University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers in the Pros: Erica Handley
2/24/2020 4:47:00 PM | Volleyball
Erica Handley was a member of the Gopher Volleyball team from 2014-2016 as she transferred to Minnesota from Syracuse. Handley is now in her fourth year of 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. She was in Finland in 2019 and this October, landed a spot in the Czech Republic. Take a look at how her season is going in the latest Gophers in the Pros.
You're playing in the Czech Republic this year. How did playing this year transpire and how were you able to land with VK UP Olomouc?
"This past summer was actually very mentally challenging. I decided to change agencies half way through the summer when most offers from teams were already taken, so most of the summer was a waiting game. Luckily the volleyball scene in Minnesota is amazing and there were plenty of opportunities to compete in indoor and outdoor tournaments and to stay in shape, but the waiting is always the worst. It wasn't until the beginning of October when I heard that the setter for VK UP Olomouc had a "Happy Injury" as my agent humorously put it. She got pregnant! So the waiting game was over and I was on a plane in the next few days and headed here, to the Czech Republic!"
Tell us about your current team and how the season is going?
"My team is currently ranked No. 2 in the league as we are coming to the end of our third round of regular season matches before playoffs begin in March. A couple of weeks ago we took home the Czech Cup Title in a thrilling 5 set match against the team from Prague. That was definitely a highlight of the season so far. We also got to travel to a couple different countries for the CEV Champions League and CEV Cup. We played against a team from Ukraine first, and then UYBA in Italy (this was actually Sarah (Wilhite) Parson's old team in Italy!). We only have four matches left in the regular season so as we stay focused in these last matches we are also looking forward to playoff season!"
You've played in a variety of places since starting your professional career in 2016. What have you taken away from each of these leagues so far?
"There are just as many similarities between the countries as there are differences in terms of the countries/towns, people, volleyball, and just life itself. I love the fact that I have been able to take away so many positives from each country while at the same time learn more and more about myself and this amazing game of volleyball. As I have talked about in past interviews with Minnesota, I want to pursue coaching when I am done with my professional career. Not only am I learning a lot as a volleyball player in each league, I am also seeing the different ways people coach and the different philosophies that you can have. Just as our skills are molded from a combination of coaches giving you feedback throughout your career, I also get to observe the different coaching styles and drills in each country. There has been one conclusion in all of the different countries I have played in whether it's coaching styles and playing styles. Volleyball is volleyball no matter where you go. No country plays the game differently. Everybody gets three contacts, six people on a court, and mistakes are made. Every player has to deal with positive and negative self-talk, their bodies wearing out, coaches yelling at them, and pregame nerves. But the passion and love for the game is the biggest similarity between all of the countries. If this wasn't a factor, there would be no professional volleyball."
What's been your biggest challenge as a professional volleyball player?
"Finding things to do outside of volleyball can be challenging when playing overseas. Since we aren't bombarded with the school workload of being a student-athlete anymore you have to find ways to fill the little down time you have with something either productive, mentally rejuvenating, or something that just makes you happy! I have become a big believer in reaching out to people outside of the volleyball community. We are so far from home and away from family, we tend to only hang out with teammates or sit at home and watch Netflix. I try to look for events in the area that involve things I like doing outside of volleyball. I also try to find groups on Facebook that are made up of other foreigners in the city and meet up with them. Or when I'm feeling REALLY social and I hear strangers speaking English I will go out of my way to get to know them. I actually did this this season around Thanksgiving while I was on the bus to practice. I heard a man speaking to his two daughters in English, but his accent sounded pretty American and daughters were also speaking English but were both under the age of five. It intrigued me so I went up to them and asked him if he was Czech and he told me that he was American and his wife was Czech and that he has been living here for many years. He ended up inviting me to his family Thanksgiving and it made my heart so happy to be surrounded by great people and great food even just for one night to feel a little closer to home. We still keep in touch and they have come to support me in my matches and we still go for dinner sometimes, even when my parents came to visit me! They definitely felt better as parents knowing that I have a family here to lean on when I need to get my mind on something besides volleyball. I am lucky that I am blessed with social skills, but I really do encourage anyone whether you're a professional volleyball player, living away from home, or just finding yourself in a repetitive cycle in life to reach out to people outside of your bubble and get to know them. You will be amazed by how many kind and incredible people are around you if you just take the time to look and listen."
What's next for you when you've completed your season?
"I don't think I am ready to be done playing quite yet! But I am just going to wait and see what opportunities arise and then decide what is best for me and my future at the moment.
In terms of what is literally next for me after season, the USAV Adult Nationals tournament is back in Minneapolis this year! And we are making a team full of Minnesota girls with a few Gopher alums and other Minnesota based greats! The tournament runs through the entire Memorial Day Weekend from May 22-26th at the Convention Center and it's free! It is a definite go-to event for anyone who loves volleyball. People of all ages from 20-70+ play throughout the entire weekend, and it is just amazing to see how far the love of this game really goes."
You're playing in the Czech Republic this year. How did playing this year transpire and how were you able to land with VK UP Olomouc?
"This past summer was actually very mentally challenging. I decided to change agencies half way through the summer when most offers from teams were already taken, so most of the summer was a waiting game. Luckily the volleyball scene in Minnesota is amazing and there were plenty of opportunities to compete in indoor and outdoor tournaments and to stay in shape, but the waiting is always the worst. It wasn't until the beginning of October when I heard that the setter for VK UP Olomouc had a "Happy Injury" as my agent humorously put it. She got pregnant! So the waiting game was over and I was on a plane in the next few days and headed here, to the Czech Republic!"
Tell us about your current team and how the season is going?
"My team is currently ranked No. 2 in the league as we are coming to the end of our third round of regular season matches before playoffs begin in March. A couple of weeks ago we took home the Czech Cup Title in a thrilling 5 set match against the team from Prague. That was definitely a highlight of the season so far. We also got to travel to a couple different countries for the CEV Champions League and CEV Cup. We played against a team from Ukraine first, and then UYBA in Italy (this was actually Sarah (Wilhite) Parson's old team in Italy!). We only have four matches left in the regular season so as we stay focused in these last matches we are also looking forward to playoff season!"
You've played in a variety of places since starting your professional career in 2016. What have you taken away from each of these leagues so far?
"There are just as many similarities between the countries as there are differences in terms of the countries/towns, people, volleyball, and just life itself. I love the fact that I have been able to take away so many positives from each country while at the same time learn more and more about myself and this amazing game of volleyball. As I have talked about in past interviews with Minnesota, I want to pursue coaching when I am done with my professional career. Not only am I learning a lot as a volleyball player in each league, I am also seeing the different ways people coach and the different philosophies that you can have. Just as our skills are molded from a combination of coaches giving you feedback throughout your career, I also get to observe the different coaching styles and drills in each country. There has been one conclusion in all of the different countries I have played in whether it's coaching styles and playing styles. Volleyball is volleyball no matter where you go. No country plays the game differently. Everybody gets three contacts, six people on a court, and mistakes are made. Every player has to deal with positive and negative self-talk, their bodies wearing out, coaches yelling at them, and pregame nerves. But the passion and love for the game is the biggest similarity between all of the countries. If this wasn't a factor, there would be no professional volleyball."
What's been your biggest challenge as a professional volleyball player?
"Finding things to do outside of volleyball can be challenging when playing overseas. Since we aren't bombarded with the school workload of being a student-athlete anymore you have to find ways to fill the little down time you have with something either productive, mentally rejuvenating, or something that just makes you happy! I have become a big believer in reaching out to people outside of the volleyball community. We are so far from home and away from family, we tend to only hang out with teammates or sit at home and watch Netflix. I try to look for events in the area that involve things I like doing outside of volleyball. I also try to find groups on Facebook that are made up of other foreigners in the city and meet up with them. Or when I'm feeling REALLY social and I hear strangers speaking English I will go out of my way to get to know them. I actually did this this season around Thanksgiving while I was on the bus to practice. I heard a man speaking to his two daughters in English, but his accent sounded pretty American and daughters were also speaking English but were both under the age of five. It intrigued me so I went up to them and asked him if he was Czech and he told me that he was American and his wife was Czech and that he has been living here for many years. He ended up inviting me to his family Thanksgiving and it made my heart so happy to be surrounded by great people and great food even just for one night to feel a little closer to home. We still keep in touch and they have come to support me in my matches and we still go for dinner sometimes, even when my parents came to visit me! They definitely felt better as parents knowing that I have a family here to lean on when I need to get my mind on something besides volleyball. I am lucky that I am blessed with social skills, but I really do encourage anyone whether you're a professional volleyball player, living away from home, or just finding yourself in a repetitive cycle in life to reach out to people outside of your bubble and get to know them. You will be amazed by how many kind and incredible people are around you if you just take the time to look and listen."
What's next for you when you've completed your season?
"I don't think I am ready to be done playing quite yet! But I am just going to wait and see what opportunities arise and then decide what is best for me and my future at the moment.
In terms of what is literally next for me after season, the USAV Adult Nationals tournament is back in Minneapolis this year! And we are making a team full of Minnesota girls with a few Gopher alums and other Minnesota based greats! The tournament runs through the entire Memorial Day Weekend from May 22-26th at the Convention Center and it's free! It is a definite go-to event for anyone who loves volleyball. People of all ages from 20-70+ play throughout the entire weekend, and it is just amazing to see how far the love of this game really goes."
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