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Photo by: Eric Miller
Gopher Spotlight: Lauren Litzau
9/28/2018 10:25:00 AM | Volleyball
Gopher Sports sat down with Lauren Litzau to talk about school, volleyball and what it was like making her first collegiate appearance at the Diet Coke Classic earlier this year. Litzau, a junior defensive specialist hails from Greendale, Wisconsin and played club volleyball with the Milwaukee Sting. Take a few moments to get to know the Academic All-Big Ten selection in this latest spotlight.
How have you individually grown as a player since last season?
Lauren Litzau: I have just gotten stronger in the fundamentals and being a little bit more assertive in my position. I think I have gotten better at everything all around and am just continuing to grow and give to my team.
What do you like to do outside of volleyball?
LL: Our lives are very busy, so in the limited free time we have, it's nice to just chill with friends, read a book, watch a movie or do something simple, like make food.
GS: As a biochemistry major, how are classes going for you?
LL: I'm set to graduate in three and a half years so I am in the upper division of my major right now. I'm getting into more of the intense classes right now, they are more science heavy. Classes are fine right now. School is like volleyball, you lay a foundation and keep building on top of it. It's like learning a new language, you have to learn the new things in order to understand biochemistry as a whole.
GS: How did you pick your major and do you have any ideas on what you want to do with it?
LL: I chose it because I always liked the sciences. It is really exciting because you can apply what you know from biochemistry to solve problems. Medicine and environmental stuff can all be broken down to the molecular level and how things interact. I think it is really exciting to know how life works. I'm also probably going to go to graduate school. I don't have a set plan yet. Right now I'm helping in a biophysics laboratory here at the U and that is teaching me a lot about what grad school and research is like, I'm really enjoying it.
You made your collegiate appearance at the Diet Coke Classic, how did that feel?
LL: When I go in, I'm just focusing on what I need to do for my team. You get some nerves, but I always focus on what I am doing. When I went in, yes I was a little excited, but right when I was on the court, I was just focusing on the game. I don't feel like anything has really changed, you are still working in the same in the gym. It was nice to earn it and felt good knowing you were able to help your team.
How have you individually grown as a player since last season?
Lauren Litzau: I have just gotten stronger in the fundamentals and being a little bit more assertive in my position. I think I have gotten better at everything all around and am just continuing to grow and give to my team.
What do you like to do outside of volleyball?
LL: Our lives are very busy, so in the limited free time we have, it's nice to just chill with friends, read a book, watch a movie or do something simple, like make food.
What's the best thing about @laurenlitzau's hometown? Find out here in this Get to Know your #Gophers. pic.twitter.com/G9mhogdma1
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 27, 2018
GS: As a biochemistry major, how are classes going for you?
LL: I'm set to graduate in three and a half years so I am in the upper division of my major right now. I'm getting into more of the intense classes right now, they are more science heavy. Classes are fine right now. School is like volleyball, you lay a foundation and keep building on top of it. It's like learning a new language, you have to learn the new things in order to understand biochemistry as a whole.
GS: How did you pick your major and do you have any ideas on what you want to do with it?
LL: I chose it because I always liked the sciences. It is really exciting because you can apply what you know from biochemistry to solve problems. Medicine and environmental stuff can all be broken down to the molecular level and how things interact. I think it is really exciting to know how life works. I'm also probably going to go to graduate school. I don't have a set plan yet. Right now I'm helping in a biophysics laboratory here at the U and that is teaching me a lot about what grad school and research is like, I'm really enjoying it.
You made your collegiate appearance at the Diet Coke Classic, how did that feel?
LL: When I go in, I'm just focusing on what I need to do for my team. You get some nerves, but I always focus on what I am doing. When I went in, yes I was a little excited, but right when I was on the court, I was just focusing on the game. I don't feel like anything has really changed, you are still working in the same in the gym. It was nice to earn it and felt good knowing you were able to help your team.
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