Shakopee's Wittman is Metro Player of the Year again

Ashley Wittman represented her country last year as a member of the United States team at the Youth Continental Championship volleyball tournament in Puerto Rico. She has represented her region as a part of three AAU national championships. She has represented her city and school for what is now three consecutive Class 3A volleyball tournaments. And today, she is represented on this page as the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year for the second season in a row.

Wittman, a 6-1 senior outside hitter who is widely considered to be one of the best players to ever come out of the state, enters this week's state tournament with 484 kills. She is seeking to help the Sabers win a third consecutive state team title. After helping Shakopee defeat Chaska 3-2 in the Section 2 tournament championship last weekend by slamming home 35 kills, the future Gophers player took some time to talk volleyball with Star Tribune staff writer Brian Stensaas.

Q  Is there a story behind the time you first picked up a volleyball?

A  I first started playing when I was in fourth grade, and I was really bad. I played on my Catholic team in Shakopee, and that was when I just wanted to have fun and be with all of my friends. Everyone else was doing it; I just kind of went through and played. I couldn't hit a ball or anything.

Q  When did you realize, 'This is the sport for me'?

A  When I was 14, playing club for Northern Lights. I was really into it by then and really ready to go. I did a lot more practice, and my family let me go to lessons and work with some of the M1 coaches. That really helped me, and that's when I actually started getting into it. I learned to hit, I learned different techniques and that's when I got better.

Q  Three AAU championships, two state championships and a gold medal. Which is most memorable and why?

A  Probably the gold medal with the USA team just because it was so fun playing with all the other girls from different states. Getting to know all of them, and playing all of the different teams. It was new, and it was big. I was captain, and I got to do all of the press conferences after the matches. I couldn't understand much, but it was fun.

Q  Are you running out of room for all of your plaques, certificates and medals?

A  No! I will always have room. They're everywhere, though. I have plenty.

Q  Other than it being about 30 miles away, why did you choose Minnesota for college?

A  I chose it because I liked a lot of the girls, and I know them. I know what they want to become with volleyball and how much they like the sport and want to win. And it was the one what felt most 'homey.' I felt the click right when I got there. I talked to the coaches, the players. Walked around the school. I considered Wisconsin, Purdue -- other schools. But this just felt right.

Q  Matt Busch, your coach at Shakopee, is such a mild-mannered guy during matches. What's he like in practices?

A  He's the same as he is on the bench. He tells us what he wants us to do and we go do it. If we're not performing, he'll yell at us and make us run. He's helped us with a lot; working with us on things that we might not think are important. All the little skills and other things that we might not think about. How he's planned practices has been the biggest part to our success.

Q  Nicole Branagh went on to play beach volleyball. Lindsey Berg stuck with indoor volleyball and played on U.S. National teams. Which former Gopher's track would you prefer?

A  Beach volleyball for sure. That's my goal, that's what I want to do. Just play with one other person and rely on that person. And playing outside, that's fun.

Q  Branagh has made nearly $800,000 worldwide playing beach volleyball. Did you know that before you answered?

A  Wow. No -- that's amazing! I can't even explain how amazing that is!

Q  So that's your post-college plan?

A  Yeah, after four years with the Gophers I hope to find a partner and play. I want to go off and do more things, bigger things.

Q  Any aspirations of becoming a coach?

A  No. That is one thing I do not want to do. I don't have the patience, I don't think I could do it. I'd rather just play.