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Gophers in the Pros: Erica Handley
1/29/2019 10:19:00 AM | Volleyball
Gophers alumna Erica Handley is in her third year of competing in professional volleyball. After graduating in December of 2016, Handley went on to play her first professional season in Poland followed by a year stint in France with Nantes. Now in Finland, Handley has competed with her current team since August and recently helped her team to a Finnish Cup victory. Read more about Handley and her experience as she kicks off our Gophers in the Pros series.
Tell us about your new team and how you got there.
I am currently playing in Orivesi, Finland. The Finnish league has been growing in level over the past few years and in France I played with a couple of Fins who had nothing but good things to say about the country and the culture. When my agent mentioned an offer from this team, I knew it would be the perfect place to grow as a player.
You've played professionally now three years. What have you learned from each place and how has it made you better in your sport?
I've played in Poland, France, and now Finland. Three very different countries in terms of culture. And Europe itself is very different from America! However, volleyball is the same game no matter where you are. Just being able to immerse myself in these countries has allowed me to grow as a person and a player. Playing in different countries with teammates and coaches from all over the world is an amazing experience. I love how passionate everyone is about this sport.
Not only has it been a tremendous learning experience in terms playing, but coaching philosophies as well for my future in coaching once my playing career is over. I'm just trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can and continue to improve my game every single day.
What's the best part about living in Finland?
The best part about living in Finland is that it's like my home away from home. The landscapes and weather makes it feel like Minnesota. It's almost comforting when I walk outside and the cold bites my face and I see all of the beautiful snow on the trees. It makes me realize how much I love winter!
You've been in training with the team since August. Have you had a chance to return to Minnesota at all? Besides visiting your family, what's one this you have to do when you're back home?
I have! We got 10 days off for Christmas, so I decided to make the trip home. It was great to see my family and friends! One thing I always miss the most in Europe is American Breakfast. You don't realize how American eating pancakes, waffles, and French toast for breakfast is until you move to Europe. They like to eat those things as a dessert. My weakness is breakfast so I tried to eat as much American breakfasts as I could before I came back!
How has your season been shaping up?
We actually just won the Finnish Cup this past weekend! The Cup is a single elimination tournament in the middle of the regular season between all of the teams in the league. Not all countries have a Cup, but many do. Now that the Finnish Cup is over we start back up with the regular season (league) matches. We have eight league games left before we start the playoffs in March! We keep getting better as a team every day, so I'm excited to see what else we can accomplish this season.
Tell us about your new team and how you got there.
I am currently playing in Orivesi, Finland. The Finnish league has been growing in level over the past few years and in France I played with a couple of Fins who had nothing but good things to say about the country and the culture. When my agent mentioned an offer from this team, I knew it would be the perfect place to grow as a player.
You've played professionally now three years. What have you learned from each place and how has it made you better in your sport?
I've played in Poland, France, and now Finland. Three very different countries in terms of culture. And Europe itself is very different from America! However, volleyball is the same game no matter where you are. Just being able to immerse myself in these countries has allowed me to grow as a person and a player. Playing in different countries with teammates and coaches from all over the world is an amazing experience. I love how passionate everyone is about this sport.
Not only has it been a tremendous learning experience in terms playing, but coaching philosophies as well for my future in coaching once my playing career is over. I'm just trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can and continue to improve my game every single day.
What's the best part about living in Finland?
The best part about living in Finland is that it's like my home away from home. The landscapes and weather makes it feel like Minnesota. It's almost comforting when I walk outside and the cold bites my face and I see all of the beautiful snow on the trees. It makes me realize how much I love winter!
You've been in training with the team since August. Have you had a chance to return to Minnesota at all? Besides visiting your family, what's one this you have to do when you're back home?
I have! We got 10 days off for Christmas, so I decided to make the trip home. It was great to see my family and friends! One thing I always miss the most in Europe is American Breakfast. You don't realize how American eating pancakes, waffles, and French toast for breakfast is until you move to Europe. They like to eat those things as a dessert. My weakness is breakfast so I tried to eat as much American breakfasts as I could before I came back!
How has your season been shaping up?
We actually just won the Finnish Cup this past weekend! The Cup is a single elimination tournament in the middle of the regular season between all of the teams in the league. Not all countries have a Cup, but many do. Now that the Finnish Cup is over we start back up with the regular season (league) matches. We have eight league games left before we start the playoffs in March! We keep getting better as a team every day, so I'm excited to see what else we can accomplish this season.
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