in the Jesuit Tradition - Rockhurst University

She’s on a Leadership RollIn football there is the quarterback.Basketball has the point guard.Senior Kara Brown’s role for theRockhurst volleyball team is comparableto both of these. She is the setterfor the Lady Hawks. Her job is todirect traffic on the court and lead herteam to victory.Brown has been starting since herfreshman year. It was a difficult challengefor her to step in as a freshmanand be expected to be the floor leader.“It is a lot easier to direct thingson the floor now that I am older,” saysBrown. “I am much more comfortablenow because of what I have beenthrough and experienced with theteam. It took me until the beginningof my sophomore year before I reallyfelt comfortable with my position.”The Lady Hawks performance inBrown’s last three years has beentremendous. She has led her team to a121-5 record and a spot in theregional playoffs two out of the lastthree years.Brown hails from Jacksonville,Ill., a small town outside Springfield.She chose Rockhurst, not quiteknowing what to expect.“I just heard what people toldme,” said Brown. “I heard it had agood academic reputation and I knewit had a good volleyball program. Ihad no idea when I came in that Iwould have a chance to start as afreshman though. The setter positionwas up for grabs when I came in.”Brown garnered an importantaward last year from Coach TracyRietzke and assistant Roger Hawver.She was given the hustle award bythe staff.“The thing I will most rememberabout my time at Rockhurst will bethe relationships I have made,” saidBrown. “I have built friendshipswith teachers and teammates that Iwouldn’t have hadwithout sports.”On Sept. 11Rockhurst traveledto Illinois to faceLewis University.The game was verysignificant for Brownbecause it was playedin Jacksonville ather high schoolgymnasium.“It was fun tohave all the peoplethere watching,” saidBrown. “It felt weirdto be playing therewith a differentteam. It was nice tohave all the support,but I was a littleKara Brown, ’02nervous because I hadn’t played infront of my hometown for four years.”Brown, a math and educationdouble major, is a stellar student. Shebalances volleyball with a 3.4 GPA.She hopes to teach and coach inthe future.“My schedule is much morestructured during volleyball,” saidBrown. “I have to stay organized toget things done. My teachers havebeen very helpful in working with me.It is tough, but if you stay on top, itis fine.”Brown’s goal for her team thisyear should be achievable consideringtheir past dominance.“I would just like to end on agood note,” said Brown, “whether wemake the playoffs or just play hard asa team and, of course, have fun.”11 FALL 2001