuesday, January 27
Best of Julia Hanson
Monday, December 22
Gophers Preview NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Tuesday, December 09
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Reach Sweet Sixteen
Tuesday, December 09