Gophers volleyball player Katherine Harms: 'We definitely can go all the way'

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[November 15, 2012]

Gophers volleyball player Katherine Harms: 'We definitely can go all the way'

Nov 15, 2012 (Pioneer Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- On and on ...

Katherine Harms is a 6-foot-2 senior with 405 kills for the University of Minnesota women's volleyball team. In case you're wondering, that's a lot. The next closest teammate is Tori Dixon, who has 295 kills.

Harms is playing for her third coach in three years. She played under longtime Gophers coach Mike Hebert her freshman and sophomore years. After Hebert retired, she played under interim coach Laura Bush while current coach Hugh McCutcheon fulfilled his obligation to coach the U.S. women's Olympic volleyball team.

Harms has helped lift the Gophers to a 20-7 overall record. They are 11-5 in the Big Ten with four conference games left in the regular season. The Gophers have lost three of their past four matches, a trend Harms will attempt to help halt. Here is Harms ...

On the thrill of a kill shot: "It's very exhilarating, getting kills. As a hitter, it's one of the most fun things you can do. It's an overwhelming feeling to be able to help your team." On the most important skill to execute a kill: "It's probably just range. It's being able to hit down the line when it's available. You have to have every shot in your kill belt." On playing for her third coach in three years: "Change is difficult at any level. We were very lucky to have such high-level coaches. It made the transition super easy." On playing for McCutcheon: "He comes in with such a fantastic history. You can't be anything but excited to play for such a successful coach. You definitely want to step up." On the Gophers' recent slump: "Every team in the Big Ten is a great team. It depends on which team shows up that day. We've been lucky to play some very good teams. I think we're going to bounce back well." On the Gophers' prospects of winning the NCAA championship: "I think this is a great year for us and we have so much potential. Nothing ever is out of the question. It's just who's on that night. Given the right circumstances, we definitely can go all the way." On why she chose volleyball over basketball: "I was better at it. I had more of a passion for it. I grew up watching my sister play." On her plans after college: "I will graduate in May with a degree in business marketing and a minor in communications. Before I start my business career, I want to play somewhere in Europe." ___ (c)2012 the Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) Visit the Pioneer Press (St.

Paul, Minn.) at www.twincities.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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