The Minnesota volleyball team enters the early portion of the 2004 schedule armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience that comes from a 2002 Big Ten title and 2003 Final Four appearance. The Golden Gophers have five seniors that are in their fourth year with the program that have helped lead them to these heights and enter the season looking for a final run to cap off their four years with the program.

Senior Amanda Hokenson is one of the five players who have shared the journey that started with a 19-13 freshman season (in 2001) to the program's first ever Final Four appearance. The knowledge and experience that Hokenson and others have gained has served as preparation for the 2004 season.

"Each year, since our freshman seasons, we have built upon our experience and added more success to the foundation of the program," said Hokenson. I think this year could be even better then last year. We have six seniors that made it to the Final Four last year, and we are very confident in what we can do this season."

Last season, Minnesota was primed and ready to build on its success in 2002, but started out 0-4 and had to regroup to accomplish their preseason goal of making it to the Final Four. That experience helped Hokenson and the other seniors make sure that things started off smoother in the 2004 campaign. So far at 4-1 this season, it seems Minnesota has learned their lesson about the missteps of the past.

"I think our tough start last year, made us more focused to start strong this season," said Hokenson. "We wanted to focus on coming out strong and playing tough against every team we face. Last year's run to the Final Four also helps to be prepared when we play top competition."

Hokenson has embraced the role of being a spark off the bench for Minnesota and has provided that for the Golden Gophers in her three seasons at Minnesota. Never was that more evident than in a five-game victory over Wisconsin on Oct. 4, 2002 in Madison, Wis.

In that match, Hokenson came off the bench with eight kills, six digs and three blocks in four games to help lead Minnesota to its first victory at Madison over the Badgers since 1995.

"We were really struggling from the left side against Wisconsin in that match," said Minnesota Head Coach Mike Hebert. "Amanda (Hokenson) came in and provided a spark that helped us pull out a big victory. That win ended up being key in our run to the 2002 Big Ten title."

"That match was individually the highlight of my career," said Hokenson. "It was a great atmosphere at Wisconsin and everyone was against us. I had so much motivation to get in the match and help us beat Wisconsin. Being as successful as I was in the match it was exciting to come away with the victory."

Despite the individual thrill of that match, Hokenson's highlight of her career was being part of the 2003 that made the school's first Final Four.

"That was huge accomplishment by our team," said Hokenson. "It took a lot of guts from our team to bounce back from a tough start and accomplish our preseason goal of getting to the Final Four."

Hokenson had an individual highlight off the court in 2004 as she married Minnesota men's basketball player Wade Hokenson this past summer. While the marriage was off the court, the proposal was a different story. Following a televised match against Wisconsin on Oct. 31, 2003, Amanda was called out to the court where Wade proposed to her in front of all her teammates and 2,000-plus fans.

Heading into the 2004 season, Hokenson became the second player (Lindsey Taatjes) on the team charged with the task of balancing the responsibilities of being a student-athlete with married life.

"It is different being married in a good way," said Hokenson. "Wade is always there to talk me through things. It is great to be able to come home to him every night and talk about things with him. Playing on the basketball team for the last four years, he has a lot of insight to my situation, and he is a very positive person which helps me be the same way."

Hokenson is very excited about the possibilities for this team in her senior season, but also knows that she will miss the experiences of playing volleyball at Minnesota once the season is done.

"It is exciting to be at the end of the road," said Hokenson. "I know I will miss it when I am done. "I am just real excited to see where this season goes."

Until the end of her career does come, Hokenson will continue playing role she has done so well at in her career at Minnesota, and hope that it leads to new heights for an already highly successful Minnesota volleyball program.

"I really want to be remembered as someone who was positive and supportive from the bench," said Hokenson. "Someone who could come in and be a spark to the team when things got down, and somebody who worked hard in practice to push the first team."

Story by Steve Geller, Assistant Athletic Communications Director

The Minnesota volleyball team enters the early portion of the 2004 schedule armed with a wealth of knowledge and experience that comes from a 2002 Big Ten title and 2003 Final Four appearance. The Golden Gophers have five seniors that are in their fourth year with the program that have helped lead them to these heights and enter the season looking for a final run to cap off their four years with the program.

Senior Amanda Hokenson is one of the five players who have shared the journey that started with a 19-13 freshman season (in 2001) to the program's first ever Final Four appearance. The knowledge and experience that Hokenson and others have gained has served as preparation for the 2004 season.

"Each year, since our freshman seasons, we have built upon our experience and added more success to the foundation of the program," said Hokenson. I think this year could be even better then last year. We have six seniors that made it to the Final Four last year, and we are very confident in what we can do this season."

Last season, Minnesota was primed and ready to build on its success in 2002, but started out 0-4 and had to regroup to accomplish their preseason goal of making it to the Final Four. That experience helped Hokenson and the other seniors make sure that things started off smoother in the 2004 campaign. So far at 4-1 this season, it seems Minnesota has learned their lesson about the missteps of the past.

"I think our tough start last year, made us more focused to start strong this season," said Hokenson. "We wanted to focus on coming out strong and playing tough against every team we face. Last year's run to the Final Four also helps to be prepared when we play top competition."

Hokenson has embraced the role of being a spark off the bench for Minnesota and has provided that for the Golden Gophers in her three seasons at Minnesota. Never was that more evident than in a five-game victory over Wisconsin on Oct. 4, 2002 in Madison, Wis.

In that match, Hokenson came off the bench with eight kills, six digs and three blocks in four games to help lead Minnesota to its first victory at Madison over the Badgers since 1995.

"We were really struggling from the left side against Wisconsin in that match," said Minnesota Head Coach Mike Hebert. "Amanda (Hokenson) came in and provided a spark that helped us pull out a big victory. That win ended up being key in our run to the 2002 Big Ten title."

"That match was individually the highlight of my career," said Hokenson. "It was a great atmosphere at Wisconsin and everyone was against us. I had so much motivation to get in the match and help us beat Wisconsin. Being as successful as I was in the match it was exciting to come away with the victory."

Despite the individual thrill of that match, Hokenson's highlight of her career was being part of the 2003 that made the school's first Final Four.

"That was huge accomplishment by our team," said Hokenson. "It took a lot of guts from our team to bounce back from a tough start and accomplish our preseason goal of getting to the Final Four."

Hokenson had an individual highlight off the court in 2004 as she married Minnesota men's basketball player Wade Hokenson this past summer. While the marriage was off the court, the proposal was a different story. Following a televised match against Wisconsin on Oct. 31, 2003, Amanda was called out to the court where Wade proposed to her in front of all her teammates and 2,000-plus fans.

Heading into the 2004 season, Hokenson became the second player (Lindsey Taatjes) on the team charged with the task of balancing the responsibilities of being a student-athlete with married life.

"It is different being married in a good way," said Hokenson. "Wade is always there to talk me through things. It is great to be able to come home to him every night and talk about things with him. Playing on the basketball team for the last four years, he has a lot of insight to my situation, and he is a very positive person which helps me be the same way."

Hokenson is very excited about the possibilities for this team in her senior season, but also knows that she will miss the experiences of playing volleyball at Minnesota once the season is done.

"It is exciting to be at the end of the road," said Hokenson. "I know I will miss it when I am done. "I am just real excited to see where this season goes."

Until the end of her career does come, Hokenson will continue playing role she has done so well at in her career at Minnesota, and hope that it leads to new heights for an already highly successful Minnesota volleyball program.

"I really want to be remembered as someone who was positive and supportive from the bench," said Hokenson. "Someone who could come in and be a spark to the team when things got down, and somebody who worked hard in practice to push the first team."

Story by Steve Geller, Assistant Athletic Communications Director