Future Friday: Q&A with Lexi Dannemiller
2/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Feb. 5, 2016
Lexi Dannemiller
After representing the block M with pride while they competed for the Maize and Blue, our student-athlete alumni have gone off to become professionals in different areas of their lives. Whether they continued on in their sport, helped to build up a company or started a family, they are building a future. They are building our future. As they leave the University of Michigan campus they go forth with all they learned here to create a better future for us all.
Despite being a recent graduate of the Michigan volleyball program, alumna Lexi Dannemiller (2011-14) played an instrumental role in Michigan history. From her setter position, Dannemiller guided the team to its third Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2011 before a first-ever historic Final Four appearance in 2012. A fifth-generation U-M student, Dannemiller received multiple academic and athletic awards throughout her four-year tenure as a Wolverine, including various Big Ten Conference honors as well as a 2013 AVCA All-North Region Team selection and a 2013 AVCA All-America honorable mention. The West Chester, Ohio, native is also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and served her team as an assistant captain during her senior season.
Dannemiller, who now plans to play professional volleyball, also ranks second all-time at Michigan for career assists as well as matches played in a single season, while ranking third all-time for assists in a single season and service aces in a single match.
Q. When did you first begin playing volleyball and how did that come about?
A. I first began playing in third grade for a local Christian Youth Organization league. My mom (Maria Carbonari) played volleyball in Colombia so she coached me until I was 13. She was a stud in Colombia and played for the Colombian National Team and even beat out Patty Dodd (formerly Patty Orozco) for the setter position on the youth national team.
Q. Why did you choose the University of Michigan to further your education and play volleyball as a collegiate athlete?
A. I joke that I really had no choice. I'm the fifth generation in my family to go to the University of Michigan. I grew up going to all of the Michigan football games and idolizing players like Tom Brady, Chad Henne, Mike Hart, and Braylon Edwards. On my unofficial visit Mark (Rosen) brought me in to meet with Lloyd Carr. In that meeting, Coach Carr asked me who else I was looking at, I mentioned a few schools including Michigan State. Coach paused, looked me dead in the eyes, and in the most serious tone said, "You are a very pretty girl, but you would look ugly in green." At that moment, I was sold.
Q. In addition to AVCA All-America and All-Region awards, as well as All-Big Ten recognition as both an athlete and a student, you rank in the top-five statistically in multiple categories at U-M. With all of these successes, what was your biggest personal accomplishment as a student-athlete at Michigan?
A. I feel very proud to have represented USA in both China and South Korea, and to have trained with them for a period of time in Anaheim. However, my biggest personal accomplishment was knocking Stanford out of the NCAA tournament, not once but twice. Obviously that's a team accomplishment, but it's the best accomplishment worth talking about. Every volleyball kid grew up wanting to play volleyball for a Stanford for the academics, the volleyball legacy, etc. During my freshman year, we knocked them out to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, and then during my sophomore year, we knocked them out to advance to the Final Four for the first time in school history. I can't even put into words how proud I am to be a part of that team.
Q. From your first season as a Wolverine, you played in what seems like every set. What was it like being a four-year starter?
A. It was an honor. It was challenging and competitive, but a whole lot of fun. I thank the coaches for trusting me as a freshman, and thank Carly Warner, Cindy Zhou and Catherine Yager for always challenging me as competing setters.
Q. During your sophomore year, the team advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in program history. What was that experience like and what is your favorite memory of that historic run?
A. The run to the Final Four was unreal. Nearly every match we played up to that point almost resulted in a loss, but our team managed to stay resilient through every error, every lost game, and every comment favoring our opponent. Media Day before the Final Four game was fun, and we got to take fun pictures and videos. The day before our match, 200 people watched our practice, which was crazy. Practice! The next day, everyone in the volleyball world was watching the match. It was too cool.
My favorite memory from the run was the moment we beat Stanford. We won the last point and all huddled up in celebration, and Carly Warner and Ally Davis ran around our huddle 3 times. After that, we ran into the locker room and Olivia Reed starting dancing like crazy. I'll never forget that.
Q. You were also an assistant team captain during your senior year. What did it mean to be named a leader and take on that role officially for your team?
A. I felt honored that my team trusted and respected me. However, my goal through all four years was to win a national championship. I wasn't concerned with the titles or anything, all I wanted was to be a part of the best team. If I was going to be the leader, then great. I knew we would work hard in practice, stay united as a team and represent the University of Michigan with respect, and I'd do anything I could to make sure that we stayed that way.
Q. You recently made the decision to continue your volleyball career in the professional sphere. What exactly are your next steps, and how did your experience at Michigan help to shape those decisions?
A. I stopped playing volleyball about a year ago and just started coaching a club team. I realized that my passion is with volleyball and if I have an opportunity to play as my job while getting a chance to travel the world, why not do it while I still can? I consulted with my setter coach Erin Virtue, and asked her if it was too late, but she said it was absolutely not too late so I moved forward and signed with an agent. My experience at Michigan helped shape that decision because Mark, Leisa (Rosen) and Erin always encouraged us to follow our passion. They prepared me both mentally and physically to be able to take on a professional league.
Q. If you still follow the Michigan volleyball? What did you think of last season's NCAA Tournament run?
A. I'm crazy proud of them. I watched every game online because I'm in Tampa right now, but those girls are so competitive -- every single one of them. And they beat Penn State! At Penn State! Woo!
Q. What does being an alumn of Michigan, and specifically a volleyball alumn, mean to you?
A. I'll always bleed Maize and Blue. And my future kids will go to the University of Michigan, on volleyball scholarships. (Mark and Leisa -- let's hope you're still there in 20 years). I'll always yell "Go Blue!" to people wearing Michigan hats all over the world. I guess you could say it means a pretty big deal to me.
Q. How would your life be different if you had not attended Michigan as a volleyball student-athlete? What do you think life would be like?
A. Hmm ... It's tough to predict something like that. But I can't imagine being as close to my coaches or teammates anywhere else, and I can't imagine feeling this connected to my school anywhere else.
Q. What advice would you give to current student-athletes at Michigan -- and even more specifically to the volleyball team?
A. It goes by too quickly! Enjoy every moment, enjoy your teammates and respect your coaches! Also, don't lose your keys. It can get expensive if you're prone to losing things.
The 2015-16 academic year marks the 150th anniversary of Michigan Athletics. We invite the University of Michigan family to celebrate the passion that fuels us, rediscover the stories and traditions that unite us, and imagine what the future holds for us. We look forward to celebrating "This Michigan of Ours." To share a memory of Michigan Athletics, please fill out our online form or email goblue150@umich.edu.
