Gopher Spotlight: Olivia Swenson

Gopher Spotlight: Olivia Swenson - University of Minnesota Athletics

Get to know Olivia Swenson , a freshman outside hitter from Plymouth, Minn.

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Swenson is an early-enrollee from Plymouth, Minn.
Olivia Swenson is a freshman outside hitter from Plymouth, Minn. She played in high school at Wayzata, where she helped lead the team to three straight Minnesota State High School titles.

GS: What is your first memory with the sport of volleyball?
OS: I was really little, and we were playing in the house. I hit a serve, and it nailed a picture frame off the wall. Everyone was so happy that I hit the ball hard at a young age so it didn't really matter. We also had a grass court outside and we'd have friends over to play volleyball during the day.

GS: What other early memories do you have playing volleyball?
OS: I was probably around eight. I played on a 10-1s team at Northern Lights. Early on, I used to go to watch my sister's play and watch my mom coach at Hopkins High School. After elementary school, me and [twin sister] Stella would walk over to the high school and just play the whole time they were practicing. My love for volleyball kind of just took off from there.

Olivia (second from left) playing volleyball in the family's backyard with her sisters.GS: Did you ever try other sports growing up?
OS: I really didn't. My grandpa wanted me to play basketball because he loves the sport. I was tall for my age too, but I just wanted to play volleyball. It was my sport and it was all I wanted to do.

GS: When you were in elementary and middle school, your older sister Sam played for Minnesota (2015-18), helping the team to two Final Fours and two Sweet 16s. What do you remember about going and watching her?
OS: I don't think at the time we realized how cool it was because we were so young. But we [Stella and I] idolized a lot of girls on the team. The Tapp sisters [Hannah and Paige], Sarah Wilhite, Molly Lohman, Dalianliz Rosado, Samantha obviously. We would see them like every day but we're still fangirling over them. It was really exciting to be in that atmosphere.

GS: Do you have a favorite memory or favorite trip from going to watch her?
OS: One time we went on a trip that was far away. CC McGraw was on the team. We had her family, my family and the Tapp's and we rented a camper for a road trip. We drove 12 hours to go watch them and it was so much fun. Just lots of wonderful girls and wonderful families we experienced that with.

Olivia (R) with her sister, Sam, who played at the 'U' from 2015-18GS: When did you realized that you were advanced for your age group in volleyball and had a chance to be good?
OS: I think it was my 14s year. We took third at nationals, which was a really big deal for us. Me and Stella were a year younger than everyone on our team too. That's when our careers kind of took off. We started going to USA camps and doing all that. I've kind of always known that we were pretty good, but I like to be humble about it.

GS: Back to your own recruitment, do you remember the first time you got your first recruiting letter?
OS: Seventh grade. I remember taking a picture with the first letter I ever got from a school. I was so happy that this was a possibility. Later, Minnesota started showing interest in us.

GS: What was your recruitment to Minnesota like?
OS: Stella and I both knew that being Gophers was our goal and the place we wanted to go. When I was in 10th grade, I had my hip surgery and missed the whole year. I was nervous about everything and didn't know where I was going to end up. I can't remember the month, but it was in the summer. I got a call from [former head coach] Hugh [McCutcheon] and he asked if I wanted to commit. I was like 'uhm, yeah of course.' He was like 'great, awesome, this is it.' I started crying. I was so happy, but I feel like I didn't know what just happened. I drove to my sister's house, and we all celebrated. It was quite the experience.

GS: Did you take other visits or was it all Minnesota?
OS: Nope, we didn't. We just took an official visit to Minnesota after we had committed. We knew this is where we wanted to be, so there was no reason to visit anywhere else.

GS: Your sister committed to Minnesota just a few weeks before you did. How did your parents feel knowing that their daughters were going to keep playing together in college?
OS: I remember telling my mom first. She was over at my sister Sam's house. They were both so happy for me. Sam just loved her experience here – every trainer, every coach, every support staff member, so they were both thrilled. I called my dad, and he was very proud of me. It's the best feeling to make your parents proud. They are happy that I am close to home, and they will be able to come to all my games.

Olivia and Stella on their official visit this fallGS: In the fall of 2022 (her junior season), you found out that there was going to be a new coach in charge of Gopher volleyball. How did you feel knowing that things in Minnesota were going to be different than you originally planned?
OS: I got a call from Hugh, and he let me know that he wasn't going to be the coach when I came to Minnesota. I was worried for him at first because we had a great relationship and I care about him as a person more than just as a coach. But he let me know and I respected his decision. Not knowing who the coach was going to be, I was nervous at first as I had no idea if he'd still want me and Stella. But I trusted everyone to make the right judgment and had full faith in the program. When I heard the coach was going to be Keegan Cook, I was super excited. I had heard nothing but good things and was thrilled he was going to lead the program.

GS: When you were in high school, you played for a successful program that won state titles in your last three years there. What made Wayzata so special as a program?
OS: We just put so much time in, both on and off the court. Our coaches would do whatever was needed to make sure we were growing and developing as players. I helped to organize a lot of team bonding activities off the court and we were able to get closer. We stayed hungry even after we won our first and second state titles because we wanted more – we wanted to be the best and leave a legacy. We had big expectations for ourselves and put in the work to achieve our goals. When you have a target on your back, you have to put in extra time in the gym and in lifting if you want to win.

GS: You've talked about your hip injury that kept you out for your sophomore season in 2021. Can you take us through that and how you were feeling mentally at the time?
OS: At first, I had this little pain in my hip. I thought I just woke up wrong. But then it kept getting worse gradually and I knew I had to go see someone. I got an MRI and found it was a tear. The doctors had to shave the bone down, I had a torn labrum. I'm glad that it's over with and that I got it done when I did. It was hard mentally because that's an important year, I was in the middle of recruiting, and I wanted to play for my teammates. It was hard watching instead of playing, but it helped me realize how much I loved the sport and how much I missed it.

GS: What was your favorite moment of high school volleyball?
OS: I'd say our rivalry games with Champlin Park. They have an amazing team, and we respect them a lot. They were our best competition in high school. In 2022 when we played them, it was a competitive game that went five sets. I was on fire and had like 25 kills. It was so much fun and the crowd was very into it.

Swenson passes a ball in a match for Wayzata H.S. in 2023GS: I know you were busy with your season in 2023, but were you able to watch any Gopher volleyball this fall as you prepare for college?
OS: I was able to attend a few games. It was a good atmosphere and the team had success. I'm just looking forward to coming in this year and helping the team push towards its goals.

GS: What have your first few weeks as a Gopher been like since you enrolled in January?
OS: We just started our first team practices last week. I love the environment so much. It's so fun to be with the girls, everyone is so encouraging and we're trying to push each other to get better. I love the people and the resources we're surrounded by. I feel so young compared to everyone else, so right now I'm just trying to get my reps in and get better.

GS: How about off the court, have your new teammates been showing you around campus?
OS: They've been great, everyone is super welcoming. Sydney [Schnichels] and Calissa [Minatee] come over all the time to hang out with Stella and me. We all go have dinner together and talk about our weeks and how classes are going. I'm excited to experience everything with this group.

GS: For those that haven't met you and Stella yet, how similar or different are your personalities?
OS: I think she's much more outgoing and confident. I'm a little bit more introverted and she's very extroverted. I'm more humble. She likes to make everything a competition with us, but that's just a twin thing. We always want to beat each other. Whether it's lifting, or jumping, or we're doing something outside of volleyball, it's a competition. We always push each other to be the best we can be.

GS: For your first college season in 2024, what are you looking forward to most?
OS: I think for my first game, just feeling the atmosphere, seeing the band and just taking it all in. At the same time, just focusing on what we need to do on the court and putting it all out there. It will feel good to gradually get better over these next six months and be able to show it off on the court.

GS: Your first college matches will be in Milwaukee against top-ranked Texas and Stanford. What does it mean to be a part of that?
OS: It's inspiring to be a part of it. Women's volleyball and women's sports have skyrocketed in their support and the viewership it's getting. I'll be able to tell my kids about that one day.

GS: Have you thought about what your first game at the Pav is going to be like?
OS: It's going to be amazing. My parents are going to be supportive but also maybe a little sad because we're growing up. I have a lot of friends and family who are going to be at the game and that's important to me. Being able to perform in front of all the Gopher fans is super exciting to me.

GS: What goals do you have individually for your career?
OS: I think there's a lot. I want to grow as a person and as an athlete. I want to take a lot from my experience here. I really want to be able to jump higher, get better and learn everything I can.

GS: What about team goals?
OS: Definitely to make the NCAA Tournament and playing in it. I want to make it as far as possible and hopefully win a national championship one day.

GS: What do you like to do off the court?
OS: I like art, sometimes I draw, paint, colored pencils and ceramics. I like to sleep, go to the lake, go boating and jet skiing. I'm very focused on school as well. But I also like to play sand and grass volleyball when I can.

Rapid Fire:
Favorite Food: Pickles and Chips/Queso
Fun Fact: In second grade I shattered my nose by running into a pole
Hidden Talent: I can throw grapes in my mouth extremely well and from all heights
Favorite Sport to Watch: Basketball
Favorite Pro Sports Teams: AU Pro Unlimited
Favorite Vacation Spot: Greece
TV Shows: Modern Family
Biggest Inspirations: Mckenna Wucherer or my brother-in-law, Eric
Favorite Past Gopher Volleyball Player: Lexi Hart or Stephanie Samedy

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