University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gopher Spotlight: Sophie Beckley
9/17/2018 3:54:00 PM | Volleyball
What are some of your goals after graduation?
After graduation, I would love to go play NCAA beach volleyball somewhere. I'd like to pair that with a marine bio program, so I'm looking for where those two can intersect.
Why marine biology?
My major at the University of Minnesota is ecology, evolution and behavior, with a minor in marine biology. I'm from Seattle, which is a coast city, so I have been around marine bio my whole life. I have always loved animals, so I have always known I wanted to work with them. If I have to specialize, I feel like marine biology would be the way to go.
What does Sophie Beckley love most about her hometown? Check it out as we get to know our #Gophers. pic.twitter.com/nnsT2rEyUi
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 17, 2018
You've picked up photography as a hobby, when did that start and why?
It mostly started this past summer when I was home in Seattle. My family has always had a nice camera that we would use on occasion to take photos. I got into learning how to use that camera with my ideas to be in animal bio/conservation bio. In a lot of those professions, most of them are proficient in photography. It helps get their work out there and it helps raise awareness for what they want to be doing. I thought it would be a good skill to add. I also love animals, so I love taking pictures of them.
How would you describe your time here at the U?
Overall, I'd describe it as an amazing experience. Moving far away from home was tough at first, but it really helped me grow as a person. I've loved living somewhere else and getting to experience different parts of the country. The volleyball has been so challenging, but so worth it. I came to a school that would really challenge me and I have loved every second of it.
Having graduated some key players last year, how has the team been able to step up and fill those roles?
We obviously lost some of our key starters, but everyone is stepping into those roles, but putting their own mark to it. Everyone is doing a great job of really taking it and making it their own, but also learning things from those players and trying to implement the things that worked well for them.
What are some skills you have been improving on since last season?
Something a lot of our defensive specialists have been working on is leading with our arms separate. All of our lives we have been taught to take our body to the ball first, and it makes us slower. We are working on leading with those arms first and having the body follow, so we have a zero sum and the ball is going to be up and playable.
How has this team grown since last season?
Last year's team was amazing, but I think this year we are just really expanding on our ideas on how to manage big moments. We really want to become the best we can be. Each team that I have been on here has added another layer to that, but because of that, this team is adding our own layer. It's really cool to see how we are taking the ideas of how we want to be the best and really implementing those. In the past, we have done a lot of talking about it, and now we are really starting to get to actually doing it, which is really cool.
How have you stepped up into a leadership position this year?
On our team, everyone takes leadership roles in their own ways, so it's not just the seniors, everyone can have one. I think just becoming more of that voice. I already was trying to lead in my own little ways. As a senior, I have a lot of experience being here, so trying to use that to help people on the team and be that example.
Interview conducted by Jordyn Anderson, Athletic Communications Student Intern