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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gopher Spotlight: Bayley McMenimen
10/26/2021 10:00:00 AM | Volleyball
McMenimen is a senior setter from Niceville, Fla.
Bayley McMenimen is a senior setter from Niceville, Fla. She's played in 35 career matches (89 sets), tallying 549 assists, 139 digs, 12 service aces and eight blocks. She's played in four matches this season, all Gopher wins, including two big road wins at Oregon and Michigan State. McMenimen tallied a season-high 13 assists at Oregon. She's majoring in accounting with a minor in international business.
GS: Why did you get into volleyball and at what age did you start playing?
BM:Â I started touching a volleyball when I was really young as I played pepper with my mom in the front yard. My family moved to Germany when I was young and that's when I first started playing on a team, so that was when I was in middle school.Â
GS: Was it hard for you as a kid having to move across the world to Germany?
BM:Â Honestly, not really. I was a pretty flexible kid and I didn't mind moving at all. There were a lot of really nice people around in my school and they helped me learn the language, which in turn helped me communicate and make friends. It was a really great experience for the most part. Then when we moved to Florida my eighth grade year I adjusted to living in another place.
GS: After playing club and high school volleyball in Florida for a couple years, what was your recruitment process like?
BM: I think it was probably my freshman year of high school, I had a call with the coach from Cornell. After that, I think it was kind of sporadic. I didn't expect to play Big Ten volleyball and I didn't even know if I was going to be able to play Division I.
GS: How did the recruiting process with Minnesota go?
BM: [Assistant] Coach Laura [Kasey] said it was when they saw video of me playing. We started talking and I took an unofficial visit to campus. There was no offer at the time or anything but I was interested. One day at AAU's I saw [assistant coach] Matt [Houk] and he was watching me play. He then talked to my club coach and told him to have him give me a call. After that I called and they said they wanted to offer me a spot. Originally I wasn't sure if I wanted to commit because I was thinking about going to an Ivy League school. But I just knew that if I didn't go for it and try to play at the highest level I'd regret it. So I committed!
GS: What made the Gophers stand out to you?
BM:Â It's funny, because I grew up in Europe and for most of my childhood I didn't really know about the traditions and prestige of college sports. I was kind of learning about the Big Ten and the tradition of Minnesota volleyball while I was getting recruited. I knew it was a fantastic program, but I was looking for a great school as well and Minnesota fit what I was looking for.
GS: When you got to Minnesota, what was the adjustment like to the college game?
BM:Â On day one I was like a deer in the headlights. It's such an honor to be able to play with such talented people who work just as hard as you do to get better. It's such a cool environment to be in and I'm just happy to be here. When you transition from high school to college, the game is just light years faster.
GS: What are a couple of your favorite memories that you've had on the court as a Gopher?
BM:Â My favorite moment was my first game against Purdue. I was a sophomore and I was just so excited to be in the game. Our starting setter was injured and I started for her. I didn't know I was going to start until the morning of the game when Hugh called me. But my teammates around me really understood the situation and were really supportive of me. Not only that, but they treated it like business as usual and that gave me confidence.
GS: Has that experienced helped your mindset as a player to know that you have to be ready to get in the game at any time?
BM: Every player has to be ready to go at any given moment. That's something that coaches communicate with us really well - when your name is called, you have to be ready to roll. You have to be engaged and aware of what's going on at all times. I'm always chatting with Matt about the blockers on the other side and about spots that are open. I just try to do my job and execute when I get my chance.
GS: With two months left of your final season here, what goals do you have for the team to accomplish?
BM:Â I think we can absolutely win the national championship. We have the talent, we have the depth and we have the chemistry both on and off the court. We've been developing every day throughout the season and I believe we're getting better each game.
GS: What has helped your team become so close and help the team chemistry?
BM:Â We live together and we're all each others closest friends. It's cool because you build such strong relationships with people you've never met before being on this team together. And now we know everything about each other, our families and everything else. We're always doing things together and we enjoy being around one another.
GS: What goals do you have for yourself for the rest of the season?
BM:Â I just want to get better and help my team in any way I can. Whether that's during practice or during games, that's what I'm trying to go for.
GS: After college volleyball ends, what is the next step for you?
BM:Â I'd love to play overseas. After volleyball ends though I want to go to law school.
Favorite Food:Â Peach Cobbler
Fun Fact:Â Can speak both German and Arabic.
Favorite Restaurant:Â Spoon and Stable
Favorite Sport to Watch:Â Hockey (Her dad Gregory grew up in White Bear Lake playing hockey)
Favorite Vacation Spot:Â Morocco
Favorite TV Show: Haikyuu!! (Volleyball Anime)
Biggest Inspiration:Â My parents.
GS: Why did you get into volleyball and at what age did you start playing?
BM:Â I started touching a volleyball when I was really young as I played pepper with my mom in the front yard. My family moved to Germany when I was young and that's when I first started playing on a team, so that was when I was in middle school.Â
GS: Was it hard for you as a kid having to move across the world to Germany?
BM:Â Honestly, not really. I was a pretty flexible kid and I didn't mind moving at all. There were a lot of really nice people around in my school and they helped me learn the language, which in turn helped me communicate and make friends. It was a really great experience for the most part. Then when we moved to Florida my eighth grade year I adjusted to living in another place.
GS: After playing club and high school volleyball in Florida for a couple years, what was your recruitment process like?
BM: I think it was probably my freshman year of high school, I had a call with the coach from Cornell. After that, I think it was kind of sporadic. I didn't expect to play Big Ten volleyball and I didn't even know if I was going to be able to play Division I.
GS: How did the recruiting process with Minnesota go?
BM: [Assistant] Coach Laura [Kasey] said it was when they saw video of me playing. We started talking and I took an unofficial visit to campus. There was no offer at the time or anything but I was interested. One day at AAU's I saw [assistant coach] Matt [Houk] and he was watching me play. He then talked to my club coach and told him to have him give me a call. After that I called and they said they wanted to offer me a spot. Originally I wasn't sure if I wanted to commit because I was thinking about going to an Ivy League school. But I just knew that if I didn't go for it and try to play at the highest level I'd regret it. So I committed!
GS: What made the Gophers stand out to you?
BM:Â It's funny, because I grew up in Europe and for most of my childhood I didn't really know about the traditions and prestige of college sports. I was kind of learning about the Big Ten and the tradition of Minnesota volleyball while I was getting recruited. I knew it was a fantastic program, but I was looking for a great school as well and Minnesota fit what I was looking for.
GS: When you got to Minnesota, what was the adjustment like to the college game?
BM:Â On day one I was like a deer in the headlights. It's such an honor to be able to play with such talented people who work just as hard as you do to get better. It's such a cool environment to be in and I'm just happy to be here. When you transition from high school to college, the game is just light years faster.
GS: What are a couple of your favorite memories that you've had on the court as a Gopher?
BM:Â My favorite moment was my first game against Purdue. I was a sophomore and I was just so excited to be in the game. Our starting setter was injured and I started for her. I didn't know I was going to start until the morning of the game when Hugh called me. But my teammates around me really understood the situation and were really supportive of me. Not only that, but they treated it like business as usual and that gave me confidence.
GS: Has that experienced helped your mindset as a player to know that you have to be ready to get in the game at any time?
BM: Every player has to be ready to go at any given moment. That's something that coaches communicate with us really well - when your name is called, you have to be ready to roll. You have to be engaged and aware of what's going on at all times. I'm always chatting with Matt about the blockers on the other side and about spots that are open. I just try to do my job and execute when I get my chance.
GS: With two months left of your final season here, what goals do you have for the team to accomplish?
BM:Â I think we can absolutely win the national championship. We have the talent, we have the depth and we have the chemistry both on and off the court. We've been developing every day throughout the season and I believe we're getting better each game.
GS: What has helped your team become so close and help the team chemistry?
BM:Â We live together and we're all each others closest friends. It's cool because you build such strong relationships with people you've never met before being on this team together. And now we know everything about each other, our families and everything else. We're always doing things together and we enjoy being around one another.
GS: What goals do you have for yourself for the rest of the season?
BM:Â I just want to get better and help my team in any way I can. Whether that's during practice or during games, that's what I'm trying to go for.
GS: After college volleyball ends, what is the next step for you?
BM:Â I'd love to play overseas. After volleyball ends though I want to go to law school.
Favorite Food:Â Peach Cobbler
Fun Fact:Â Can speak both German and Arabic.
Favorite Restaurant:Â Spoon and Stable
Favorite Sport to Watch:Â Hockey (Her dad Gregory grew up in White Bear Lake playing hockey)
Favorite Vacation Spot:Â Morocco
Favorite TV Show: Haikyuu!! (Volleyball Anime)
Biggest Inspiration:Â My parents.
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