Q&A with Beach Volleyball's Lara Torruella

NOTE: Tulane Athletics is in the midst of its annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and, today, highlights Lara Torruella with our questions and her answers. The senior, who hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico, held a 23-7 record in 2023 and swept 20 opponents throughout the season.

TulaneGreenWave.com: When did you start playing beach volleyball?
Lara Torruella: I started playing beach volleyball at a very young age. I was five years old.

TGW: Why did you decide on Tulane?
LT: So, I was originally committed to Florida State for beach volleyball. My older sister, Eva, was playing there when I committed but she transferred to Tulane which made me want to take a look at the Green Wave. I was very thankful that she did. Not only was Tulane the right school for what I wanted to study, I also felt that this was the right program for me throughout the recruiting process. After I committed here, any nerves I had were lifted.

TGW: What are you studying at Tulane? What do you hope to do after graduation?
LT: I am majoring in design with minors in architecture and environmental studies. I want to get into interior design after college so I plan on continuing my education by getting a master's or certificate in interior design.

TGW: How have you liked living in New Orleans?
LT: I have loved living in New Orleans. To me, New Orleans is a place in the US that has a lot of culture. Growing up in Puerto Rico, I am used to a place with a rich and intense culture and New Orleans feels Caribbean like this in a way. New Orleans places an emphasis on music and food, like Puerto Rico, so it reminds me a lot of home.

TGW: What was it like growing up in Puerto Rico? Was there a big adjustment coming to New Orleans?
LT: It was amazing growing up in Puerto Rico. It is my favorite place in the world. Growing up there has given me so many tools that have been helpful when going to other places which made the move to New Orleans not as big of an adjustment. One of the biggest tools that it has given me was the ability to connect with the diversity of people here. Not only am I able to connect with my teammates, but I am able to connect with the Latino community here at Tulane and in other places in the States. The Latino community is so well connected and we seem to find each other anywhere we go.

TGW: What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?
LT: It is super exciting and always fun to be celebrated. My culture means so much to me. I always love to celebrate it as well as have the opportunity to educate people on it. Hispanic Heritage Month gives me the opportunity to do so.

TGW: Beach volleyball has been practicing for over a month now, what do you expect from the season this spring?
LT: We always go into the season with high expectations. We have had the mindset since day one that if we want to beat these top 20 teams, we have to train like them. We did a great job last year staying in the top 20 so we hope to do the same this year. We have goals of wanting more out of conference play and upsetting large programs.

We are a younger team this year with a lot of different skill sets. It has been fun to work with them and find different partnerships.

Tulane University Athletics

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