Kaiser exemplifies leadership
11/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
She is quiet and blushes when she finds out she is the subject of this feature, but volleyball player Lindsay Kaiser has nothing to hide and everything to be proud of.
In October 1997, Kaiser stepped off the plane in Missoula, starting her recruiting trip to the University of Montana wearing jeans and a short sleeve T-shirt. The cold weather shocked her. "I didn't think I was going to be able to handle it," said Kaiser, who is from Stockton, Calif. But luckily for the Grizzly volleyball team, Kaiser adjusted to the cold weather, stayed at UM and became this season's Big Sky Conference leading player in aces per game.
Lisa Hornstein/Montana Kaimin
Senior Lindsay Kaiser (right) goes up for a block against assistant volleyball coach Dave Best early in the season in the West Auxiliary Gym.
Kaiser, a left-handed outside hitter, is wrapping up her volleyball career at Montana and will be missed.
"She is the nicest person I've ever met," said head coach Nikki Best. "She smiles a lot and loves to have fun."
Kaiser's teammate, and roommate for four years, Katy Kubista, says "it will be weird without her."
Not only will Kaiser's personality be missed, but her left-handed serves will be missed too.
"The angles she hits are because of her left hand," said Best.
Both teammates and coaches describe Kaiser as a consistent player. "She is a go-to player in crunch time," said fellow senior Joy Pierce. Best believes the team relies on Kaiser. "She leads with her play," said Best. "Not with her voice. She is very unassuming, with no attitude."
Volleyball was not Kaiser's first love. "I grew up knowing baseball," she said, adding that her father played baseball for the University of Pacific. She started playing baseball with the boys when she was in the second grade, but switched to softball when she was told she could no longer play on a boys team.
"I played competitive softball my entire life," she said. "We traveled to tournaments every weekend."
In the fourth grade, Kaiser and her softball team played in the national championship in Tennessee. But by the eighth grade, she was burned out. "It was so many years of playing and dedication," she said. "At that age it was a lot of commitments." At that point, volleyball entered her life.
A friend, who now plays volleyball for Texas A & M, first introduced Kaiser to the sport. "I got involved with clinics and then I tried out for our club team back home and I've been playing ever since." She did continue her softball career through high school, where she was her team's first baseman and center fielder.
When Kaiser got her recruitment letter from Montana, she admits she threw it away.
"I didn't know much about Montana," she said. "But my mom pulled it out of the garbage and told me to write them back."
Kaiser had other offers from smaller schools and private schools, but none of them interested her. "It's kinda crazy that I ended up here, but I love it. I wouldn't take back my choice for anything."
Kaiser has enjoyed her time in Missoula by taking advantage of all the outdoor opportunities. "I love the snow and skiing," she said. With volleyball winding down, she said she is ready to master snowboarding.
According to teammate Mary Forrest, that is usual for Kaiser. "She is willing to try new stuff," said Forrest.
Kaiser also loves the unity of a college town. "There are really friendly people," she said. "In California, people are really impersonal."
Teammates describe Kaiser as "goofy" and a prankster. Pierce remembered one incident that involved a dead snake in her bed from Kaiser. "But I got her back," joked Pierce. Kaiser said these pranks only happen when she's bored, "but there really isn't that many," she laughed.
On and off the court the team remains friends. "We are always together," said Kaiser. "There is no segregation between upperclassmen and freshmen."
Kaiser has one special relationship with a certain teammate. It is her bond with her sister, defensive specialist Marci Kaiser. Both sisters agree that it helps having a family member with them while away from home.
"I know when something is wrong with her and she knows when something is wrong with me," said the older Kaiser.
Marci is two years younger than her sister and also played with her in high school. "It's nice having someone to talk to," said the younger sibling.
Kaiser's senior season on the volleyball team has not been easy going. Throughout the course of the season, many players fell to injuries except her. "It was really difficult to be the only person who is stable," said Best. "But I am proud of her for holding on and playing through adversity." While some excused the team's losses due to the injuries, Kaiser would not give up. "We kept our spirits high and we stayed positive," she said. "Wins and losses are part of the game." It is this positive attitude that has made Kaiser, according to Best, "good to coach. I am going to miss her ability to work hard everyday . . . and her willingness to grow," Best said.Volleyball may take the back seat for awhile in order for Kaiser to concentrate on school. As an education major she has her sights set on teaching fourth or fifth grade. However, she said, "playing overseas would be interesting."
Kaiser will leave Grizzly volleyball with memories and friendships. "We became sisters in the last four years," she said. Kaiser currently lives with teammates Forrest, Kubista and Pierce. "We have everything in common," Kaiser said.
Kaiser and Kubista play the same position and although it was competitive, they still help each other out.
Choosing to come to Montana and play volleyball has been a lifetime experience Kaiser will always remember.
In October 1997, Kaiser stepped off the plane in Missoula, starting her recruiting trip to the University of Montana wearing jeans and a short sleeve T-shirt. The cold weather shocked her. "I didn't think I was going to be able to handle it," said Kaiser, who is from Stockton, Calif. But luckily for the Grizzly volleyball team, Kaiser adjusted to the cold weather, stayed at UM and became this season's Big Sky Conference leading player in aces per game.
Lisa Hornstein/Montana Kaimin
Senior Lindsay Kaiser (right) goes up for a block against assistant volleyball coach Dave Best early in the season in the West Auxiliary Gym.
Kaiser, a left-handed outside hitter, is wrapping up her volleyball career at Montana and will be missed.
"She is the nicest person I've ever met," said head coach Nikki Best. "She smiles a lot and loves to have fun."
Kaiser's teammate, and roommate for four years, Katy Kubista, says "it will be weird without her."
Not only will Kaiser's personality be missed, but her left-handed serves will be missed too.
"The angles she hits are because of her left hand," said Best.
Both teammates and coaches describe Kaiser as a consistent player. "She is a go-to player in crunch time," said fellow senior Joy Pierce. Best believes the team relies on Kaiser. "She leads with her play," said Best. "Not with her voice. She is very unassuming, with no attitude."
Volleyball was not Kaiser's first love. "I grew up knowing baseball," she said, adding that her father played baseball for the University of Pacific. She started playing baseball with the boys when she was in the second grade, but switched to softball when she was told she could no longer play on a boys team.
"I played competitive softball my entire life," she said. "We traveled to tournaments every weekend."
In the fourth grade, Kaiser and her softball team played in the national championship in Tennessee. But by the eighth grade, she was burned out. "It was so many years of playing and dedication," she said. "At that age it was a lot of commitments." At that point, volleyball entered her life.
A friend, who now plays volleyball for Texas A & M, first introduced Kaiser to the sport. "I got involved with clinics and then I tried out for our club team back home and I've been playing ever since." She did continue her softball career through high school, where she was her team's first baseman and center fielder.
When Kaiser got her recruitment letter from Montana, she admits she threw it away.
"I didn't know much about Montana," she said. "But my mom pulled it out of the garbage and told me to write them back."
Kaiser had other offers from smaller schools and private schools, but none of them interested her. "It's kinda crazy that I ended up here, but I love it. I wouldn't take back my choice for anything."
Kaiser has enjoyed her time in Missoula by taking advantage of all the outdoor opportunities. "I love the snow and skiing," she said. With volleyball winding down, she said she is ready to master snowboarding.
According to teammate Mary Forrest, that is usual for Kaiser. "She is willing to try new stuff," said Forrest.
Kaiser also loves the unity of a college town. "There are really friendly people," she said. "In California, people are really impersonal."
Teammates describe Kaiser as "goofy" and a prankster. Pierce remembered one incident that involved a dead snake in her bed from Kaiser. "But I got her back," joked Pierce. Kaiser said these pranks only happen when she's bored, "but there really isn't that many," she laughed.
On and off the court the team remains friends. "We are always together," said Kaiser. "There is no segregation between upperclassmen and freshmen."
Kaiser has one special relationship with a certain teammate. It is her bond with her sister, defensive specialist Marci Kaiser. Both sisters agree that it helps having a family member with them while away from home.
"I know when something is wrong with her and she knows when something is wrong with me," said the older Kaiser.
Marci is two years younger than her sister and also played with her in high school. "It's nice having someone to talk to," said the younger sibling.
Kaiser's senior season on the volleyball team has not been easy going. Throughout the course of the season, many players fell to injuries except her. "It was really difficult to be the only person who is stable," said Best. "But I am proud of her for holding on and playing through adversity." While some excused the team's losses due to the injuries, Kaiser would not give up. "We kept our spirits high and we stayed positive," she said. "Wins and losses are part of the game." It is this positive attitude that has made Kaiser, according to Best, "good to coach. I am going to miss her ability to work hard everyday . . . and her willingness to grow," Best said.Volleyball may take the back seat for awhile in order for Kaiser to concentrate on school. As an education major she has her sights set on teaching fourth or fifth grade. However, she said, "playing overseas would be interesting."
Kaiser will leave Grizzly volleyball with memories and friendships. "We became sisters in the last four years," she said. Kaiser currently lives with teammates Forrest, Kubista and Pierce. "We have everything in common," Kaiser said.
Kaiser and Kubista play the same position and although it was competitive, they still help each other out.
Choosing to come to Montana and play volleyball has been a lifetime experience Kaiser will always remember.
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