University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Spotlight: Kayla Buford
8/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Get to know another one of the newest Gopher Volleyball members, freshman Kayla Buford. Hailing from Canton, Mich., Buford played her high school career at Canton High School. Playing one year with Canton, Buford helped the Chiefs to a 32-13-1 division championship record, with 81 kills and 73 total blocks. During her time with Premier Volleyball Academy, Buford and her team took second at nationals while playing in Nicaragua. Here's a question/answer session with the rookie middle blocker.
Gophersports.com: When did you start playing volleyball?
KB: I started playing my sophomore year of high school. In the spring of my freshman year I played rec ball, and then I ended up making my sophomore team in the fall and then I started playing club ever since then.
GS: What made you decide to start playing?
KB: I played a lot of sports when I was younger. Every single sport under the sun: soccer, basketball, track and field, tennis. Volleyball was just the last one I never really tried and I kind of stuck with it.
GS: Did you ever think that you'd be playing Division I volleyball in college?
KB: No, honestly. When I was younger, I was like `med school, med school, what are sports?' And then I started playing sports and I was like `wow maybe.'
GS: What's your major now?
KB: I'm business now. It'd be nice to help people but I know I can find a different way.
GS: What brought you to the U from Michigan?
KB: First time around going through the recruiting process, I never really thought of Minnesota. I committed to Rutgers and I ended up de-committing. Minnesota was one of those schools that came around, and I looked at them, talked to Hugh and Laura and I came on a visit and I just instantly knew it was home.
GS: When did you arrive on campus?
KB: I got on campus three days before preseason started. I got here kind of late.
GS: Was there a lot going on at once when you got here?
KB: It was at first, especially with volleyball. It was so much to learn at once. It kind of took me back a little bit but I'm starting to finally get in the swing of things. It's exciting now.
GS: Are you excited for classes to start?
KB: I'm so excited. Most people would say no but I'm just excited to be on campus and be a student athlete and everything that comes with it.
GS: What has been the hardest transition for you?
KB: Probably just getting acclimated to the style of play. College volleyball is definitely faster than anything you train for when you're younger. Nothing can really prepare you for what you're getting yourself into.
GS: What are you most excited for heading into the season?
KB: I'm most excited to see how the team does. We have a really great chemistry and we're pretty high functioning so it just will be exciting to see how it all plays out and how far we take it.
