University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers in the Pros: Lauren Gibbemeyer
1/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Gophersports.com caught up with Minnesota Volleyball great and professional player, Lauren Gibbemeyer. Gibbemeyer hit .336 during her Gopher career and still to hold the school record in block assists (501) and total blocks (591). "Gibby" continued her volleyball career with USA Volleyball and is playing professionally in Italy with Pomi Casalmaggiore the last three seasons. Read up on her experience and what advice she has for younger Gophers getting set to play professionally in this question/answer session.
GopherSports: You've played with your Italian team for a few seasons. What makes this group so dynamic and sets them apart from other teams?
Lauren Gibbemeyer: I have played in Italy for five years now and have played for the same team the past three seasons. My team is in an itty bitty city called Casalmaggiore with a mere 15,000 inhabitants. After the first couple weeks playing with this team back in 2014, I knew it was special. I joined the team during its second year existing in Italy's very competitive top A1 league. That year, we ended up winning the Italian championship coming from behind against the season's leader. The next year, we went on to win the most prestigious European tournament (Champions league) while playing at home in Italy.
It has been one of the most rewarding experiences to play for this team as many of the players have stayed over the years. We have created a team dynamic unlike any other I have ever been a part of. I get to show up every day and play with my best friends all while the entire city shows its support for us. You cannot walk into the city center without seeing a bunch of posters and jerseys hanging in the shop windows, or without being stopped on the street by a smiling fan. The list can go on and on about what makes this team special, but the most important thing that stays with me is the fact that there is a level of respect, passion, and support between the players and the society which allows us to function at the highest level.
GS: For those who don't know the professional volleyball world, what's your typical week and how much do you train compared to playing in matches?
LG: My typical work week looks like this:
-Monday is usually our off day
-Tuesday- morning lift and practice for two and a half hours in the afternoon.
-Wednesday- morning lift and afternoon practice
-Thursday- morning off and afternoon practice
-Friday- morning lift and afternoon practice + video
-Saturday- morning practice + video and afternoon off
-Sundays are usually our game days in the Italian league
This is the schedule if we are just playing in the Italian league. My team is also in the CEV Cup, which is a European league where we travel and play teams of other countries in Europe about twice a month.
GS: Favorite Italian food and why?
LG: I am crazy for food so naming just one Italian meal is extremely difficult for me! However, there is a restaurant in Parma called La Forchetta (The Fork) that serves the most amazing Parmesan soufflé, which is a ramekin filled with the most amazing Parmesan cheese that you can dip your bread or just eat it by the spoonful! My dessert of choice would be the "tortino di cioccolato con cuore morbido" which is chocolate hot lava cake paired with some coconut ice cream!
GS: How many countries have you visited since starting to play volleyball and where's your favorite location?
LG: Since starting to play volleyball, I have had the chance to visit more than 20 countries. My favorite place so far has been Rovinj, Croatia. I have a Croatian teammate this year and she invited me and some of my teammates to go home with her when we had a couple days off. Rovinj is on the sea and is so quaint. It kind of reminds me of Italy with its history and architecture, but with its own culture and beauty.
GS: How often do you make it home (St. Paul, Minn.) to see your family?
LG: I make it home to see my family about three times a year. I usually don't get a Christmas break in Italy because we usually play on December 26, so I make a trip back for a couple weeks at the end of my season. Maybe once during a break in the national team, and again right before I head back overseas! It's definitely hard being away from them for so long, but it also makes it that much sweeter when I get to spend time with them! Luckily, my parents have been able to visit me overseas once a season as well!
GS: Minnesota has some student-athletes that will soon play professionally. What advice do you have for them?
LG: I saw there might be a few Gophers heading out on their first overseas experience! First, congratulations to them! Second, my advice for them is to reach out and talk to other American players who have been doing this a while (I am always available)! Playing overseas is an awesome experience but it has its challenges as well. I suggest really emerging yourself into the new culture. Learn about the history, the language, and the food! When you show that you are willing to be a part of that culture, others are more likely to help you out and learn about your culture as well! Lastly, I highly suggest getting outside of the gym and travel. Volleyball is our job but it's important to have balance in our lives. If you have the chance to play in the most beautiful part of a country but only see the inside of a gym, that's a lost opportunity! Explore when you can and make sure to write down interesting things that you notice so you can look back on your experiences. I hope that helps, and as I said before, I am always willing to chat about overseas life with any new players starting their new adventure!
