Catching up with Ashley Benson
2/21/2017 4:26:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – This season Ashley Benson returned from playing professionally in Germany and joined the Indiana volleyball staff as a volunteer assistant coach.
Benson, a two-time All-American at Indiana and member of the 2010 team that went to the Sweet 16, is now back playing professionally, this time in Lima, Peru.
Recently we talked to Ashley about her experience as a volunteer assistant coach and how things are going in Peru.
On the decision to go back to playing professionally
The experience in Germany was great and I met a lot of great people. Coming back as a volunteer assistant was a chance to give back and learn about the game of volleyball. It was good to take a break mentally and emotionally from the playing experience. Being in the gym and seeing the girls working hard and getting better, made me want to continue to play.
Seeing the IU girls improve over the season made me want to continue. I still wanted to continue my career and see how far I could go and where in the world I could go. Playing professionally is one of the biggest blessings that I've had. I met so many different people and got to experience different cultures and I missed that. I still had that competitive edge.
On what a typical day is like in Peru
Usually I would wake up in the morning and do my own workout. Sometimes I would run or life weights. Practice would be from 7:30 p.m. until about 10 or 10:30, so it's pretty late.
On things, she has done outside of volleyball
I haven't had a lot of free time, but I have explored around the city a little bit. There are a lot of near stores and markets. A lot of the shops have clothes that have very cool patterns. I haven't done a lot of traveling, but I'm planning to go to Machu Picchu in April after the season is over.
I've gone to some beaches and a floating dock. The sun is extremely hot. The other day I walked to a town about 30 minutes away to take some pictures and go to a Starbucks. I spent a few hours and came back and forgot to put on sunscreen on the way back. I had a tank top on and was so red in my shoulders and face. I also read a lot and look forward to exploring the area more in the near future.
On the experience as a volunteer assistant coach at Indiana
It was a great experience working with Coach Dunbar, Coach K, getting to know Jason and understanding what all they do and what Shane does. You see all the hard work and details that go into the program. The coaches are involved with doing the right thing for program and each player. They love what they do and they put so much into it. I respect all the time that they put into the program and each girl. It is very inspiring and impressive. Being a division I coach is a tough job and they do it so well. I did a lot of observing how they interact with the players and each other and it was an amazing experience.
Benson, a two-time All-American at Indiana and member of the 2010 team that went to the Sweet 16, is now back playing professionally, this time in Lima, Peru.
Recently we talked to Ashley about her experience as a volunteer assistant coach and how things are going in Peru.
On the decision to go back to playing professionally
The experience in Germany was great and I met a lot of great people. Coming back as a volunteer assistant was a chance to give back and learn about the game of volleyball. It was good to take a break mentally and emotionally from the playing experience. Being in the gym and seeing the girls working hard and getting better, made me want to continue to play.
Seeing the IU girls improve over the season made me want to continue. I still wanted to continue my career and see how far I could go and where in the world I could go. Playing professionally is one of the biggest blessings that I've had. I met so many different people and got to experience different cultures and I missed that. I still had that competitive edge.
On what a typical day is like in Peru
Usually I would wake up in the morning and do my own workout. Sometimes I would run or life weights. Practice would be from 7:30 p.m. until about 10 or 10:30, so it's pretty late.
On things, she has done outside of volleyball
I haven't had a lot of free time, but I have explored around the city a little bit. There are a lot of near stores and markets. A lot of the shops have clothes that have very cool patterns. I haven't done a lot of traveling, but I'm planning to go to Machu Picchu in April after the season is over.
I've gone to some beaches and a floating dock. The sun is extremely hot. The other day I walked to a town about 30 minutes away to take some pictures and go to a Starbucks. I spent a few hours and came back and forgot to put on sunscreen on the way back. I had a tank top on and was so red in my shoulders and face. I also read a lot and look forward to exploring the area more in the near future.
On the experience as a volunteer assistant coach at Indiana
It was a great experience working with Coach Dunbar, Coach K, getting to know Jason and understanding what all they do and what Shane does. You see all the hard work and details that go into the program. The coaches are involved with doing the right thing for program and each player. They love what they do and they put so much into it. I respect all the time that they put into the program and each girl. It is very inspiring and impressive. Being a division I coach is a tough job and they do it so well. I did a lot of observing how they interact with the players and each other and it was an amazing experience.
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