Jan. 12, 2000

by Matt Herrmann,
Athletic Public Relations Student Assistant

MH: Do women ever trash talk?
KM: I think a lot of people would like to believe they don't, but yes, it happens. Why, have you heard that I?m one of them?

MH: Actually that?s my next question. Have you ever trash talked?
KM: Yes, I have.

MH: Really?
KM: I would say I trash talked a lot more in high school. But occasionally you do. I do.

MH: What's the best line you've ever said to somebody?
KM: Usually the most time I'll trash talk is when someone on my team gets hurt by another player, then I'll just tell that player to go apologize to my teammate, and they usually do.

MH: Is there one athlete that you most admire? One you could call your hero?

KM: I really look up to my dad and my sister. My dad is in his 40s and he runs marathons. My sister is younger than me but she plays volleyball, and she just has amazing athletic ability, too. So both of them, I think they're both great athletes.

MH: Growing up, did you ever plan on being a Division I athlete? Was that one of your goals?
KM: Yes, definitely. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to do some sport. I know my first thing might have been football, when I was little. I would get football uniforms for Christmas. Then there was soccer, and I did a little tennis when I was younger. You know, once you get to a certain age there's not a lot of opportunities avail able, so I did volleyball, then softball, and I started playing baseball, too. The best oppor tunity came for me when I was playing basketball. I'm 23 now, but I know there's more soccer scholarships available, but when I was in high school there was none available for anywhere. And soccer was my big sport.

MH: What position did you play?
KM: Center and forward.

MH: So you're kind of speedy?
KM: I used to be. Not anymore.

MH: What's the best thing about of being tall? The worst thing?
KM: I would have to say that boys seem to like tall girls. That's a good advantage. There's a lot. I wouldn't give up being tall for anything. This is one of them. The worst thing, I would have to say, is being on airplanes is rough. And sometimes in classes and lecture halls, when you?re sitting down and your knees are right there. I like being tall too much to think of anything negative.

MH: After you career is over, what do you want to walk away with from this program?
KM: I want to walk away with a national championship. I think our team is so capable of it. I think we've got a great chance. And this is my last chance. That's what I want, most of all, is a national championship and a Big Ten championship. I want both of them.

MH: Do you feel that if you don't get that, do you think there will be a void, something left unfulfilled?
KM: Not if we play as hard as we can and it just doesn't happen, then I won?t feel there's a void. But if we're not going all out when we have the ability to, then there will be.

MH: If you had the power, what is one thing you would change with women's intercollegiate athletics?
KM: I talk to Susan (Blauser) about this every day, and she gets sick of hearing it... I know we get in the paper here but we don't get as much as the men. I think there should be more televised games. I mean, of course I think the guys should have them too, but I think we should as well. I think we should, I mean women all over the country, have more televised sports.