Q&A with Beach Volleyball Student-Athlete Kelli Agnew: It’s All About the Process
Q: Can you describe your athletic history when you were growing up?
A: I started out in gymnastics for about 9 years. After gymnastics, I played soccer for a little bit, then went straight into indoor volleyball for 7th and 8th grade. I played indoor throughout high school, but stopped playing club after my sophomore year. I decided to just focus on beach.
Q: Was there any additional pressure that came with being ranked in the top 20 in Arizona for all four years of high school?
A: No, I wouldn’t say there was any pressure. It just made me work harder to maintain that.
Q: When did you decide you wanted to be a collegiate athlete?
A: I’ve always wanted to be a collegiate athlete. When I was a gymnast, I thought I was going to be a collegiate gymnast. But, I always thought I was going to go to college for a sport.
Q: How and why did you choose LSU? What was your recruiting process like?
A: I would go to California every summer to train and play in tournaments, and that was where college coaches would go. Claire Coppola was the one that actually got me recruited to LSU. She told Russell to come watch one of my games, and I called him after. We set up my recruiting visit, and I think the coaches drew me in, but the campus sold it. I loved the football games and everything about it, so that’s why I chose LSU.
Q: How did you decide to make the transition from indoor volleyball to beach?
A: I knew I was just going to play beach in college, so that’s why I stopped playing club for indoor. I played indoor for fun in high school. I knew that being a 5’9” front-row player in indoor wasn’t going to work in college, so I decided to focus on beach entirely. I ended up loving it more than I ever thought I would.
Q: Can you compare and contrast the technical differences between indoor and beach?
A: For indoor, passing can be a little different. The angles of your platform may change, depending on whether you’re playing right back, middle back, or left back. For beach, you get to touch the ball every point, and make more of an impact. Plus, there’s only two players on the court and you focus on the one side that you’re playing on.
Q: Do you miss anything about indoor, or are you completely sold by beach?
A: I love beach. I don’t think I miss anything about indoor because beach makes up for all of it. I love everything about beach volleyball.
Q: What did being named to the CCSA All-Freshman team mean to you?
A: It kind of meant all my hard work was paying off. It motivated me, especially for the next season, to go out and work hard. It was a really cool, honored moment.
Q: Can you describe how you and your teammates felt when your season was cancelled due to COVID?
A: That day was pretty rough. We got the text that morning saying there was going to be a two-week break, and later found out it was cancelled. We had a meeting in the team room, and everyone was bawling their eyes out. It was a really emotional and difficult moment. It was really hard on the seniors, which is why they all came back for this season.
Q: What did you do during quarantine, both inside and outside of your sport?
A: I have a court next to my house, so I would go train in the sand, doing footwork and explosive stuff. I trained with someone that lives near me as well. Once things opened up again, I started coaching and playing as much as I could. Outside of beach, I worked out as much as I could, ate healthy and took up painting. Nothing crazy, but just for fun.
Q: How did missing the 2020 season change your outlook on the 2021 season?
A: I think it definitely drove my motivation. I wanted to be back in the sand with my teammates. I wanted to train and work as hard as I could, especially for the seniors. I wanted to make sure they had the best season possible, and I wanted to do everything I could to help my team.
Q: You and Taryn Kloth went 13-0 this season, leading you to win AVCA National Pair of the Week, and also becoming the only pair in the country to play at least 10 matches together and win every set. Your victories against UCLA aided LSU in defeating them for the first time in program history, and in reaching its first #1 ranking. Can you describe the work you and your team put in to achieve these great things?
A: We went in the sand and worked out butts off. We all pushed each other to make sure we were the best we could be. For whoever we were facing, we would watch film and critique whatever we needed to. Taryn was an amazing partner. She really helped me a lot. Especially for UCLA, we knew they were coming. We trained and we made sure we were prepared. We went out there and played our game.
Q: What are your goals for the rest of your career at LSU, in beach and in academics?
A: I want to make sure I can help my team in whatever way I need to, whatever role that is. I want to do it to the best of my ability. It’s the same for academics. I want to get as good of grades as I can, and continue to push myself to be the best I can be in both aspects.
Q: Do you hope to play professionally, or do you have other career aspirations?
A: The first year after LSU, I will try to play professionally. I’m not sure what that will look like, but I want to give it a shot because the volleyball world is so awesome. For my professional career, I think I want to work with a professional team, managing them or something in that aspect.
Q: Can you describe the dynamic of your team?
A: I think we are a family. We want the best for each other and push each other to be our best. I can’t wait to get back with them.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being an athlete at LSU?
A: I don’t think I have a favorite thing. Everything about it is just awesome. The gear, nutrition center, athletic trainers, they all give us the greatest opportunity to be our best. Even in the academic center, they help you with everything in the classroom. Everything is just awesome.
Q: How has being at LSU shaped you into who you are thus far?
A: I think has LSU has helped me grow. They have helped me in every aspect of my life. The coaching staff has always been there for me; ups, downs they have my back. Academically, I have gotten better each year and my coaches have always supported me.
