Tjernagel’s USA Experience Brings Plenty of Momentum Heading Into Senior Season
Olivia Tjernagel has evolved in one of the top players in the state of Minnesota, and will finish her career heavily decorated with honors she has earned as an individual, with her team, and being able to say she wore USA on her jersey as another feat and experience that will shine for her. The Senior to be at Mayer Lutheran High School just finished playing for the USA High Performance A1 Women’s Junior National Team that recently competed at the High Performance championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in July. The Northern Iowa commit was on a team with athletes from all over the country, competing with some of the top athletes from all over, including international teams. Tjernagel was able to catch up with Prep Dig and reflect a little bit about her experience and talk about her upcoming high school season where she will look to lead Mayer Lutheran back to the state tournament having already won a title in 2016 and 2017.
Tjernagel trying out USA HP prior to the Northern Lights Qualifier in April.What was it like playing on a team with athletes you just met? How did you develop chemistry in such a short amount of time?
It is honestly crazy to think that I met all these random girls, trained with them for 5 days, and played in a huge tournament for four days with them. I think back to club how you have months of preparation before a big tournament, and we only had 5 days. With the right coaches and right ways of coaching it is absolutely possible. Our coaches pushed us hard to talk with our teammates and to get to know them and how they play the game. Being adaptable was one of the most important things. If you and your teammates are all on the same page with the game and all playing it at a fast pace, things will work out well.
Let’s talk about the tournament. What was the competition like? What was it like playing against some of the top players in the country as well as teams from other countries? What adjustments did you make along the way?
The competition was insanely good. I have not been at a tournament my whole life where all the teams there are equally as good to win the gold or to get the first-place medal. To think that I was part of the top players in the country and to be competing against some of the others around the world is a crazy and humbling thought. Adjustments had to be made fast with the time we were given. Practices were long and tiring, but we wouldn’t have been the team we were at the end without them. As people always say, hard work pays off.
Looking back on the process, how did this improve your game? Leadership? What did you learn from this experience?
Looking back and realizing just how much practice I had within 5 days, and how many sets I played in 4 days of a tournament, it showed me how much I can push myself physically and mentally. I learned many new skills on the volleyball court, but also off, of how to be a better teammate. I also feel I learned a lot more that goes into the game of volleyball than I knew before coming into this experience.
How will this experience help you heading into your Senior year of high school?
It’s just crazy to think it is already my senior year of high school, with one volleyball season left before I head off to college. With this experience in me I will try to come back to my high school and be a leader and always be encouraging other girls on. I will also bring back the knowledge I learned of the game and apply it into my high school season. I mean, senior year, I have to make it the best yet!
Heading into your Senior year, how has your game evolved since you first came into high school?
My freshman year I came to volleyball tryouts as a setter and ended up being the starting varsity middle. That was crazy and very unexpected. I have gotten stronger both physically and mentally in the game of volleyball. My confidence has also grown every time I step onto a volleyball court. I am so excited for this season!!