University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Spotlight: Jasmyn Martin
2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Jasmyn Martin (right) joined the Gopher Volleyball program in January. Playing for Hopkins High School and Minnesota Select, Martin was named a Second Team Under Armour All-American. A starter with Hopkins since eighth grade, she was a four-year all-conference honoree. In her final high school season, Martin was a 2016 all-state and first team all-metro selection when she averaged 6.0 kills per set and is hitting .416 her senior year. She graduated early from Hopkins and is in her first month of college. Read more about Martin in this short question/answer feature.
Gophersports.com: Why did you decide to come to the University of Minnesota?
Jasmyn Martin: I have been watching Minnesota Volleyball since I was young. Obviously being from here, they were always an inspiration to me growing up. Minnesota was definitely the best fit for me, both as a school and in volleyball. The coaching staff is great; the team was nice and the culture was great; all around is what I was looking for.
GS: What led to your decision to graduate high school early and join the Gophers this semester?
JM: I was already done with all my high school credits. I just thought, why not get a head start and jump ahead on the college experience before the fall when volleyball season is at its busiest. I just thought it would be really helpful both for school and in volleyball.
GS: You've been on campus for nearly a month now. How has the first month of college been, both athletically and academically?
JM: I think it has been going pretty well. At first it was very overwhelming just getting used to things, including how busy I am. Now that I have been here for a few weeks, it has definitely gotten a lot easier and I have learned the ins and outs now.
GS: What's something you didn't expect or was surprised to learn since coming to Minnesota?
JM: I didn't know how to use the busing system! So for classes I would be walking from East Bank to West Bank trying to rush to get to classes. I finally learned how to use that which was really nice because I was going to kill myself if I didn't do that.
GS: What has it been like to work with the Gopher coaches so far?
JM: I was really blessed to graduate early just because of the one-on-one time I get with them. They are all very good coaches and I feel like I have already gotten better since I have gotten here. There are things they have already told me that I had never heard of before. It is kind of nice getting a new perspective on volleyball that I didn't know before.
GS: You knew some of the players on the team before you got here, but who have you been able to get to know well since joining Gopher Volleyball.
JM: I knew a lot of the freshman already just because they are closer in age to me and I played club with some of them. The upper classmen have really taken me and Alice under their wing. I have gotten a lot of opportunities to talk to them and pick their brain about college overall.
GS: Has anyone given you great advice on the team and if so, what was it?
JM: I think Dalianliz (Rosado) and Molly (Lohman) both have done a good job of just always telling me to work hard and just go as hard as you can and give it all you got.
