Indiana University Athletics
Anderson Not Satisfied With 1,000 Kills
10/22/2015 2:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
When Amelia Anderson finished her fourth kill of Indiana's opening set against Ohio State, there was no celebration. The senior didn't even realize how noteworthy the point actually was.
In finishing on the kill, Anderson became the 18th player in program history to reach 1,000 kills in her career. She added eight more in the match, giving her 1,008 heading into this weekend's matches against Illinois and Northwestern.
Anderson knew heading into Ohio State that she was nearing the career milestone, but she lost track of where she was as she played. After her 1000th kill, she went back to work like she always did, not even taking a second to appreciate what had just happened.
But nearly 400 miles away in Lake in the Hill, Ill., Anderson's family did the celebrating for her. Her mother recorded video of her family watching the match together, counting down her every kill and cheering when she reached 1,000.
"You can hear my mom and my sisters and everyone screaming in the video," Anderson said. "It was pretty special."
Anderson described reaching 1,000 kills as more marathon than sprint.
She played significant time as a freshman, making 143 kills in 80 sets. Her playing time increased over her next two seasons, recording 268 as a sophomore before leading Indiana with 312 as a junior.
Now a senior, Anderson already has 285 with 12 matches still left to play.
"Her and I had a good conversation about what's next," head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "You've got his whole other part of the season left and you've hit your milestone, and it's a pretty huge deal, but now you've got to figure out what you'll do. She needed to reset her goals and stay motivated to keep coming to the gym."
Anderson's been forced to change her personal goal. She's pinned former teammate Morgan Leach's career total of 1,110 as her next challenge, which would move her into 15th in program history.
The two friends exchange messages frequently. One of the first things Anderson said she read after reaching 1,000 kills was a text from Leach that read something along the lines of, "You still need 88 to reach me, so good luck."
"We talk all the time about needing to trend in a positive direction," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "The only way she's going to get better is by setting new goals and not getting satisfied with 1,000."
Dunbar-Kruzan said Anderson's natural ability to seek out kills in the run of play will help her reach that mark.
Anderson can anticipate plays before they happen, Dunbar-Kruzan said. She'll make her run to the ball early and attack with confidence to a point where kills have become a matter of repetition.
"She knows she can end plays for us," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "When she focused on what gets her to that ball to put it away, she's really dangerous for us."
Anderson's practice habits, like her play after reaching 1,000 kills, haven't changed.
With new goals in place and only 12 guaranteed games left, Anderson said she'll help wherever she can to help Indiana (12-8, 2-6) to a potential NCAA Tournament appearance.
Every match from here on out is important, Anderson said, and every kill she gets will help the Hoosiers get closer and closer to where they want to be.
"That's where I'm at right now," she said. "I've got 1,000, but why not more?"
IUHoosiers.com
When Amelia Anderson finished her fourth kill of Indiana's opening set against Ohio State, there was no celebration. The senior didn't even realize how noteworthy the point actually was.
In finishing on the kill, Anderson became the 18th player in program history to reach 1,000 kills in her career. She added eight more in the match, giving her 1,008 heading into this weekend's matches against Illinois and Northwestern.
Anderson knew heading into Ohio State that she was nearing the career milestone, but she lost track of where she was as she played. After her 1000th kill, she went back to work like she always did, not even taking a second to appreciate what had just happened.
But nearly 400 miles away in Lake in the Hill, Ill., Anderson's family did the celebrating for her. Her mother recorded video of her family watching the match together, counting down her every kill and cheering when she reached 1,000.
"You can hear my mom and my sisters and everyone screaming in the video," Anderson said. "It was pretty special."
Anderson described reaching 1,000 kills as more marathon than sprint.
She played significant time as a freshman, making 143 kills in 80 sets. Her playing time increased over her next two seasons, recording 268 as a sophomore before leading Indiana with 312 as a junior.
Now a senior, Anderson already has 285 with 12 matches still left to play.
"Her and I had a good conversation about what's next," head coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan said. "You've got his whole other part of the season left and you've hit your milestone, and it's a pretty huge deal, but now you've got to figure out what you'll do. She needed to reset her goals and stay motivated to keep coming to the gym."
Anderson's been forced to change her personal goal. She's pinned former teammate Morgan Leach's career total of 1,110 as her next challenge, which would move her into 15th in program history.
The two friends exchange messages frequently. One of the first things Anderson said she read after reaching 1,000 kills was a text from Leach that read something along the lines of, "You still need 88 to reach me, so good luck."
"We talk all the time about needing to trend in a positive direction," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "The only way she's going to get better is by setting new goals and not getting satisfied with 1,000."
Dunbar-Kruzan said Anderson's natural ability to seek out kills in the run of play will help her reach that mark.
Anderson can anticipate plays before they happen, Dunbar-Kruzan said. She'll make her run to the ball early and attack with confidence to a point where kills have become a matter of repetition.
"She knows she can end plays for us," Dunbar-Kruzan said. "When she focused on what gets her to that ball to put it away, she's really dangerous for us."
Anderson's practice habits, like her play after reaching 1,000 kills, haven't changed.
With new goals in place and only 12 guaranteed games left, Anderson said she'll help wherever she can to help Indiana (12-8, 2-6) to a potential NCAA Tournament appearance.
Every match from here on out is important, Anderson said, and every kill she gets will help the Hoosiers get closer and closer to where they want to be.
"That's where I'm at right now," she said. "I've got 1,000, but why not more?"
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