Redshirt freshman setter Nikki Klingsporn has not seen much time on the court since joining the UW volleyball team last fall.
The Oakdale, Minn. native was ranked No. 51 on Prepvolleyball.com's senior aces in 2006 and was named Miss Volleyball Minnesota 2005-'06 during her last year of high school. But since arriving in Madison, she has been patiently waiting for her turn to lead the offense while senior setter Jackie Simpson makes one last push for a Big Ten title and national championship run to finish up her stellar career.
In this week's Cardinal Q&A, we give you a chance to get to know Klingsporn before she makes her rise to starting setter on next year's squad.
DC: Who was your greatest role model growing up?
NK: Growing up, [it] was probably my dad because he was my coach all the way through, and he's the high school basketball coach at my high school. He was just always there, and he's still there to talk me through frustrating times or push me to work harder every day. It was really nice to have a dad who could be a role model to me.
DC: What are you doing for a major and what inspired you to take it on?
NK: I have no idea what I want to do! I think what I was kind of looking into was being a coach just because both of my parents are coaches. I'm kind of following in their footsteps. I don't really know what to major in, but I know that I eventually want to be a coach.
DC: What is one thing you have to do before you die?
NK: Before I die? There's a lot of things. Probably, volleyball wise, just win a Big Ten championship and hopefully get the championship overall. Otherwise, probably just travel to somewhere like Paris or Australia or something like that.
DC: Is there anything that you are absolutely afraid of or can't stand?
NK: This is kind of weird, but I don't like eyes. I saw Pirates of the Caribbean"" and when he got stabbed in the eye with a fork ... every time someone throws something at me, I close my eyes and look away. When someone plays with their eyes or puts their contacts in, I can't watch them.
DC: What is the greatest movie of all time?
NK: I really like inspirational movies. I really liked ""Remember the Titans,"" as far as inspirational. But as far as funny, I really liked ""Wedding Crashers.""
DC: If you had to pick one album to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
NK: Chris Brown. Doesn't matter which album, just Chris Brown.
DC: Have you ever lived anywhere else in the United States?
NK: Nope, just Oakdale, Minnesota!
DC: What drew you to Wisconsin?
NK: I think it was just the perfect fit for me. At first, it was just the whole atmosphere and coming to watch - I loved coming to watch the Badgers because the atmosphere was awesome. The coaches were looking to give me a chance, so I was really interested in that. And the team clicked so well. That's [what] you really look at when you visit places, is how well the team chemistry is, and I think the team was the best one that I visited. I was really excited to come play with these girls.
DC: Where is your favorite place to be in Madison?
NK: Probably the Field House, that's what I'm here to do.
DC: Aside from volleyball, is there a special talent that you have that not a lot of people know about you?
NK: Not necessarily a special talent, but I was really, really good at basketball when I was in high school, too. I could've gone either way, but I chose volleyball.
DC: What made you choose volleyball over basketball?
NK: It just kind of led that way, playing club, and then I just stopped playing basketball and I kept working more and more on volleyball. I think because my mom was my volleyball coach and [was] around me more often, it kind of kept leading me that way instead of basketball.
DC: What was it like having your mom as your coach?
NK: It was not anything really different. I mean ... she would always be harder on me because I'm her daughter and she expects a lot out of me. But I think it was actually good because we could go home and be like, ""How do you feel like 'this' is going?"" And I felt like I was able to help her a lot with different aspects [of her coaching].
But as far as my friends, all of my best friends were on the team, so it was kind of hard when my mom would yell at my best friends. But still, it was a good time.
- interview by Andy Van Sistine
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