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/ Men's Volleyball
Q&A with Newcomer Freshman Jakobi Lange
January 22, 2024 | Men's Volleyball
Lange is an outside hitter from Hinsdale, Ill. and is a big fan of breakfast and Chick-Fil-A.
In an effort to get to know our incoming athletes further, sports information student assistant Malala Pyle sat down with freshman outside hitter Jakobi Lange on media day and asked him a few questions.
Malala Pyle: Where are you from?
Jakobi Lange: Hinsdale, Illinois.
Malala: What's your favorite thing about your hometown?
Jakobi: Probably the fall weather, definitely miss that this year.
Malala: How's the transition been from Illinois to SoCal?
Jakobi: It's been pretty great. The weather is awesome out here, and the people are great.
Malala: What's your favorite sport to play that isn't volleyball?
Jakobi: Basketball, 100%.
Malala: Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Jakobi: Breakfast.
Malala: What's your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Jakobi: I've been really liking the burrito from Joe's Mexican down the road.
Malala: Where is your dream place to live?
Jakobi: Now that I've spent time out here, definitely somewhere warm.
Malala: Who is your volleyball or athlete hero?
Jakobi: Nate Robinson popped into my head. I would always watch him as a kid when he was on the Bulls. He was super short, undersized — it was always fun to see him succeed.
Malala: What is your favorite show or movie?
Jakobi: Probably the Office.
Malala: Do you have a hidden talent?
Jakobi: I can play the piano. I played when I was super young, and then played on and off all throughout high school.
Malala: Why USC?
Jakobi: Great weather, great academics, great volleyball.
Malala: Are you into podcasts or do you only listen to music?
Jakobi: Mostly music.
Malala: Do you have Spotify or Apple Music?
Jakobi: Apple Music.
Malala: If you were going to guess, who do you think your top artist was last year?
Jakobi: I think it's probably Zack Bryan.
Malala: What's been the best part of your day so far?
Jakobi: Getting to take some really cool pictures with a really cool backdrop. Not many people get to do that so this is pretty cool.
Malala: What's your favorite season?
Jakobi: Fall, for sure. I love how everything looks. The trees, everything just looks really pretty.
Malala: Where's your favorite place to go when you're at home?
Jakobi: I go to Chic-Fil-A a lot.
Malala: What's your Chick-Fil-A order?
Jakobi: I usually get the Spicy Deluxe with nuggets — depends on how hungry I am.
Malala: When did you start playing volleyball?
Jakobi: I started in seventh grade, but I got really into it freshman year of high school.
Malala: Did you play other sports in high school?
Jakobi: Yeah, I couldn't play baseball because of volleyball in high school, but I still played basketball freshman year. Both of my coaches wanted me to pick either one, so I went with volleyball.
Malala: Who do you look up to the most and why?
Jakobi: I look up to my dad the most. He's been a really good role model for me, for my life. He's always a good mentor.
Malala Pyle: Where are you from?
Jakobi Lange: Hinsdale, Illinois.
Malala: What's your favorite thing about your hometown?
Jakobi: Probably the fall weather, definitely miss that this year.
Malala: How's the transition been from Illinois to SoCal?
Jakobi: It's been pretty great. The weather is awesome out here, and the people are great.
Malala: What's your favorite sport to play that isn't volleyball?
Jakobi: Basketball, 100%.
Malala: Breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Jakobi: Breakfast.
Malala: What's your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Jakobi: I've been really liking the burrito from Joe's Mexican down the road.
Malala: Where is your dream place to live?
Jakobi: Now that I've spent time out here, definitely somewhere warm.
Malala: Who is your volleyball or athlete hero?
Jakobi: Nate Robinson popped into my head. I would always watch him as a kid when he was on the Bulls. He was super short, undersized — it was always fun to see him succeed.
Malala: What is your favorite show or movie?
Jakobi: Probably the Office.
Malala: Do you have a hidden talent?
Jakobi: I can play the piano. I played when I was super young, and then played on and off all throughout high school.
Malala: Why USC?
Jakobi: Great weather, great academics, great volleyball.
Malala: Are you into podcasts or do you only listen to music?
Jakobi: Mostly music.
Malala: Do you have Spotify or Apple Music?
Jakobi: Apple Music.
Malala: If you were going to guess, who do you think your top artist was last year?
Jakobi: I think it's probably Zack Bryan.
Malala: What's been the best part of your day so far?
Jakobi: Getting to take some really cool pictures with a really cool backdrop. Not many people get to do that so this is pretty cool.
Malala: What's your favorite season?
Jakobi: Fall, for sure. I love how everything looks. The trees, everything just looks really pretty.
Malala: Where's your favorite place to go when you're at home?
Jakobi: I go to Chic-Fil-A a lot.
Malala: What's your Chick-Fil-A order?
Jakobi: I usually get the Spicy Deluxe with nuggets — depends on how hungry I am.
Malala: When did you start playing volleyball?
Jakobi: I started in seventh grade, but I got really into it freshman year of high school.
Malala: Did you play other sports in high school?
Jakobi: Yeah, I couldn't play baseball because of volleyball in high school, but I still played basketball freshman year. Both of my coaches wanted me to pick either one, so I went with volleyball.
Malala: Who do you look up to the most and why?
Jakobi: I look up to my dad the most. He's been a really good role model for me, for my life. He's always a good mentor.
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