A junior setter, Georgia Lee transferred in this January after playing two years at Rutgers. She is originally from Phoenix, Ariz., but has extended family she visits in Minnesota every summer. Read about how she grew up watching Gopher volleyball and how her dreams became reality in January.
GS: Take us through your background and childhood. GL: I was originally born in Washington, D.C.; my dad was going to Georgetown at the time. My parents lived out there and we were there for the first year of my life. Then we moved to Minnesota and lived in Duluth. That's where my younger brother and sister were born. When I was around six years old we moved to Arizona, which is where my family has been ever since. My mom actually grew up in Minnesota and went to the University of Minnesota. Her whole family lives here in a town called Ortonville. We try to come here every summer for two weeks and I have so many good memories in Minnesota. We usually stay at my aunt's house and spend time on the lake, just hanging out.
Georgia and her mom, Darci, a Minnesota alum.GS: When did you first get into volleyball? GL: When I was eight or nine years old I tried a lot of different sports just because I didn't know what I wanted to do. I did soccer, gymnastics, tennis, cheer – I tried everything. My mom was a really good basketball player and so we tried that, but I wasn't all about it. After that we tried volleyball at the YMCA and I just fell in love with it. When I was 10, I got into club volleyball and never stopped.
GS: You have two siblings, a younger brother and sister. What can you tell us about them? GL: I have a younger brother, Owen, who is on the track team at Arizona State. He does shot put and discus there. My younger sister, Tatum, is a junior in high school. She is on her high school's track and field team. She's very creative and artistic - she loves to crochet. We're all very close and talk all the time. When I went to college, we got even closer, which is kind of hard to believe with how far away Arizona and New Jersey are. Anytime I come home for break, I love spending time with my parents and siblings. Georgia and her siblings.GS: How about your parents? GL: My mom was a really good basketball player in high school but stopped playing competitively when she went to college at Minnesota. She ended up being a NICU nurse. My dad is an anesthesiologist, and he graduated from Georgetown. He's originally from Colorado but met my mom through mutual friends down in Arizona. After my mom and dad retire, they really want to go back to Minnesota and live there.
GS: Going back to volleyball, when did you start to figure out that you wanted to play in college? GL: I'd say probably when I was in middle school. I always grew up a huge Gophers fan. We watched Gopher volleyball in my family all the time. I went to all the camps when we'd go on vacation here. It was always the biggest dream of mine to be a Golden Gopher. When I got to high school, I really narrowed in on it and started the recruiting process. We grew up huge Big Ten fans, and with my mom going to Minnesota, it rubbed off on us. All my friends in Arizona were big Pac-12 fans, but I was like 'no,' I'm a Big Ten fan. When I was younger, I remember coming to practice with a big Golden Gophers headband and my club coach gave me a hard time because they liked Nebraska. My family are also the biggest Vikings fans and one day I plan on being the general manager of the Vikings.
GS: You originally committed to Rutgers, which is where you spent the first two years of your career. What was that process like? GL: I took an official visit and things moved smoothly. I committed about a week after my visit. It was a really cool campus, and I had never seen the East Coast before. My parents were like, this would be a cool experience for you. It was really close to New York City and we used to take the train there all the time.
GS: What was your favorite memory at RU? GL: I met some of my best friends there and some connections I'll have for the rest of my life. I'm so grateful for my time there. I still talk to my friends from there and we stay in touch.
GS: What was your thought process on deciding to enter the transfer portal after the 2024 season? GL: I was hoping to go a little closer to home. I'm close with my family and a 5-and-a-half-hour flight is not easy to do. I was also ready for a new experience and to do something different. I'm just so happy that it's here at Minnesota and I'm so excited to be a Golden Gopher.
GS: How did your recruiting process with Minnesota go? GL: I just sent an email to the coaches here and said I could fill any role that is needed and am willing to do anything to help the team win. They wrote back and I just remember being so excited. I told my mom as soon as I heard back. We set up a call with [head coach] Keegan [Cook] and by the end of the week I was here on a visit. It felt so smooth and so surreal. I loved everything about the visit – we had a bunch of meetings set up and did a photoshoot. Then at the end of the night we went to the Gophers hockey game. It was my first hockey game ever and it was insane. The next morning, we had breakfast and hung out with the team some more. It was really quick but amazing. The team was so welcoming and made me feel right at home. Just great vibes and a team that I wanted to be a part of.
Georgia on her Minnesota recruiting visit in JanuaryGS: You've been here a month now, getting settled in. How's it been getting used to your new teammates? GL: It's been great. I live with Lauren [Crowl], Julia [Hanson] and Elise [McGhie]. Elise is staying here this semester and working even though she's done with volleyball. She's been so helpful for me in navigating everything. A couple of years ago she was a mid-year setter transfer, so our experiences are similar in a lot of ways. I went to lunch with the girls the first week I was here, and they made me feel so much better about everything. They're just so easy to talk to.
GS: What's the adjustment been like for you in getting used to a new program here in your first few weeks as a Golden Gopher? GL: At first, I was a little overwhelmed. Everything is new – not just volleyball but school, where I live, all the appointments I had to set up. I'm good with change and staying busy but it was just a lot of new stuff. After that, I got into a routine and that's been key to my adjustment. The girls have been so helpful, though. Even when I was feeling overwhelmed, they helped make me feel comfortable. It's been nice having two years of college under my belt, so I knew a lot of what to expect on the schooling side.
GS: Has there been anything that's surprised you so far about being at Minnesota? GL: The classes are a lot smaller than I was in at Rutgers. I'm in like 20-25 person classes, which I love. The professors have been great and it just makes me feel like I'm going to be able to excel academically. I also enjoy that it's a walking campus. At Rutgers I took the bus a lot, which wasn't bad, it was just more spread out. The Athletes Village is amazing too. Everything is in one place and it's so easy to access everything.
GS: Volleyball-wise, what's it been like working with the other setters, Stella [Swenson] and Chloe [Ng]? GL: They've been so supportive. Everything is different so it's taken me time to figure things out. It makes me feel comfortable and confident. Outside of volleyball, they're easy to talk to if I need something. I got really lucky with them and I'm grateful for their friendship and support.
GS: If you were to give a scouting report on yourself, what would you say? GL: I'm a super competitive person, so I love to win. I also bring a calm presence and keep things simple. I may not be the most talkative person on the court, but I lead in other ways. People can come talk to me and I'm willing to listen and get feedback. I go with the flow and can adapt.
GS: What games are you most excited to be a part of as a Gopher this year? GL: Definitely Wisconsin. The Border Battle is a big deal. Growing up, that was always the big game my family would watch. I'm also looking forward to going to USC and UCLA, I didn't go there last year. Going to Penn State will be really fun too.
GS: Obviously we play our home games at Maturi Pavilion. What are your thoughts on playing your first home game there? GL: I feel like I've said this a bunch, but it'll just be surreal. I can't even believe this is happening. Growing up, it was always a dream to be a Gopher but never felt like a possibility until it happened. The crowd, the fans and wearing a Golden Gophers jersey will be amazing. All my family is going to come too. It will be a dream come true and I'm so excited.
GS: What goals do you have personally and then for the team this year? GL: I want to do everything I can to become the best player I can be. That leads to team goals and just helping the team out in any way they need help. I want to be known as a great teammate who is selfless. There are areas where I can get better in my game and grow, so I plan on doing that this spring. This team has all the key pieces we need, and we can compete for the top of the Big Ten.
GS: What would little 13-year-old Georgia wearing the Gophers headband think about seeing her in Maroon and Gold now? GL: I just can't believe it. When I posted my commitment pictures, so many people texted me saying, "oh my gosh, 13-year-old Georgia would be so excited right now!" I'm like yeah, it's so crazy, this was my dream, and I manifested it. Everything happens for a reason.
Lee at Minnesota's Athlete's Village during her camp visit.GS: Off the court, what do you like to do? GL: I love to bake. I don't know how I got into it, but I love it. I make the best banana bread ever and I love making cookies. Coloring is also something I enjoy – I have these big coloring books and love to stay in between the lines. It's intense. Legos are also something I'm into. My gifts for Christmas are always Legos and they're all over the house. I'm getting more into reading; I go through phases where I read a lot. In the summertime, I like going on walks and also being on the lake.
GS: I hear you're a huge Minnesota Vikings fan. GL: I love the Vikings. I try to watch every game if I can. When I go back home for winter break, my dad and I watch together. I've never been to a game before, and that's on my bucket list. My strength coach at Rutgers is from Minneapolis, and she's a huge Vikings fan too. Whenever I got an ace, she would do the 'Skol' chant to fire me up.
Rapid Fire:
Favorite Food: Biscuits and Gravy or French Fries
Fun Fact: I do make the best banana break in the world
Favorite Sport To Watch: Football or Basketball
Pro Sports Team: Minnesota Vikings
Hidden Talent: I'm super good at karaoke (I want you back by Jackson Five)
Favorite Vacation Spot: San Diego, California
TV Shows: F.R.I.E.N.D.S., Jack Ryan, the New Girl and The Office
Biggest Inspirations: My parents
