Memorable Moments #2 -- Gandolph Reaches 1,500 Kills
8/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
#2 - MICHIGAN'S CAREER KILL LEADER HITS 1,500
Gandolph Becomes the First Wolverine to Reach 1,500 Kills (November 12, 2004)
In 2004 outside hitter Jennifer Gandolph entered her senior season with a chance to put her stamp on Michigan volleyball like no player before her. Gandolph was within striking distance of program records for kills, digs and attack attempts, and she had an opportunity to help her squad reach its third NCAA Tournament in three seasons. But her senior campaign was not without its share of pressure. A highly touted incoming freshman class, featuring outside hitter Katie Bruzdzinski, as well as some lingering shoulder issues, would make Gandolph's final collegiate season far from a cake walk.
Gandolph celebrated her kills record with members of The Zone.
Gandolph entered the season opener needing 49 digs for the all-time record and 155 kills to beat Erin Moore's school record. For an offensive force like Gandolph, it was the kills record that she thought about the most.
"It wasn't really a goal, remembers Gandolph, now an assistant volleyball coach at the University of Georgia. "I knew I would probably get to it that season. Going through shoulder surgery in the off-season, there was some uncertainty how I would come back. The record was in my mind once it got a little closer because there was always some countdown going on. My focus early in the season was to get on the court and back into my normal role. I sat a little more than usual early in the season due to the surgery, but I wanted to get back on the court and keep our excellent record going."
She overtook the digs record early in the season against Western Michigan and slowly chipped away at the kills mark, eventually securing it against Purdue in the third Big Ten Conference match of the season. The record was sweet for Gandolph in a 3-1 win over her home-state Boilermakers. She tallied 16 kills and broke the record late in game four, sending Michigan on to victory.
"The very day it happened, I only needed 12 or so," recalls Gandolph. "That was the only day it was on my mind. The Zone was there and they had a countdown, so each time I would get a kill they would mark it off and I was very aware of it. Other than that, I knew I was getting closer but I didn't pay much attention."
"Milestones are about a great career, not a great night," said head coach Mark Rosen after the match. "Jen is playing the best volleyball of her career. No one is more deserving of this than her. You've seen her take over points in our last two matches. She had our final three points tonight on hard kills in the fourth game, and Tuesday she had three of the last five kills in the deciding game."
Jennifer was modest after breaking the record.
"I struggled tonight," she said after the match. "A lot of credit has to go to Lisa (Gamalski) for continuing to give me opportunities and not going away from me. My teammates played an outstanding match and Lisa had a hundred options out there, but she stuck with me."
With the career record in the bag, Gandolph turned her sights to loftier goals, mainly, taking her team to the NCAA Tournament. She continued to be one of Michigan's most effective offensive threats during the season, approaching the 1,500-kill plateau with three weeks left in the regular season. Entering a pivotal match with No. 5 Minnesota on the Wolverines' home court, Gandolph needed 10 kills for the milestone, but facing the conference's best libero and a 22-4 Gopher squad made the task that much tougher.
Gandolph tallied eight kills through the first two games against Minnesota before smashing two more in the first six points of game three for the record, but the senior was less concerned with the milestone than winning the match. The Wolverines took a 2-1 lead but dropped game four, 30-20. In the pivotal fifth frame, Gandolph managed three kills but the Gophers prevailed, 15-12, ending Michigan's hopes of making Minnesota the highest ranked team the Wolverines had beaten in program history.
"I remember that Minnesota match," remembers Gandolph. "It was a great match, but I don't remember the 1,500th kill. Unfortunately the match didn't swing our way, and I don't really remember the actual kill that got to 1,500."
Despite the loss, Gandolph had the satisfaction of achieving another goal with her 1,500th kill. With 18 kills in the match to go with 16 digs, the third-largest crowd in Cliff Keen Arena history (2,058 fans) saluted the team and its senior. Gandolph went on to finish her career with 1,562 terminations and hold three school records upon graduation.
"It's rewarding and nice to know that these new kids who flip through the media guides will say, 'Wow, she did pretty well here,'" says Gandolph. "It's nice to know it'll be there or a long time. As time goes on, levels of play will increase and my records will be broken, but those records will be in there for a long while. It's nice to have individual recognition, but I was also a part of some very successful teams while I was at Michigan."
"Jen could get a lot of kills," recalls head coach Mark Rosen. "She was a very successful attacker and she got a lot of productivity in her career. For her to finish her career with the most kills is appropriate and exciting for her. She set the benchmark for Michigan volleyball, but records are made to be broken and we hope that her accomplishments will inspire future players to want to top her."
As Gandolph knows, records are made to be broken and her all-time kills mark is within reach of current U-M senior outside hitter Katie Bruzdzinski. Like Gandolph in 2004, Bruzdzinski is within striking distance of the school record but she will also have to fight through the hype surrounding the countdown and focus on the task at hand.
"It's hard not to focus on it," says Gandolph. "Players like to read the stuff on the website and it's hard not to pay attention to the records. I tried hard to focus on the actual match and the team and not get so caught up in the number. I didn't focus on the number a lot during that year -- I focused on how to beat the opponents. It's all easier said than done because it's out there and everyone talks about it and you can't hide, but it's up to you to take the focus away. It's going to come. The less you think about it the quicker it will come."
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