Name: Lydia Bartalo
Class: Sophomore
Major/Minor: Undecided/maybe finance!
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
How old were you when you started playing volleyball? What made you fall in love with the sport?
My mom coached and played volleyball, so I basically grew up in the gym. I played my first year of club volleyball when I was in third grade. I loved how challenging the game was mentally and physically. It is a really cool team sport where you all had to be on the same page and work together to make every point possible.
What makes this team so fun and special?
This team is so fun and special because we all truly love the sport but also enjoy being around each other. When you are training with a group of people who love what they are doing it makes the hard times easier. Everyone on this team has such fun personalities that we are always having fun, no matter the situation.
What made you want to come to the University of Denver when you were being recruited?
My first day on campus talking to the coaching staff about the opportunities here and seeing how beautiful the campus was what really sold DU for me. The great balance here between athletics and academics makes it the perfect place to go to school, along with being in a great location.
What is your dream job after you graduate college?
I really have no idea what I want to do after college, but I want my job to be something where I get to work with people one on one to try to help improve communities and people's lives.
What advice would you give to athletes who want to play collegiate volleyball?
If you want to play college volleyball, just be willing to put in the work. There will be lots of obstacles and it is a hard path to follow, but in the end all the work you have done will be worth it.
What hobbies do you have outside of volleyball?
I love getting to go explore Colorado. There are so many fun places to visit and things to do so whenever there is time, my teammates and I love to drive to the mountains or even go more into the city.
What is your favorite memory you have with the team?
I do not have a specific favorite memory with the team, but a lot of the great stories we have of each other come from getting to travel for volleyball together. It is always fun when we all get to hang out on the road.
Pick one:
Football or basketball? Football
Math or English? Math
Hiking or Skiing? Hiking
Tacos or Pizza? Both!
Pop or Country? Country
