A senior middle blocker, Lourdes Myers played her first four seasons of collegiate volleyball at Purdue. She played three seasons there after redshirting in 2021. Myers helped the Boilermakers make Sweet 16s in 2023 and 2024 after they went to the Round of 32 in 2022. She averaged 1.31 kills (.342), 1.0 blocks and 0.24 digs per set in her three years in West Lafayette and had her best season in 2024, hitting .356 with 1.28 kills and 1.06 blocks per set.
GS: Take us through your background and childhood. LM: I was born and raised in Alliance, Ohio. I attended parochial schools my whole life. I am an only child. However, my stepfather has four children of his own. I am thankful we are all close to each other.
Lourdes playing on her high school teamGS: Growing up, what were the first activities that you were involved in? LM: My first sport I played was soccer in elementary school. I became interested in volleyball because my mother would brag about how good she was back in the day. I told her that I wanted to try it out, so she put me into an after school program. I remember I would go with my classmates after school and we'd play on literally a tennis net. Eventually, as we gotten better, we used a volleyball net. It was natural for me and super fun. At the time I was like, you know what, this is my sport. So I just ended up quitting soccer and just playing volleyball.
GS: So how old were you when you, like quit everything else and then and then just stuck to volleyball? LM: I think I was in the fifth grade. In sixth grade, I was good so they would put me with the seventh and eighth graders. Eventually I started playing club and stuff like that.
Myers on senior night with her family and boyfriendGS: So what did your mom think about starting to get really into volleyball and especially at the club level? LM: I played at Elite Sports and then AVC in Cleveland, Ohio. My mother and stepfather were all in.
GS: When did you first start getting recruited? LM: I think I was a freshman and I started hearing from some smaller DI schools. Then in my sophomore year of high school. I was playing at a tournament in Indiana and I remember a bunch of bigger DI schools recruited me after that tournament. It changed my life. Offers never stopped until I committed to Purdue.
GS: Who were the first schools to reach out to you? LM: Purdue reached out first, and I remember looking at the email in total shock. My coaches kept telling me Purdue is interested, so I decided to check them out more. I talked to coach Shondell and the assistants. We just had some really good conversations. I went to his camp that summer and knew I wanted to play for him and get a degree from Purdue.
GS: Did you visit any other schools besides Purdue? LM: I took two visits, Purdue and Pitt. I tried to keep it small because I didn't want to stress myself out, so I just tried to keep a small list of coaches that truly connected with me. With Purdue, I knew that the team was good, but it all came down to the coaches. At the time, I needed a good coach that understood me. I'm still quiet and shy, and back then I was like super quiet, cause I came from a small high school. My graduating class was only 38 students. I needed a coach that understood that it takes a little bit of time for me to get comfortable and be more vocal. Coach Shondell understood the assignment.
GS: What was your favorite memory during your time at Purdue? LM: Definitely the Europe trip. I feel like I got really close with the girls, especially the incoming freshman. To have my teammates there in a different country having fun and playing volleyball was a really good experience for me.
GS: So you were at Purdue for four years, then wanted to play another year in college. What put Minnesota over the top for you? LM: Timing. I just wanted to have a successful final season. This is my last season and I want to go out with a bang. I wanted to be on a team that had an already established roster. Coach Keegan [Cook] is a great coach and we had a really great conversation immediately after I entered the portal. After that, I knew I wanted to be on his team. So far he's been taking care of our mental and understands that some people are gonna have off days. I really appreciate that the girls on the team are so sweet. Everyone is so connected and I just love that.
Myers spent 2020-24 playing at PurdueGS: Did you ever take a visit to Minnesota before committing? LM: Not a physical visit. I already knew what the campus and city was like. Plus, everything was happening so fast. I wanted to spend time with my family as well. I was just trying to make everything work and happen at once. Honestly, I'm here for the coaches, players and grad program. I couldn't care less about what the environment around us looks like. I just want to play volleyball and enjoy my life here.
GS: Did I hear right that your boyfriend [tight end Drew Biber] also transferred to Minnesota? Was that planned? LM: God just works in mysterious ways. It just happened to be I came here and so did he. It was completely by chance.
GS: Obviously you played Minnesota several times in your career. What was your kind of perception of Minnesota as a program before you came here? LM: I just loved the arena, the environment and the fans too. They were super nice to me. I just remember, my teammates and I were always looking at the clean up girls, the ones that wiped the floors during the games. We were always just fan-girling over them because they were so cute. I definitely recognized the fans. I remember a couple that always sits on the floor in the same seats. I always looked to see if they're there that night. I just love how they have super loyal fans and the gym is amazing too. I also love how the gym and rehab room is all in one area.
GS: What are you working on most this spring to try and help yourself and the team? For those who haven't seen you play, what are you like as a player? LM: Right now, I'm just gonna stay in the rehab and the weight room. My focus is to get more stronger and staying springy. I also want to keep learning and getting smarter with my game. I feel like I'm super versatile with how I compete. I can run slides and anything you ask me to run. I would say I'm vocal but I celebrate with teammates more than I celebrate for myself on the court.
GS: Pedro Mendes is our middles and blocking coach. What's it been like working with him so far? LM: He's super hands on.I noticed he will stop you right then and there instead of letting you do it wrong over and over again. You can tell he's super passionate about his job and he's always coming in with a smile, ready to work with us. I love that because you can see the excitement in his face every single day. In return it motivates me and the other players.
GS: What excites you most about playing for Minnesota in your final year of college volleyball? LM: I just want to be even stronger, make big plays and help the team finish games, especially in fifth sets. I want to become more vocal because I'm kind of quiet. I want to help the younger girls. I want them to be able to lean on me, both on and off the court.
GS: We'll go to Purdue this year during the regular season. What's that going to be like going back there, a place you've spent so much time in the last five years? LM: I'm so excited because I do miss a lot of the girls. I'm so happy that I'm gonna be able to see them, my former coaches and the Boiler Block (fan section).
GS: What goals do you have personally and then for the team this year? LM: I want to do everything I can to become the best player possible. I want our team to grow and win. I am willing to help the team out in any way they need help. I want to be known as a great teammate who is selfless. This team has all the key pieces we need, and we can compete for the top spot in the Big Ten. For the team, our goals, like all the other schools is to win a Big Ten title and a national championship. I think we're all working towards that and are on the same page.
GS: You talked a little bit about, like, building connections with your teammates and and wanting them to trust you. Have you gotten to hang out with your teammates much outside of volleyball since you've been here? LM: Yeah, we hang out a lot on the weekends. We're actually going to Cabo for spring break, so I think that will be a really cool trip to just get closer and connect with them off the court.
Myers' graduation weekend last year.GS: Off the court, what do you like to do? LM: I like having deep meaningful, conversations. I enjoy cooking. Also, I just started attending yoga classes in my neighborhood.
Rapid Fire:
Favorite Food: Seafood. crab, shrimp and crawfish
Fun Fact: I can sing
Favorite Sport To Watch: Football or Basketball
Pro Sports Team: Cleveland Browns, Cavaliers and L.A. Lakers (LeBron fan)
Game Winning Kill or Game Winning Block: Definitely a block
Favorite Vacation Spot: Cancun, Mexico
TV Shows: Scandal
Biggest Inspirations: My parents and grandparents
