Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Sept 16, 2004 14:18:07 GMT -5
Gopher U.S. Olympian Lindsey Berg Discusses Her 2004 Olympic Experiences
Athletic Communications: Explain the progression from when you graduated Minnesota to the point where you were playing in the Olympics?
Lindsey Berg: "I graduated in three-and-a-half years in December of 2001 and got invited to play with USPV (Minnesota Chill), which was the league in the United States. I played with them for about four months. From there I decided to take a little break, in Minnesota, expecting the league to happen again. Once it folded I got invited to go out and train with U.S. National Team in a two-week tryout in January of 2003, and so I was out there for two weeks and made it through that tryout. I kept doing well and made it through the whole training season. I did not train with the Olympians at that time, but more with the younger players who are in the U.S. National Training program. I did that and made it to the summer and started setting for the U.S. national team in the summer of 2003. Then I decided I did not want to play pro and that I wanted to give my best shot at making the Olympic team, and my best shot was to stay for the next training season which was January through April of 2004. Some other Olympic players were there as well. Players such as Robin Aw Mow-Santos and Tayeeba Haneef stayed and trained. So we were all there January through April until the other players got back in April. I just continued to play my game and do well and was the second setter, which played a lot in the double substitution where I would come in at the end of games. Finally it came time to announce team and I was the second setter."
AC: Talk about the experience you gained training with the U.S. National Team in the summer of 2003?
LB: "I started the whole summer and went on trips, after (Olympic starting setter) Robin (Aw Mow-Santos) had her baby. She did not travel or play last summer. That gave me so much experience and really helped me make the team. It gave me a chance to gain that much experience, be the starting setter and play with those players who were on the U.S. Olympic team too. I think it put me a step ahead of any setter who was going to come in and try to beat me or Robin out, just because of the experience gained in the summer."
AC: Was there a point in time that you felt like you moved ahead of the other setters competing for that second setter spot on the Olympic team?
LB: "That actually did not happen until this past training season this past January. All last summer they were brining people in and out. First training season there were three setters. It was me (former Long Beach State setter) Brittany Hochevar and (former Arizona setter) Dana Burkholder. I beat them out and got that starting position last summer. Then (former Nebraska setter) Greichaly Cepero came back and she was pretty much my competition the rest of the time. She was here the whole training season this past January through April. Really it was just me, Robin and Greichaly as the three setters during the training period prior to the Olympics. Just having the experience over Greichaly the summer before, I had confidence and knew that if I kept playing my game and doing what I was doing I would be there."
AC: Talk about the days leading up to the selection to the Olympic team, and when you found out about it?
LB: "It really felt good to find out that I had made it. I had a lot of confidence, and my teammates had told me to not worry about it that I was already on the team. However, just hearing it from the coach made a big difference. I actually did not sleep the night before. I don't know why I was not nervous, I don't know, but I could not sleep. Maybe that was inside just telling me that this was such an exciting thing. To finally get to hear it from his mouth and have it printed on paper was really going to mean a lot. We were not supposed to tell that many people so I just told my close friends and family. It felt really good."
AC: Talk about the Olympic experience and what it was like?
LB: "Definitely the opening ceremonies were amazing nothing can compare to it. The feeling that I had when we walked through the tunnel of that enormous stadium. Just me and the other four girls that were first timers all stood together during the opening ceremonies and it was just a feeling I can't even explain. I just started tearing and had goosebumps the whole time walking through. The athletes don't get to see too much of the opening ceremonies, because we are walking out at the end and we are in a building until then. The feeling of walking out there I don't think I will ever feel that again even if I am in another Olympics. I think that first initial Olympics and that feeling of walking during opening ceremonies is irreplaceable and indescribable. The Olympic Village was also a great experience. It is amazing being around so many gifted athletes from so many different countries. Just meeting people from different cultures and different people. It is a really fun experience to be around the village."
AC: Talk about the Olympic competition and the results of the U.S. Olympic team in Athens?
LB: "We had a lot of five-game matches. We struggled in the beginning of the tournament, and that is what really put is in a really difficult position to medal. We did step it up against Russia, even before we defeated Cuba to get into the quarterfinals. That is when we started to play our game, but it ended up being too late. Even though we got to the quarterfinals, having to face Brazil, the No. 1 from the other pool, was not the best way to go. The competition was amazing, there was no easy match in the Olympics, especially in our pool. The level of volleyball in the world right now is absolutely amazing, I wish more of the United States could see this level. Most of these tournaments happen in Europe or Asia and nothing comes to U.S. The level is amazing it and I wish it was more visible in the U.S., because it would draw more attention to volleyball. The step up from college you can not even explain it. It is like playing against guys on a girls net."
AC: Talk about the different styles that the countries have when it comes to their volleyball teams?
LB: "Well definitely each country has there own style. We try to have a mix of styles. Asian countries and Russia have a real distinct style. Brazil has a similar style to us, and I think that is why we struggle against them. Cuba has their own style, and each country does. As USA we try to have a little of each style. We have height with Tayyiba (Haneef) or quickness with Logan (Tom). I think it is very interesting we know exactly how these countries are going to play. However, even if you know how they are going to play, you still have to stop them. It does help when you figure out each different team's style and it is definitely very evident what they are like and we just try to have a mixture of it."
AC: What is your future with the U.S. National program and would you like to go to try to go to the Olympics in Beijing in 2008? LB: "I would love to go to another Olympics. I am not satisfied with how we did. I want a medal, obviously everybody does. The experience at the Olympics was so great I can't even imagine what it would be like if we won a medal or if we did have a better experience of volleyball how great it would be. As of now I still want to go to Beijing, and obviously I would not be set on the team. There are a lot of great setters out there to compete with. I plan on trying to go back."
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AC: Talk about the pride you have in helping to start the success that the Minnesota volleyball program is currently enjoying, and how it feels to be the first U.S. Olympian to come from the program?
LB: "I actually do think about that a lot. A lot people asked me why I went to Minnesota. Before they made the Final Four they were not that big of a name in volleyball, along with a lot of Midwest schools. That is changing now. I always think about how I do not regret it, and would do the same thing all over again. I loved coming into a program that really was not established that much, and I loved playing every minute that I did, getting new players and making program known a little more. I think me and Nicole (Branagh) helped that a lot. It is a really good feeling to know where the program started when I came in and where it is now. I believe I helped it a little bit and I get that from other people. I think a lot has to do with Mike (Hebert). I think Mike has helped put the program where it is now. It his him who gets the right players to make the program successful. I am so happy to see the program where it is right now, obviously I was a little jealous when they won the Big Ten the year after I was done, but that is how it is. It was so great seeing them make the Final Four last year and I will forever watch them and keep supporting them. Hopefully me being an Olympian can show not even people at Minnesota, but people who are at schools that don't have the west coast hype and that even if you are not an All-American you can reach the Olympic level like I did if you just keep working hard and believing in yourself.
Interview by Steve Geller, Assistant Athletic Communications Director
Athletic Communications: Explain the progression from when you graduated Minnesota to the point where you were playing in the Olympics?
Lindsey Berg: "I graduated in three-and-a-half years in December of 2001 and got invited to play with USPV (Minnesota Chill), which was the league in the United States. I played with them for about four months. From there I decided to take a little break, in Minnesota, expecting the league to happen again. Once it folded I got invited to go out and train with U.S. National Team in a two-week tryout in January of 2003, and so I was out there for two weeks and made it through that tryout. I kept doing well and made it through the whole training season. I did not train with the Olympians at that time, but more with the younger players who are in the U.S. National Training program. I did that and made it to the summer and started setting for the U.S. national team in the summer of 2003. Then I decided I did not want to play pro and that I wanted to give my best shot at making the Olympic team, and my best shot was to stay for the next training season which was January through April of 2004. Some other Olympic players were there as well. Players such as Robin Aw Mow-Santos and Tayeeba Haneef stayed and trained. So we were all there January through April until the other players got back in April. I just continued to play my game and do well and was the second setter, which played a lot in the double substitution where I would come in at the end of games. Finally it came time to announce team and I was the second setter."
AC: Talk about the experience you gained training with the U.S. National Team in the summer of 2003?
LB: "I started the whole summer and went on trips, after (Olympic starting setter) Robin (Aw Mow-Santos) had her baby. She did not travel or play last summer. That gave me so much experience and really helped me make the team. It gave me a chance to gain that much experience, be the starting setter and play with those players who were on the U.S. Olympic team too. I think it put me a step ahead of any setter who was going to come in and try to beat me or Robin out, just because of the experience gained in the summer."
AC: Was there a point in time that you felt like you moved ahead of the other setters competing for that second setter spot on the Olympic team?
LB: "That actually did not happen until this past training season this past January. All last summer they were brining people in and out. First training season there were three setters. It was me (former Long Beach State setter) Brittany Hochevar and (former Arizona setter) Dana Burkholder. I beat them out and got that starting position last summer. Then (former Nebraska setter) Greichaly Cepero came back and she was pretty much my competition the rest of the time. She was here the whole training season this past January through April. Really it was just me, Robin and Greichaly as the three setters during the training period prior to the Olympics. Just having the experience over Greichaly the summer before, I had confidence and knew that if I kept playing my game and doing what I was doing I would be there."
AC: Talk about the days leading up to the selection to the Olympic team, and when you found out about it?
LB: "It really felt good to find out that I had made it. I had a lot of confidence, and my teammates had told me to not worry about it that I was already on the team. However, just hearing it from the coach made a big difference. I actually did not sleep the night before. I don't know why I was not nervous, I don't know, but I could not sleep. Maybe that was inside just telling me that this was such an exciting thing. To finally get to hear it from his mouth and have it printed on paper was really going to mean a lot. We were not supposed to tell that many people so I just told my close friends and family. It felt really good."
AC: Talk about the Olympic experience and what it was like?
LB: "Definitely the opening ceremonies were amazing nothing can compare to it. The feeling that I had when we walked through the tunnel of that enormous stadium. Just me and the other four girls that were first timers all stood together during the opening ceremonies and it was just a feeling I can't even explain. I just started tearing and had goosebumps the whole time walking through. The athletes don't get to see too much of the opening ceremonies, because we are walking out at the end and we are in a building until then. The feeling of walking out there I don't think I will ever feel that again even if I am in another Olympics. I think that first initial Olympics and that feeling of walking during opening ceremonies is irreplaceable and indescribable. The Olympic Village was also a great experience. It is amazing being around so many gifted athletes from so many different countries. Just meeting people from different cultures and different people. It is a really fun experience to be around the village."
AC: Talk about the Olympic competition and the results of the U.S. Olympic team in Athens?
LB: "We had a lot of five-game matches. We struggled in the beginning of the tournament, and that is what really put is in a really difficult position to medal. We did step it up against Russia, even before we defeated Cuba to get into the quarterfinals. That is when we started to play our game, but it ended up being too late. Even though we got to the quarterfinals, having to face Brazil, the No. 1 from the other pool, was not the best way to go. The competition was amazing, there was no easy match in the Olympics, especially in our pool. The level of volleyball in the world right now is absolutely amazing, I wish more of the United States could see this level. Most of these tournaments happen in Europe or Asia and nothing comes to U.S. The level is amazing it and I wish it was more visible in the U.S., because it would draw more attention to volleyball. The step up from college you can not even explain it. It is like playing against guys on a girls net."
AC: Talk about the different styles that the countries have when it comes to their volleyball teams?
LB: "Well definitely each country has there own style. We try to have a mix of styles. Asian countries and Russia have a real distinct style. Brazil has a similar style to us, and I think that is why we struggle against them. Cuba has their own style, and each country does. As USA we try to have a little of each style. We have height with Tayyiba (Haneef) or quickness with Logan (Tom). I think it is very interesting we know exactly how these countries are going to play. However, even if you know how they are going to play, you still have to stop them. It does help when you figure out each different team's style and it is definitely very evident what they are like and we just try to have a mixture of it."
AC: What is your future with the U.S. National program and would you like to go to try to go to the Olympics in Beijing in 2008? LB: "I would love to go to another Olympics. I am not satisfied with how we did. I want a medal, obviously everybody does. The experience at the Olympics was so great I can't even imagine what it would be like if we won a medal or if we did have a better experience of volleyball how great it would be. As of now I still want to go to Beijing, and obviously I would not be set on the team. There are a lot of great setters out there to compete with. I plan on trying to go back."
AC: Talk about the pride you have in helping to start the success that the Minnesota volleyball program is currently enjoying, and how it feels to be the first U.S. Olympian to come from the program?
LB: "I actually do think about that a lot. A lot people asked me why I went to Minnesota. Before they made the Final Four they were not that big of a name in volleyball, along with a lot of Midwest schools. That is changing now. I always think about how I do not regret it, and would do the same thing all over again. I loved coming into a program that really was not established that much, and I loved playing every minute that I did, getting new players and making program known a little more. I think me and Nicole (Branagh) helped that a lot. It is a really good feeling to know where the program started when I came in and where it is now. I believe I helped it a little bit and I get that from other people. I think a lot has to do with Mike (Hebert). I think Mike has helped put the program where it is now. It his him who gets the right players to make the program successful. I am so happy to see the program where it is right now, obviously I was a little jealous when they won the Big Ten the year after I was done, but that is how it is. It was so great seeing them make the Final Four last year and I will forever watch them and keep supporting them. Hopefully me being an Olympian can show not even people at Minnesota, but people who are at schools that don't have the west coast hype and that even if you are not an All-American you can reach the Olympic level like I did if you just keep working hard and believing in yourself.
Interview by Steve Geller, Assistant Athletic Communications Director