University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Spotlight: Samantha Seliger-Swenson
11/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
By Rachel Timmerman
Halfway through her rookie season with the Gophers, Samantha Seliger-Swenson is turning heads.
The freshman has already earned setter of the week, rookie of the week, and co-freshman of the week.
"It's crazy to think just a year ago I was playing high school volleyball," Seliger-Swenson said. "It's so different. Nothing can prepare you for how different college volleyball is."
Seliger-Swenson arrived at the University of Minnesota in January after graduating high school a semester early. Although she was able to get acclimated to college life early, she says she's still getting used to the new environment.
"It's been difficult, there's no doubt about that," Seliger-Swenson said. "Just adjusting to the academic load, the volleyball aspect, and overall living on my own. But I think I've been adjusting better everyday."
Graduating from high school early allowed her to take classes last spring and begin training for volleyball.
"I'm so glad that I graduated [high school] early," Seliger-Swenson said. "Coming in the fall and being thrown into season, college classes right way, that would have been difficult. It was easier to get acclimated when we weren't so busy and traveling all the time."
The Minnetonka native grew up spending time in the Sports Pavilion, watching Gopher volleyball games.
"I can remember being afraid of Goldy when I was three or four years old and sitting at the very top of the Pav because I wanted to be far away from him," Seliger-Swenson said. "I have younger siblings, and I remember how cool it was to come watch games at the Pav. That really built up my dreams of wanting to play here. I think it's cool for my little sisters to have that, too."
As starting setter, Seliger-Swenson has the responsibility of running the offense. She already has experience with leadership, though, as the oldest sibling out of four. And when she was nine, she gained more siblings after her mother adopted her four cousins.
"Having my cousins come live with me has really helped just because I've learned how to adapt to different situations and adversity," Seliger-Swenson said. "When we face that during matches or throughout the season, I think that helps."
Seliger-Swenson has become noticeably more comfortable on the court as the season progresses.
"I've never played in front of a crowd as big as the Pav," Seliger-Swenson said. "But it's what I've always loved to do. It does come natural but then again it's always improving. I always have to keep working toward that leadership role."
As far as improvement goes, there are a few things she wants to work on.
"There are so many little things I need to do better," Seliger-Swenson said. "My defensive discipline needs to get a lot better. I try to read and I think I'm in the right spot but I'm not. So just being more disciplined with that. I can always make better choices with who I'm going to set."
She doesn't have one specific goal for the season ââ'¬" just to always have the team in mind.
"We always talk about whatever your role is, do it the best you can to help the team," Seliger-Swenson said. "Do and say everything you can to win the next point. My goal is just to help my team as much as possible with everything I do, whether it be on or off the court."
