There are many different roles that go into creating a successful sports team. The coaching staff has the job of providing direction for the team, but there must be leaders on the team to step forward and make sure everyone is working together to go in that same direction. For the Minnesota volleyball program, senior Erin Lorenzen is one of those key members.

Lorenzen came in as a freshman in 2000 when Minnesota went 30-4 and finished second in the Big Ten with a 17-3 record. She watched from the bench as the program soared to new heights that it had never seen, reaching a No. 5 national ranking. Lorenzen soaked it all in and took away some valuable lessons from that season.

"As freshmen, our class (which included Minnesota's other senior Cassie Busse and Trisha Bratford, who redshirted the 2000 season) came into the program as raw players and were somewhat intimidated. We sat back and watched Lindsey (Berg), Nicole (Branagh), Stephanie (Hagen) and the other upperclassmen do there thing that season."

Minnesota completed the 2000 season with a trip to the "Sweet Sixteen" where they were knocked out by UC Santa Barbara, but the program had gained a wave of momentum from the historic season. In 2001, Minnesota took a step back with a 19-13 record and a sixth place conference finish. With the two stars of that team, Lindsey Berg and Stephanie Hagen, graduating the program went into the offseason trying to figure what it needed to do regain the momentum from the 2000 season for the next year.

"Erin (Lorenzen) was one of the main players to take a leadership role in the spring and summer heading into the 2002 season," head coach Mike Hebert said. "At that time we looked to our upper class players to set the stage for the whole team to work extremely hard during the offseason to be ready for 2002 season. During that time frame Erin (Lorenzen) became more vocal and did a good job encouraging her teammates."

With only one senior, Lisa Axel, heading into the 2002 season the junior class was counted on to help fill a leadership role on the team.

"We knew during the spring and summer of 2002 that how we prepared would equate directly with how ready we would be for the season," senior Cassie Busse said. "Erin (Lorenzen) was one of the main players on our team in terms of setting the stage for what we all had to do to get better."

"The upper class players were not a group of vocal leaders, but we led by example," Lorenzen commented. "We set the tone for what had to be done to succeed the following season, and the younger players desire to get better made it easy for everyone to out and work as a team towards our goals."

That offseason preparation helped guide Minnesota to its first Big Ten championship in school history in 2002, as the Golden Gophers set a new school record for most wins (in the NCAA Era) in school history with 32. Minnesota also tied a school-record for conference victories with 17.

"It was great to win the Big Ten title last year," Lorenzen said. "We worked so hard during the offseason and to see all the hard work pay off was very rewarding as a team." Unlike when Lorenzen was a freshman, the Golden Gophers relied on underclassmen to help them in their run to the conference title.

"As players, our class of Trisha (Bratford), Cassie (Busse) and myself have all grown together, improved and become more experienced," Lorenzen said. "I feel like our whole team has done a great job of being unified. During my four years at Minnesota, the players coming into the program have become more talented, experienced and are ready to play right away. We have done a good job of blending together as a team with the new players, and we had great chemistry last year, as well as this year."

Lorenzen and roommate Erin Martin used some of their leadership skills this past year as they coached a 16-under club team from White Bear Lake.

"It was a fun experience to coach the younger players and watch them get better as the season progressed," Lorenzen said.

"Erin (Lorenzen) played the role of the patient teacher," Martin said. "She did a great job of being calm with the kids and explaining to them how to get better at skills. Erin (Lorenzen) had a good calming influence on the players on that team. She has always been that way on and off the court for our team too." In her senior season, Lorenzen looks back and will tell you she is proud of how her leadership skills have developed as she has been in the program.

"When I first got here I did not possess the leadership skills I do now," Lorenzen remarked. "However, through the desire to be a leader and the help of the coaches I have learned how to be one. Individually I am proud to have made it through all four seasons and to have distinguished myself as a leader in this program."

Written by Media Relations Volleyball Contact Steve Geller. He welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.

There are many different roles that go into creating a successful sports team. The coaching staff has the job of providing direction for the team, but there must be leaders on the team to step forward and make sure everyone is working together to go in that same direction. For the Minnesota volleyball program, senior Erin Lorenzen is one of those key members.

Lorenzen came in as a freshman in 2000 when Minnesota went 30-4 and finished second in the Big Ten with a 17-3 record. She watched from the bench as the program soared to new heights that it had never seen, reaching a No. 5 national ranking. Lorenzen soaked it all in and took away some valuable lessons from that season.

"As freshmen, our class (which included Minnesota's other senior Cassie Busse and Trisha Bratford, who redshirted the 2000 season) came into the program as raw players and were somewhat intimidated. We sat back and watched Lindsey (Berg), Nicole (Branagh), Stephanie (Hagen) and the other upperclassmen do there thing that season."

Minnesota completed the 2000 season with a trip to the "Sweet Sixteen" where they were knocked out by UC Santa Barbara, but the program had gained a wave of momentum from the historic season. In 2001, Minnesota took a step back with a 19-13 record and a sixth place conference finish. With the two stars of that team, Lindsey Berg and Stephanie Hagen, graduating the program went into the offseason trying to figure what it needed to do regain the momentum from the 2000 season for the next year.

"Erin (Lorenzen) was one of the main players to take a leadership role in the spring and summer heading into the 2002 season," head coach Mike Hebert said. "At that time we looked to our upper class players to set the stage for the whole team to work extremely hard during the offseason to be ready for 2002 season. During that time frame Erin (Lorenzen) became more vocal and did a good job encouraging her teammates."

With only one senior, Lisa Axel, heading into the 2002 season the junior class was counted on to help fill a leadership role on the team.

"We knew during the spring and summer of 2002 that how we prepared would equate directly with how ready we would be for the season," senior Cassie Busse said. "Erin (Lorenzen) was one of the main players on our team in terms of setting the stage for what we all had to do to get better."

"The upper class players were not a group of vocal leaders, but we led by example," Lorenzen commented. "We set the tone for what had to be done to succeed the following season, and the younger players desire to get better made it easy for everyone to out and work as a team towards our goals."

That offseason preparation helped guide Minnesota to its first Big Ten championship in school history in 2002, as the Golden Gophers set a new school record for most wins (in the NCAA Era) in school history with 32. Minnesota also tied a school-record for conference victories with 17.

"It was great to win the Big Ten title last year," Lorenzen said. "We worked so hard during the offseason and to see all the hard work pay off was very rewarding as a team." Unlike when Lorenzen was a freshman, the Golden Gophers relied on underclassmen to help them in their run to the conference title.

"As players, our class of Trisha (Bratford), Cassie (Busse) and myself have all grown together, improved and become more experienced," Lorenzen said. "I feel like our whole team has done a great job of being unified. During my four years at Minnesota, the players coming into the program have become more talented, experienced and are ready to play right away. We have done a good job of blending together as a team with the new players, and we had great chemistry last year, as well as this year."

Lorenzen and roommate Erin Martin used some of their leadership skills this past year as they coached a 16-under club team from White Bear Lake.

"It was a fun experience to coach the younger players and watch them get better as the season progressed," Lorenzen said.

"Erin (Lorenzen) played the role of the patient teacher," Martin said. "She did a great job of being calm with the kids and explaining to them how to get better at skills. Erin (Lorenzen) had a good calming influence on the players on that team. She has always been that way on and off the court for our team too." In her senior season, Lorenzen looks back and will tell you she is proud of how her leadership skills have developed as she has been in the program.

"When I first got here I did not possess the leadership skills I do now," Lorenzen remarked. "However, through the desire to be a leader and the help of the coaches I have learned how to be one. Individually I am proud to have made it through all four seasons and to have distinguished myself as a leader in this program."

Written by Media Relations Volleyball Contact Steve Geller. He welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.