Freshman Kennadie Clute records one of her 22 kills against Sacramento State on Thursday night.
Photo by: R. Dean Hendrickson
The 500 Club: Bobcat Freshman Hits Unlikely Milestone
11/22/2013 11:35:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Not since Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980 has a Bobcat volleyball player recorded over 500 kills in a season. And, just like the 8,365-foot peak in western Washington, the Montana State volleyball team has an explosive performer from The Evergreen State.
Not since Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980 has a Bobcat volleyball player recorded over 500 kills in a season. And, just like the 8,365-foot peak in western Washington, the Montana State volleyball team has an explosive performer from The Evergreen State.
MSU freshman Kennadie Clute went over the prestigious 500-kill plateau after recording a match-high 22 kills against Sacramento State on Thursday night in Shroyer Gym. The Mt. Spokane High School grad is the first Bobcat to hit the mark since Diane Terrall reached the milestone thirty-three years ago.
Almost more significantly is that Clute, a true-freshman, reached 500 kills in her first season. Not only is she leading the Big Sky Conference in kills and points, she is also the top freshman in the nation at the NCAA Division I level, as well.
"It is certainly quite an accomplishment," said MSU head coach Kyle Weindel. "For a freshman to get as many kills as Kennadie is amazing, especially considering she is the main focus of every team we've played this season. She has been virtually unstoppable."
For Clute, the achievement was unexpected, but a testament to the Bobcat team as a whole.
"I couldn't have done it without the team," Clute said, referring to all the different components that must happen in order to get a kill. "I was just hoping to play and contribute this season. We want to use all the good things we've done this season, build on it, and use it to our advantage."
Clute has been in double-figure kills in 29 of 30 matches this season, including six matches with 20 or more kills. She posted a career-high 31 kills in MSU's win over Northern Arizona in October. Only Southern Utah, two weeks ago, limited the 6-1 outside hitter to single digits.
"I'm pretty hard on myself," Clute said. "I've come to accept that it is okay to get blocked or hit the ball out. But, I also know that I need to fight back and step-up when the team needs me to."
In her three-year career at Mt. Spokane, Clute amassed over 900 kills. Her ability to settle in to the collegiate game was instantaneous, and the quicker pace suited her athletic abilities from the first match of the season as she pounded down 13 kills against Idaho.
"It's very different from high school ball," Clute said. "The collegiate game is so much faster, and I work better in an offense that uses a faster tempo."
Despite struggling with a 6-24 overall record and a 4-15 Big Sky Conference slate, both Weindel and Clute know better things are to come for the Montana State program.
"We're a very young team," Weindel said. "Kennadie is just one piece of the puzzle. When other teams put their attention on her, it allows our other kids to contribute. Loni Kreun, a freshman, and Natalee Godfrey, a sophomore, to name a few, have had outstanding seasons, as well."
The Bobcats will close out its 2013 campaign hosting Montana on Monday night at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, January 18
Monday, November 15
Saturday, September 04
Friday, September 03
