Indiana University Athletics
Q&A: Natalia Hagopian is Loving Life at Indiana
3/9/2023 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Natalia Hagopian joined the Indiana volleyball program at the beginning of January, transferring to Bloomington after a semester at Northeastern University.
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The Laguna Beach, Calif. native has transitioned straight into the Hoosiers' offseason regimen, participating fully in coach-led workouts, strength and conditioning and classes.
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She is among a group of setters on IU's 2023 roster that will include Camryn Haworth and incoming freshman Luca Fickell.
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Before the spring slate of matches gets underway, Hagopian caught up with us on her transition to IU, her volleyball career and the quick bond between her and her fellow freshmen.
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How have the last few years been between graduating high school, starting college and transferring to Indiana?
"It's definitely been crazy, but I've loved every moment of it. With switching around, I've gotten to meet a ton of new people and create a lot of new connections that will last my whole life. That's a huge thing for me in this sport."
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How have you enjoyed getting to experience different parts of the country?
"It's been cool. I have four years in college, and I wanted to have some change because I might not ever get that again. There's a strong chance I'll end up moving back to California after four years. But I wanted to experience different weather and different places in the country. I've always loved to travel. Each place is so different than the next in its own way. It's been fun."
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How has the transition to IU been?
"It's been great. Everyone has been super helpful. Literally anyone, if you ask, will help if you need it. Anyone on the staff, on the team or even outside the team. It was a shock because I'm not used to that, but it's been a great adjustment. I felt that I was able to pick everything up super fast."
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How has it been getting to know Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Melisa Ilter, the other two kids in your class?
"It's been a lot of fun getting to know them especially because they are international kids. You would think that there would be more differences, but we've found a lot of similarities with each other, and we like to have fun together."
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Why did you start playing volleyball?
"I kind of started playing by chance. My aunt got me a volleyball for Christmas. My dad played in high school and my mom never played. It wasn't a big sport in my family at all. I wanted to learn to play because I didn't really know what the sport was. My dad signed me up for a club when I was about 7-years-old and ever since then I've been playing."
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What made you become a setter?
"I became a setter in 12's because coaches found out I was a lefty. They decided to train me as a setter because everyone loves a lefty setter. That's how that started."
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How has the competition level in the gym been so far?
"It's definitely been an adjustment coming from a smaller program. It's so much fun. I love playing at the highest level possible and this is absolutely up there. There have been some hard times in it, that's just the nature of the sport. But overall, it's been great. It's super competitive."
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What made IU the right place to be?
"I picked IU because of the whole family aspect. That's really important to me. The whole program itself felt like home. I knew wherever I ended up, I just wanted to be happiest. I found myself being happiest here."
Â
The Laguna Beach, Calif. native has transitioned straight into the Hoosiers' offseason regimen, participating fully in coach-led workouts, strength and conditioning and classes.
Â
She is among a group of setters on IU's 2023 roster that will include Camryn Haworth and incoming freshman Luca Fickell.
Â
Before the spring slate of matches gets underway, Hagopian caught up with us on her transition to IU, her volleyball career and the quick bond between her and her fellow freshmen.
Â
How have the last few years been between graduating high school, starting college and transferring to Indiana?
"It's definitely been crazy, but I've loved every moment of it. With switching around, I've gotten to meet a ton of new people and create a lot of new connections that will last my whole life. That's a huge thing for me in this sport."
Â
How have you enjoyed getting to experience different parts of the country?
"It's been cool. I have four years in college, and I wanted to have some change because I might not ever get that again. There's a strong chance I'll end up moving back to California after four years. But I wanted to experience different weather and different places in the country. I've always loved to travel. Each place is so different than the next in its own way. It's been fun."
Â
How has the transition to IU been?
"It's been great. Everyone has been super helpful. Literally anyone, if you ask, will help if you need it. Anyone on the staff, on the team or even outside the team. It was a shock because I'm not used to that, but it's been a great adjustment. I felt that I was able to pick everything up super fast."
Â
How has it been getting to know Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Melisa Ilter, the other two kids in your class?
"It's been a lot of fun getting to know them especially because they are international kids. You would think that there would be more differences, but we've found a lot of similarities with each other, and we like to have fun together."
Â
Why did you start playing volleyball?
"I kind of started playing by chance. My aunt got me a volleyball for Christmas. My dad played in high school and my mom never played. It wasn't a big sport in my family at all. I wanted to learn to play because I didn't really know what the sport was. My dad signed me up for a club when I was about 7-years-old and ever since then I've been playing."
Â
What made you become a setter?
"I became a setter in 12's because coaches found out I was a lefty. They decided to train me as a setter because everyone loves a lefty setter. That's how that started."
Â
How has the competition level in the gym been so far?
"It's definitely been an adjustment coming from a smaller program. It's so much fun. I love playing at the highest level possible and this is absolutely up there. There have been some hard times in it, that's just the nature of the sport. But overall, it's been great. It's super competitive."
Â
What made IU the right place to be?
"I picked IU because of the whole family aspect. That's really important to me. The whole program itself felt like home. I knew wherever I ended up, I just wanted to be happiest. I found myself being happiest here."
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