Goehner switched from Marquette to Minnesota and chose the Gophers over Iowa.
Alyssa Goehner, a 5-11 outside hitter from Lakeville North recently committed to Minnesota. Goehner had signed with Marquette in the fall, but re-opened her recruitment when Golden Eagles’ head coach Bond Shymansky left to coach his alma mater Iowa.
Goehner, who picked Minnesota over Iowa, talked to Gopher Hole about her decision to play for the home state school.
Gopher Hole: You committed to Minnesota recently. What was the main factor in you choosing the Gophers?
Alyssa Goehner: When it came down to it, both schools are awesome with volleyball and when it came down to it, it was my home state. My family, friends and my main supporters are the most important to me, I think. The fact that I can come here and my family can watch me every single day and every game and can be there, is just amazing. It is a real deal-breaker for me and I get to play for the former Olympic coach and my dreams and aspirations, of course, is to play for the Olympic. It is the closest way to get there.
Gopher Hole: How tough has it been last few weeks not knowing where you are going to be?
Alyssa Goehner: It has been pretty stressful, but my family is really good. They were there for me. They were very lenient towards either side, either Iowa or Minnesota, so it was cool not to be forced into one option or the other. My family is good about it and when it came down to it, the decision was just obvious. Why not play for my home state?
Gopher Hole: I know that you had a good connection with Bond Shymansky, the former coach at Marquette and that was the main reason you were going there. How hard was it to hear that he was not going to be at Marquette?
Alyssa Goehner: It was really tough, because I was excited to go compete at a high level at Marquette with him. When the doors opened again, a state school versus another state school, Minnesota versus Iowa and in the end, I would rather be playing with my best friends and play for my family.
Gopher Hole: I know that you are very close to current Gopher freshman Sarah Wilhite.
Alyssa Goehner: Sarah Wilhite and Paige Tapp and Hannah Tapp, they were all on my (Northern) Lights team. My setter from my Lights team now and my middle are also going to go to the “U,” so pretty much that whole team is full of my best friends, so why not. I’m really excited.
Gopher Hole: Iowa, the other school that you were looking at, doesn’t have a ton of volleyball tradition, but they are obviously hoping with their new coach to turn things around. What did you like about Iowa? Was it mostly the coach?
Alyssa Goehner: The campus is beautiful and it is a brand new facility, so there are just great parts about all of it, but Bond Shymansky is a one of a kind person and a class act. I have so much respect for him. Obviously, he wanted me to stay for his own good reasons, but I just had to go. I just think it is where I belong, at Minnesota.
Gopher Hole: How tough was it to tell him no?
Alyssa Goehner: It was pretty tough, because we had such as great relationship for the past four years and he has been through it all with me. He has supported me since Day One, so it was really tough to break the news, but he is still a great guy and he is still going to be cheering for me, but unfortunately, we won’t be on the same side.
Gopher Hole: You committed to Marquette as a sophomore, but didn’t you make a visit to Minnesota afterwards?
Alyssa Goehner: Last year, I looked at it in the winter and I just couldn’t feel it there. I think that everything happens for a reason and the fact that it happened now is the most important. It doesn’t really matter, the journey and how you get there, but in the end, I am at Minnesota.
Gopher Hole: What position are they looking at you playing?
Alyssa Goehner: Right now, they are looking at me as a hitter/libero. They think that I can do two positions there. I’ll do whatever I can to help that program, because they are top ten, so I am excited.
Gopher Hole: Minnesota has had a very strong program recently and losing two outstanding players in seniors Tori Dixon and Ashley Wittman. What are the expectations for next year?
Alyssa Goehner: I think the main part is finding a good leader on the court, which I think they already have. If you can lead that team, there is so much potential. Such amazing girls on that team that I believe that next year we could win a national championship, definitely. Those girls are amazing and with an amazing coach, program and fans that I think that we could do anything possible.
Gopher Hole: What are you hoping that your role next year will be?
Alyssa Goehner: I want my role to be to help the team in any way I can. If I am not the best hitter on that team, then that must say something about that team, that it is going to be a really good team, so I am excited in any role I could do. If I can be on the bench. If I can passing for that team or even hitting for that team, I’m up for whatever. I am just really excited.
Gopher Hole: You played in the Under Armour All-Star Game in Seattle in December. What was that experience like playing against some of the top players in the country?
Alyssa Goehner: It was super fun. I didn’t really know any of the girls, but I formed very close relationships with a lot of them and it was really high level performance. It was a really good experience. It was more of a congratulations. It was an All-Star match, so you had to get there, so it wasn’t like a championship.
Gopher Hole: You were named the Prep Volleyball Sophomore of The Year and Junior of the Year and Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year the past two seasons. How pleased were you with some of the individual honors?
Alyssa Goehner: I am really happy and I know that all the work that I have done the past four or five years have obviously paid off, so it makes me feel good that I am being recognized, but some of the credit also goes out to my family and teammates who got me here. I wouldn’t have done any of it without them, so that is the most important part.