Kylie Murr prides herself on her assured, aggressive nature. So, when she joined a brand new group for the primary time in 4 years, she knew she would be capable of deal with the strain.
Murr, a fifth-year graduate switch from Ohio State, spent a brief period of time along with her new Gophers group earlier than stepping right into a management function. The native out of Yorktown, Indiana will fill the libero place for the Minnesota Golden Gophers after enjoying the identical place for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Melani Shaffmaster, a fourth-year for the Gophers and former teammate of Murr, stated Murr is a “social butterfly.”
“She’s going to be simply superb,” Shaffmaster stated.
Ohio State to Minnesota
Murr’s journey to the Gophers started within the spring when Buckeyes head coach Jen Flynn Oldenburg determined to half methods with 5 seniors as a result of scholarship problems brought on by an additional yr of eligibility.
“We sort of got here collectively as slightly group of seniors and have been like, ‘If we’re not all going to remain, we’re all going to search out our new journeys,’” Murr stated on the Six Rotations Podcast.
The seniors went their separate methods and every continued their profession within the place that was finest for them. For Murr, that place was Minnesota.
“I’m a aggressive particular person,” Murr stated. “At Ohio State, I obtained competitiveness each single evening from each group and so I knew that’s what the Huge Ten needed to supply.”
When trying to find a program to be part of, Murr stated she wished a spot that might permit her to continue to grow as a participant.
She added she knew she may get a possibility to play for a Huge Ten program once more, and when that chance ultimately appeared, she took it.
“[Minnesota] made me really feel like I may convey lots to this group,” Murr stated. “They wished to assist me past school volleyball.”
Murr is thought to be a assured participant on the courtroom. Her perspective interprets effectively to her defensive talents, which earned her 2022 Huge Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
Gophers volleyball head coach Keegan Prepare dinner stated Murr’s confidence within the aggressive second units her aside as an athlete.
“Matches get large and matches get intense,” Prepare dinner stated. “Kylie thrives in that second.”
Murr’s unceasing defensive ways are unmistakable to her teammates.
“You’re going to need to most likely kill her to make her lose,” Shaffmaster stated.
The Minnesota libero
Murr will take over the libero place for the Gophers, one which now-alumn CC McGraw held since 2018. McGraw acquired 1,924 profession digs whereas at Minnesota. She presently holds the third-highest variety of digs in Minnesota volleyball historical past.
“I really feel some strain,” Murr stated. “CC is a good participant and I’m honored to take her spot.”
Murr, then again, broke the Ohio State profession digs file throughout the 2022 season. All through her Buckeyes profession, she hit a complete of 1,935 profession digs.
Regardless of the strain Murr is feeling, she stated the sport has not modified and she or he is “going to go on the market and simply do [her] factor.”
“She’s not going to surrender,” Shaffmaster stated. “I don’t assume it issues if we’re down 24-2, I believe it’s going to be the whole lot she has on a regular basis.”
The Murr/Shaffmaster connection
Murr reunited with former teammate Shaffmaster when she determined to return to Minnesota for her last season. The 2 performed collectively at Munciana Volleyball Membership in Indiana as children.
Murr began enjoying at Munciana when she was 12 years outdated and was teammates with Shaffmaster till they have been 18.
The 2 performed in opposition to one another in highschool after which once more when Minnesota would match up in opposition to Ohio State.
“Each time we noticed one another at Ohio State, I couldn’t make eye contact along with her as a result of I might simply begin laughing,” Shaffmaster stated.
Murr, now dwelling with Shaffmaster, is routinely within the fitness center along with her hitting the ball “similar to outdated instances,” Shaffmaster stated.
A brand new Huge Ten group
Prepare dinner stated the group should permit Murr to be her assured, aggressive self and play to her strengths, and likewise combine her into the Gophers’ values and magnificence of play.
“You need her to be the participant that we’ve all skilled and also you additionally need her to really feel very tightly linked to how we’re doing issues,” Prepare dinner stated.
Murr stated she took a step exterior her consolation zone by stepping again to study the dynamic of what goes on within the fitness center at Minnesota.
“I simply sort of needed to chew my tongue generally,” Murr stated. “I wished to see how they [Minnesota] operated.”
With such a brief period of time left in her collegiate volleyball profession, Murr stated she doesn’t have time to be shy, particularly given she’s a fifth yr with 4 years of expertise enjoying within the Huge Ten.
The Gophers will play the Buckeyes twice this upcoming season: the primary match between the 2 shall be in Columbus on Nov. 3. Murr stated will probably be unusual sporting completely different colours, however she is prepared for the subsequent chapter.
“I believe I can train these women lots, and I believe I can study lots from them,” Murr stated. “I want to make use of my voice as a lot as I can.”