Beyond The Net and Numbers: Get To Know Tipton’s Sommer Daniel
Sommer Daniel will graduate as one of the most decorated players in Tipton volleyball history, but she has been able to accomplish in her career something rare that will be tough to top as one of the top all-around players Iowa has seen. A triple quadruple. A what? Daniel has over quadruple figures in kills, assists, and digs. Daniel will head to Utah as a setter, but during her time at Tipton she has led the Tigers to two state tournament appearances where she has set as well as hit from the pin. With her volleyball career wrapping up, we were able to catch up with Sommer beyond the numbers and get to know how she got started in volleyball as well as some of her favorite things.
Who were some of your volleyball role models growing up? How did they inspire you to play and develop with your own game?
Jeff Nygaard was one of the earliest role models I remember. When I was 12, I had the opportunity to ask him for some advice and I’ll never forget what he offered. He said your goals can never be set too high. It has always reminded me that there should always be something i’m striving for.
At 14, while training with Rod Wilde, he was working with me on setting technique when he pulled me aside and showed me a picture of him setting from his knees and proceeded to tell me that he saw some likeness in our game. To this day that conversation continues to inspire me.
Both of these Olympian’s have set a bar that I work hard to reach every time I’m in a gym.
How has your game evolved since the start of your high school career?
Two significant changes would include my overall physical strength and speed and my ability to adjust the floor based on the competition. I want to give credit to the Tipton strength and conditioning program and the several coaches who have been dedicated to developing our athletes over the years. And I have a very supportive varsity coach, Amy Calonder, who gives me a lot of reign over making adjustments during games on the floor.
As a Sophomore, your team qualified for state, but lost in the quarterfinals. Last year you advanced to the finals. Was there anything different in your team’s approach in coming back to state?
My sophomore year our goal was to get to state but once there we were a little rattled and not mentally prepared. The biggest change was our mental toughness going into the next year. We were determined to have the full experience and not be sent home after day one.
This year is definitely the icing on the cake with plenty of honors and records, but what will you look back on the most about your high school career?
Looking back I hope in my 4 years at Tipton I have helped younger players develop a love of the sport. Being part of a team that qualified for state for the first time in history also meant putting Tipton on the map and hopefully my impact has inspired others to work hard and believe you can do things that haven’t been done before. I look forward to coming back and hope to be in the gym with some of the younger players in the future.
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to play volleyball for the University of Utah and continue my academic career! Thank you to everyone who has supported me both on and off the court! GO UTES!! pic.twitter.com/GTNMgBhfcr
— Sommer Daniel (@sommerrdaniel) May 3, 2018
Next step, Utah! What was it about Utah that led you to commit there? What position are you going to be playing there? Any beach? Intended major?
I plan to head to Utah at semester to study interior design. I do intend to play both beach and indoor and am heading there as a setter. I decided on Utah based on several factors which included a competitive program, an experienced and diverse coaching staff, an amazing and beautiful location, great facilities, and a team that made me feel like I was already a Ute the first time I stepped foot on campus.
JUST FOR FUN
Best beach you’ve played on:
Santa Monica, California
Favorite Class:
Anything art related! I am currently in Ceramics.
Favorite Homecoming Dress Up Day:
Twin day
Favorite Netflix Binge/TV Show:
Friends
If you could change a rule in volleyball, what would it be?
Eliminate out of bounds. For example, if the first contact shanks the ball three rows into the bleachers you should be able to run it down and play it.
If you could set anyone high school, college, Olympic, pro for a guarantee kill who would it be?
It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t give a shout-out to my future Utah family. Wish I was going to be there to set senior Berkeley Oblad, but am very excited to send sets out to Kenzie Koerber and Dani Drews. Hard to even name just a few as there’s some real ballers out there:)
Dream Vacation:
Anywhere on a beach with temperatures above 80 degrees
A quick piece of advice for someone wanting to commit to get into being the best all around player possible:
I’ve followed three simple guidelines:
- Start doing sit ups and push ups at a young age.
- Don’t let anyone tell you that you should just be focusing on one position.
- Work on your weaknesses twice as much as your strengths.