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New to ISU: Q&A With Cyclone Trio
08.10.2023 | Volleyball
Freshmen Nayeli Gonzalez, Reaghan Larkin and Pam McCune are ready to make their mark on the 2023 season. Get to know the trio better with this Q&A.
#14 Nayeli Gonzalez, OH, San Antonio, Texas
Nayeli Gonzalez is an outside hitter out of Texas. Gonzalez totaled 1,535 kills through her high school career and earned VolleyballMag.com and MaxPreps First Team All-America honors.
Q: Since you enrolled in the spring '23 semester, how was it being able to compete with the team during the spring season?
A: Being able to compete with the team in the spring was hard but good, I would say it definitely changed my way of play and made me even more excited for the fall!
Q: How did you get your start in volleyball?
A: I got my start in volleyball by watching my sister play and then I would play with her. That led me to try out for the school team.
Q: Have you always played as an outside hitter? What do you like most about playing your position?
A: I actually played middle up until my 16s year then I switched to an outside. I love playing outside because you are always moving and frequently involved in the plays.
Q: What are you looking forward to this season?
A: What I'm looking forward to this season is building relationships with the girls and being able to travel and see all the talent the Big 12 has to offer.
Q: What led you to choose Iowa State?
A: What led me to choose Iowa State was how welcoming the coaches were and how it felt like home when I was visiting. It was just such a great place to be at and I knew I would love it here.
𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘕𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘭𝘪
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) February 20, 2023
We are excited to have Nayeli Gonzalez join us this semester! Get to know our newest pin hitter ↓
🌪🏐🌪 pic.twitter.com/XnTLJ2AaLi
#11 Reaghan Larkin, OH/RS, Brentwood, Tenn.
Reaghan Larkin joins Iowa State as a pin hitter from Tennessee. Larkin racked up 705 kills through the 2019, 2021 and 2022 seasons and helped lead Ravenwood High School to a Class AAA State Championship. Larkin has ISU roots as her father pitched for the baseball team and her mother was a butterfly/freestyle swimmer at Iowa State from 1993-98.
Q: Your parents were both ISU student-athletes, what's it like now being a Cyclone student-athlete yourself?
A: It's crazy. I never thought I would end up at the same school both my parents went to. Obviously, it is a completely different athletic experience for me than it was for them at the time. I have so many more resources and opportunities available to me both athletically and academically. So it's super special that I can share my experiences with both of them. I know they are very excited to have another Cyclone in the family!
Q: How did you get your start in volleyball?
A: I started playing when I was in sixth grade. I tried out for the middle school team. I remember my dad and I going to buy a ball, volleyball shoes, kneepads and cones a week before tryouts and we would practice almost every night because I had never played before.
Q: Did you always play the position you play now?
A: No, I started out playing middle and then my sophomore year in high school I switched to pin hitter.
Q: Why did you to choose Iowa State?
A: I fell in love with the campus and community here in Ames. It just felt like the perfect home away from home for me.
Q: What are you looking forward to this season?
A: I am really looking forward to building relationships with my teammates on and off the court more. Also getting to travel around and getting to compete against some high-level teams is exciting.
Q: Favorite spots you have found so far in Ames?
A: Provisions, Main Street and Scooter's Coffee because I don't have one close to me in Tennessee.
🔥𝙍𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙝𝙖𝙣#FightAsOne pic.twitter.com/8oIYt4cs5J
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) August 7, 2023
#1 Pam McCune, MB, Upper Marlboro, Md.
Pam McCune enters her first season with the Cyclones as a middle blocker from Maryland. McCune is the reigning DC Gatorade Player of the Year and also earned AVCA First Team All-America honors.
Q: How did you get your start in volleyball?
A: I got into volleyball when I started middle school, we had a team and I decided to try out. I came to Iowa to visit my family and had my aunts who played volleyball give me a few lessons before tryouts because I was set on making varsity. I instantly fell in love with the sport.
Q: Did you always play as a middle blocker? What do you like most about your position?
A: I was always a middle. When I first started club I was tall for my age and they put me in the position. I fell in love with how fast-paced being a middle is. You're constantly moving whether to block, hit or draw the other team's blockers.
Q: What are you looking forward to this season?
A: I'm looking forward to seeing how I can make a contribution to the team. I feel like we're going to have a really successful season and I'm excited to be able to be a part of it.
Q: Favorite spots you have found so far in Ames?
A: The Ames Farmers' Market, Hickory Park and Jethro's.
Q: What led you to choose ISU?
A: I chose ISU because of the amazing community this place provides. The fans, staff and fellow athletes are great people to be around. The campus is beautiful and the design program is top-notch. ISU accommodates the needs of both the student and athlete.
Year 1 for #1 coming up. #FightAsOne pic.twitter.com/XA7KhPEcwB
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) August 2, 2023
Gonzalez, Larkin and McCune begin their freshman season Saturday, August 12 with the Cardinal and Gold Scrimmage.
Players Mentioned
Monday, December 01
Sunday, November 30
Sunday, November 30
Saturday, November 29
