University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Spotlight: Molly Lohman
5/13/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Written by Rachel Timmerman
Gopher Athletic Communications Student Intern
In her first season as a Gopher, Molly Lohman went from cheering on the bench to emerging as a strong, starting middle blocker.
Starting off the 2014 season, the freshman didn't see much of the court.
Going up against players with a year or two under their belt, Lohman said her confidence was weak when competing for a starting spot in the middle.
"There was a lot of competing because there were three middles," Lohman said. "I came in as a freshman and I got scared and backed down."
After getting comfortable playing with her teammates, and some guidance from head coach Hugh McCutcheon, Lohman started to trust her ability.
"Under Hugh, doing all the things he told me to, my game changed and I got a lot better," Lohman said. "Once I realized that I was good enough to play, I got more comfortable knowing I could have a [starting] spot."
Lohman ended her first collegiate season with 37 kills in 51 sets, hitting .318 and averaging 0.80 blocks per set.
McCutcheon said it's great to see the significant improvements that Lohman has made over her short time at Minnesota.
"Molly has done a lot of work to make the strides that she's made," McCutcheon said. "It's great that we've had some small part in that, but she's the one who's doing the work."
With the team nearing the end of the spring season, Lohman said she's even more confident with her level of play.
"At the beginning [of spring season], it's pretty tough because [coaches] ask you to make a lot of changes and expect a lot out of you," Lohman said. "But it's been going really well, I can definitely see the changes in myself as a player."
A strong spring season will help her as she travels to New Orleans this summer to compete in the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships.
To make the team, Lohman tried out at the Olympic training center earlier this year, and was one of 36 chosen to compete with the National Collegiate Team in New Orleans.
The program is also considered a second tryout for the U.S. Women's National Team.
After a few days of training, all the players will be divided into three teams and compete in a round-robin event at the end of June.
"It's a great opportunity to play with people of similar age and experience," McCutcheon said. "Get some different coaching ideas perhaps, but more importantly, play a lot with people."
Lohman is excited to put U.S.A. on her back, as McCutcheon would say.
"I'm very excited to play with other great athletes around the country, not just my own team," Lohman said. "I think it will be great to experience it."
