University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Spotlight: Tori Dixon
11/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 8, 2011
Q: What's you full name?
A: Tetori Dixon.
Q: Tetori, does that mean something?
A: I don't think so. I think it just got passed down cause my great grandma's name on my dad's side is Tetori so it's passed down I guess.
Q: You ever met anyone else named Tetori?
A: Yes, it's a pretty common in New Zealand and that's where my dad's from so it's a fairly common thing.
Q: You got quite a bit of playing experience last year as a freshman, what was it like stepping right into it that soon?
A: It was a lot of fun. I'm from Minnesota and I knew most of the players coming in because I've been around here for so long that it wasn't like that big of a transition for me. I had it a lot easier than most freshmen so it was good going out there and representing as a freshman. It was just fun.
Q: How did you get to know most of the players before you came down?
A: I played club with a lot of them like Ashley Wittman. She was on my team since we were 10, maybe nine, even earlier than that. A lot of the girls from Minnesota club volleyball we played against a lot of them so it was just easy to get to know all of them.
Q: After getting to know all of them, who is the craziest character on the team?
A: The craziest character? Probably Steffi [Sooter]. She's everywhere all the time and she's always laughing or making fun of people. She's just one of those types of people. She's fun to be around.
Q: What gives you the most satisfaction in a game?
A: Winning. Above all else, winning. If I play bad and my team still wins it's completely fine because overall that's what we need to do. That's the most satisfying to me.
Q: What about during the course of the game?
A: I really like when the opposing team hits a really hard ball and then we dig it up and then just slam it down their throats. Kind of convert what they try to do to at us and just send it right back in their face. That really gets me the most fired up because it's like boo ya! In your face!
Q: Talk about middle blocking. You've got to be a force at the net. How do you go about blocking? What's your technique? What's your approach?
A: Well first you've got to see the pass. You got to see if it's on or over the net. If it's over the net then you've got to hit it or play it back on our side. After the pass you look at the setter and try to pick up any cues that she gives whether or not she's going back or forward because setters will tend to give out where they're setting early. Then from there, you see where the set goes and then you look at the hitter you don't look at the ball because the hitter is going to tell you where the ball goes.
Q: Penn State is really a mainstay in volleyball, with them being in the Big Ten what's it like when you get ready to play them? Is it different from other weeks?
A: I don't know. I don't think it's different than any other week. It's just kind of exciting for them to be coming to our gym. We lost to them at their place and now it's like we have to bring it to them at home. I don't think we prepare any differently than we do any other team. It's just a matter of trying to win points and trying to defend them. We don't really do anything different but it's always exciting when they come into town.
Q: What's your favorite thing to watch on TV?
A: Jersey Shore. I am obsessed with that show.
Q: Why is that?
A: Because it's entertaining. They're funny. I wish I was them because they're funny.
Q: What male character do you like the most on Jersey Shore?
A: Pauly because he's not really involved in all the drama and stuff. He's cute and he's just funny. I love him.
Q: How about the ladies?
A: Probably Snooki or Deena just because they call themselves the meatballs and they're hilarious and they're always doing something ridiculous.
Q: If you were on Jersey Shore, which personality would fit you best?
A: I'd probably more like JWoww. Try to fix everything else. Not really get too crazy.
