University of Minnesota Athletics
Senior Scope: Katie Schau
7/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Katie Schau is one of six seniors on the Gopher Volleyball team. As a junior, Schau played in all 129 sets and 35 matches last season. During her Gopher tenure, Schau has over 1,013 assists, 544 digs and 32 aces. In 2015, she added 288 digs and 14 aces and was also named an Academic All-District and Academic All-Big Ten selection. Check out this latest edition of our Senior Scope as Katie is set to begin her senior year.
Gophersports.com: Do you remember your summer before your freshman year? How is it different from your senior year or how much has changed for you over the course of your tenure?
Katie Schau: The summer before my freshman year was a bit of a shock. Most freshman haven't worked out five days a week, especially at the capacity we do here. It has been really cool to see how much stronger and faster us seniors have gotten after four years of hard work.
GS: Now as a senior, what are your responsibilities?
KS: As a senior, it is important to set a good example for our freshman. Over the course of my four years we have worked very hard to change the culture of this program. It is our responsibility to continue to uphold and improve upon what has been set. We want to leave it better than we found it.
GS: If there was one thing the senior self of you could tell your freshman self, what would it be?
KS: I would tell myself to always have a positive outlook. College athletics can be a rollercoaster, and it's really easy to have a good attitude when things are easy, but very challenging when things are hard. If you can keep a consistent attitude throughout all of it, then getting out of a low will become easier.
GS: Minnesota only had one starting senior last year, this year, a more seasoned team. What will it take for the Gophers to be successful again in 2016?
KS: I think this team will be the most well rounded team I have ever been a part of. There is so much depth in each position that everyone has to work their hardest to earn a spot. If we are able to push each other to be the best we can be, it will be really cool to see so many people contribute and how good we can become.
GS: What's the best piece advice the coaching staff has given you during your Gopher career?
KS: The best advice I received from my coaches is to be the hardest working person in the gym. There's so many things out of my control. I may never be the tallest, strongest, or most talented player in the gym, but working hard all the time is one of the few things I can control.
