Husker Q&A: Tara Mueller

by Bonnie Ryan
Tara Mueller has made numerous contributions during her first season at Nebraska. A member of the U.S. Junior National Team, she has seen time at both outside hitter and libero this fall, and is averaging 1.27 kills, 1.18 digs and 0.36 blocks per game. Mueller shares her experiences with the U.S. Junior National Team’s trip to Thailand among several topics.

Favorite memory of visiting Thailand this summer with the U.S. Junior National Team?
“Probably our liaisons. They were so funny. They were pretty young and so willing to learn anything we could teach them and teach us anything. We’d just joke around with them and teach them the peace sign and all these different slang terms. It was so fun. We didn’t really get to see too many things besides our hotel, the 7-Eleven down the street and the mall. The mall was pretty sweet.”

What’s your favorite non-volleyball thing about being a student-athlete at Nebraska?
“Probably just the people. Where I’m from, a lot of times you’ll run into people and they’ll be rude to you or walk right past you. Here, you can be walking down the sidewalk and someone you’ve just met will stop and say hi and ask how you’re doing. It’s so welcoming here, and everyone is so nice.”

What’s your favorite class in your fall schedule?
“My favorite class is probably algebra. I’m not going to lie, everyone hears that and says ?math?! What?’ But really, I like the equations. I like solving equations. There’s always an answer. It’s not like my sociology class or a philosophy class where there isn’t a definite answer.”

Favorite TV show in general?
“Saved by the Bell. I used to watch that a lot. Now it comes on at 6 in the morning. When we’re getting ready for class or workouts because we’re up so early, it’s always on.”

What’s on your iPod these days?
“Actually, my iPod broke. Now I sometimes share an iPod with Kayla (Banwarth).”

If you still had an iPod, would you have any special gameday playlists?
“A lot of hip-hop, upbeat stuff, songs you can dance to. Maybe a little reggae or R&B.”

Favorite pregame meal?
“Lasagna and the fruit with the dip we get. It’s so good. It’s like a strawberry yogurt dip.”

Best place you’ve ever traveled?
“Probably the Bahamas. I took a cruise there with my grandparents. It wasn’t for volleyball, and it was so much fun.”

Is there any significance to your jersey number?
“Kind of. No. 9 is my favorite number, but that’s obviously taken. So I decided No. 19 would work.”

What’s your favorite other Nebraska sport to watch?
“So far, the only other sport I’ve watched is football.”

How does your hometown compare to Lincoln?
“The climate is completely different in Arizona. Out here, it rains and it’s humid. Arizona has dry heat and sun all the time. It’s completely different.”

Favorite Disney movie?
“The Little Mermaid. I’m a huge water person.”

Take fans through your typical gameday preparations.
“We’ll have serve-and-pass and then our pregame meal. Then I’ll go back to my dorm room by myself and relax, maybe watch a little TV. I come back over to the Coliseum and get ready and get my uniform on. It doesn’t take very long.”

Who was your volleyball idol or favorite athlete growing up?
“Logan Tom for indoor. I really liked her. Then I started getting into beach, and I followed Kerri Walsh and Misty May and Rachel Wacholder.”

Do you have a nickname on the team?
“Pretty much just ?T.’“

Favorite thing to do on an off day?
“Sleep. If my parents are in town, my mom will take me to the mall, and I’ll hang out with them. They’ll go with me to get some sushi because no one out here likes seafood as much as I do.”

Do you play a musical instrument?
“I used to play the flute in middle school, but not anymore.”

Favorite boy band?
“Backstreet Boys, definitely. I have all their CDs, and all my friends laugh at me when I turn it on. They’re great.”