University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: John McGillen
Get to Know: Lilli Etter
August 18, 2026 | Women's Volleyball
The USC transfer setter thrives on her daily dose of coffee
The USC women's volleyball team welcomes seven newcomers to the floor this fall. Get to know the six freshmen and transfer setter in a series of get-to-know features here on USCTrojans.com. Junior setter Lilli Etter (Spokane, Wash./Gonzaga Preparatory) brings two years of experience from Boise State and is excited to play with and for her new Trojan family.
Get to know Lilli Etter!
How long have you been with the team and what has surprised you the most about USC?
I got here during the summer and I think what surprised me most about USC is just how many things I can do in the area. I love how the beach is so close! So far, I've gone to Malibu and Newport Beach, but there are so many other cities nearby that I want to go to. I've been to California a few times but it's my first time exploring, so the accessibility to everything is wonderful and surprisingly close.
What made USC feel like the right fit for you to transfer?
What really made my decision clear was the people that I met on my visit. Obviously, that includes the coaching staff and then there were a few players in town when I came on a visit. And it was really just the people that I was going to be surrounded with all the time. Everyone is super positive, welcoming, and it's like family, so that's what sold me.
How would you describe the culture of the team?
I would describe the culture as very close. Everyone on this team really cares for each other and that has been amazing to be around. And not only do we care for each other, but we're also very honest with each other, which is all you can ask for, and we make each other better. We always uplift each other through the good and the bad.
When did you realize you wanted to play at a higher level beyond club?
I would say I realized that at a pretty young age because my oldest sister played volleyball her whole life. She's seven years older than me and I was always in the gym watching her, and I watched her go play college sports. With sisters, you naturally look up to them. So pretty young, like eight years old, I was like, I want to be just like my older sister and I want to play in college like her too!
What sports did you play outside of volleyball?
I played basketball for a while, I ran cross country up until high school, and I tried track freshman year of high school. I did the 400, high jump, and long jump. I think athleticism does run in the family. Both my parents were really good athletes, and a lot of my extended family and my sisters are very athletic.
If you had to introduce yourself to me beyond volleyball, what would you say?
I would say I'm a very honest friend. I really love my close friends and my family, so that's a huge part of who I am. I know I move my body during volleyball practice and our workouts, but I love to always find other ways to move my body too. I've always been into fitness and health and I like to cook. I love coffee. I have coffee every single day, and I feel like it's becoming a part of my personality, which is not great, but I'm addicted. I need my cup of coffee every day. I'm very like spiritual; I like to manifest, read, and journal.
What's been a favorite moment with the team so far?
We've done a ton this summer, so it's kind of hard to choose a favorite moment. We went to a Dodgers game as a team; that was really fun. Oh! We went on a little team retreat in Palm Springs, and we were there for two nights. That was my favorite, hanging out with each other, laying by the pool, having so much fun.
What are your pregame rituals?
Coffee in the morning for sure. I like to take a nap on game days, and I like the saying, look good, feel good, so I like to make sure my hair and my makeup look good. I don't have anything too crazy. I guess I would say I write down some goals, maybe watching some film. But really, what my biggest pregame ritual is spending time with my teammates and getting excited with them in the locker room. I feel like if I have any nerves, I get around my teammates and then I'm calmed down.
You're in charge of the aux before a game, what song are you playing?
Right now, I have a new favorite song probably every week, but I would probably play Classy Girl by Gunna right now.
Who's your favorite artist right now?
That's another hard question because I love music so much and I can't really say I have a favorite because I listen to all different types, but I'd say Kacey Musgraves, Drake. If I'm going country, Tyler Childers.
What's first on your bucket list?
I want to go to Six Flags! Before I came here, I would say the Dodgers game was a bucket list item that I wanted to do, but I completed it. And then since I'm not from anywhere that has a beach, exploring different beaches is a bucket list item.
Have you discovered your favorite food spot yet?
This might be really basic, but I really like Sweetgreen. We don't have that in Washington or Idaho, so it's new to me. But more than food spots, I've discovered a favorite ice cream spot: Jeni's. I have a pint of gooey butter cake in my freezer right now.
What is your comfort food?
I would say soup. Recently, I made this soup with kale, ground turkey, chicken broth, and vegetables and it was really good. I've made that a few times now, so that's definitely comforting because I enjoy cooking.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
I think the best advice that I've received is to stay in the present moment. It sounds simple, but it's really applicable to not just volleyball but also life. If you're having trouble worrying about the future or the past, you can apply it to the volleyball court. If you're worried about a mistake you just made, staying present is probably some of the best advice I can give or have gotten. Especially on the court, you have to just stay in the moment and focus on the next ball.
Is there someone that you've looked up to since coming here?
That's a hard question! I think there's like a ton of people that I look up to, and I can't really choose just one person. All of the girls here are incredible role models. Everyone is on top of it, shows up every day, works hard, and holds themselves to the same standard. I love that about the team.
Who on the team makes you laugh the most?
I would have to go with Addison Townsend. We were roommates this summer and she's hilarious and always makes me laugh.
Who's most likely to forget something before practice?
Hypothetically, maybe Milly McGee because she's just very type B.
If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
I would say teleportation for sure. I get so impatient driving, especially here. If I could just snap my fingers and be somewhere, that would be great.
What are you most looking forward to or excited for this fall?
All of it! There's not one specific thing I'm looking forward to. I really am so excited to be here. I'm excited to be going to games and traveling with the team. That's going to be super fun, I'm also looking forward to seeing new places I've never been before. It's hard to choose, everything is a new experience for me right now!
Get to know Lilli Etter!
How long have you been with the team and what has surprised you the most about USC?
I got here during the summer and I think what surprised me most about USC is just how many things I can do in the area. I love how the beach is so close! So far, I've gone to Malibu and Newport Beach, but there are so many other cities nearby that I want to go to. I've been to California a few times but it's my first time exploring, so the accessibility to everything is wonderful and surprisingly close.
What made USC feel like the right fit for you to transfer?
What really made my decision clear was the people that I met on my visit. Obviously, that includes the coaching staff and then there were a few players in town when I came on a visit. And it was really just the people that I was going to be surrounded with all the time. Everyone is super positive, welcoming, and it's like family, so that's what sold me.
How would you describe the culture of the team?
I would describe the culture as very close. Everyone on this team really cares for each other and that has been amazing to be around. And not only do we care for each other, but we're also very honest with each other, which is all you can ask for, and we make each other better. We always uplift each other through the good and the bad.
When did you realize you wanted to play at a higher level beyond club?
I would say I realized that at a pretty young age because my oldest sister played volleyball her whole life. She's seven years older than me and I was always in the gym watching her, and I watched her go play college sports. With sisters, you naturally look up to them. So pretty young, like eight years old, I was like, I want to be just like my older sister and I want to play in college like her too!
What sports did you play outside of volleyball?
I played basketball for a while, I ran cross country up until high school, and I tried track freshman year of high school. I did the 400, high jump, and long jump. I think athleticism does run in the family. Both my parents were really good athletes, and a lot of my extended family and my sisters are very athletic.
If you had to introduce yourself to me beyond volleyball, what would you say?
I would say I'm a very honest friend. I really love my close friends and my family, so that's a huge part of who I am. I know I move my body during volleyball practice and our workouts, but I love to always find other ways to move my body too. I've always been into fitness and health and I like to cook. I love coffee. I have coffee every single day, and I feel like it's becoming a part of my personality, which is not great, but I'm addicted. I need my cup of coffee every day. I'm very like spiritual; I like to manifest, read, and journal.
What's been a favorite moment with the team so far?
We've done a ton this summer, so it's kind of hard to choose a favorite moment. We went to a Dodgers game as a team; that was really fun. Oh! We went on a little team retreat in Palm Springs, and we were there for two nights. That was my favorite, hanging out with each other, laying by the pool, having so much fun.
What are your pregame rituals?
Coffee in the morning for sure. I like to take a nap on game days, and I like the saying, look good, feel good, so I like to make sure my hair and my makeup look good. I don't have anything too crazy. I guess I would say I write down some goals, maybe watching some film. But really, what my biggest pregame ritual is spending time with my teammates and getting excited with them in the locker room. I feel like if I have any nerves, I get around my teammates and then I'm calmed down.
You're in charge of the aux before a game, what song are you playing?
Right now, I have a new favorite song probably every week, but I would probably play Classy Girl by Gunna right now.
Who's your favorite artist right now?
That's another hard question because I love music so much and I can't really say I have a favorite because I listen to all different types, but I'd say Kacey Musgraves, Drake. If I'm going country, Tyler Childers.
What's first on your bucket list?
I want to go to Six Flags! Before I came here, I would say the Dodgers game was a bucket list item that I wanted to do, but I completed it. And then since I'm not from anywhere that has a beach, exploring different beaches is a bucket list item.
Have you discovered your favorite food spot yet?
This might be really basic, but I really like Sweetgreen. We don't have that in Washington or Idaho, so it's new to me. But more than food spots, I've discovered a favorite ice cream spot: Jeni's. I have a pint of gooey butter cake in my freezer right now.
What is your comfort food?
I would say soup. Recently, I made this soup with kale, ground turkey, chicken broth, and vegetables and it was really good. I've made that a few times now, so that's definitely comforting because I enjoy cooking.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
I think the best advice that I've received is to stay in the present moment. It sounds simple, but it's really applicable to not just volleyball but also life. If you're having trouble worrying about the future or the past, you can apply it to the volleyball court. If you're worried about a mistake you just made, staying present is probably some of the best advice I can give or have gotten. Especially on the court, you have to just stay in the moment and focus on the next ball.
Is there someone that you've looked up to since coming here?
That's a hard question! I think there's like a ton of people that I look up to, and I can't really choose just one person. All of the girls here are incredible role models. Everyone is on top of it, shows up every day, works hard, and holds themselves to the same standard. I love that about the team.
Who on the team makes you laugh the most?
I would have to go with Addison Townsend. We were roommates this summer and she's hilarious and always makes me laugh.
Who's most likely to forget something before practice?
Hypothetically, maybe Milly McGee because she's just very type B.
If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?
I would say teleportation for sure. I get so impatient driving, especially here. If I could just snap my fingers and be somewhere, that would be great.
What are you most looking forward to or excited for this fall?
All of it! There's not one specific thing I'm looking forward to. I really am so excited to be here. I'm excited to be going to games and traveling with the team. That's going to be super fun, I'm also looking forward to seeing new places I've never been before. It's hard to choose, everything is a new experience for me right now!
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