Volleyball: Junior goes up against the best

Laurie Gardner said she felt a little intimidated. Playing alongside 13 All-Americans will do that. \nSo will the prospect of earning a spot on the USA Women's National A-2 team, a summer squad composed of college volleyball players who have remaining eligibility. \nNotification of whether Gardner, a junior, out-dueled the 65 other competitors in the three-day tryout in Colorado Springs, Colo., will come sometime this week. Confidence hasn't overcome her. \n"I don't think I made it," she said, mixing disappointment with gratitude. "There were a few other setters on another court, and they were the ones getting looked at."\nThose "other setters" were were three other All-Americans -- Wisconsin's Lizzy Fitzgerald, Arizona's Dana Burkholder and Long Beach State's Cheryl Weaver. Although Gardner is yet to achieve All-American status, she has proven her worth at IU. The West Bend, Wis., native averaged 13.4 assists per game -- fourth in the Big Ten -- and ranks fifth at IU in assists, with 2,614. She still has two years of eligibility remaining. It's likely those seasons will be spent smashing records and splashing her name across the country. She's already a known commodity in the Big Ten.\n"It gave her a chance to get her name out there," coach Katie Weismiller said. "She was out there playing against the top five players in the nation and people who have played on youth national teams. This is the first time she's gotten name recognition. She's one of the best in the country."\nGardner, who played middle blocker in high school and later switched positions, was one of eight setters who made the trip to the Olympic Training facility Feb. 2. She became the first Hoosier to participate in the A-2 team tryouts since Ryann Conners did so in 1999. Ann Eastman, another IU standout, earned a spot on the Olympic Festival team, a similar squad, in 1995. \nShould Gardner surprise herself and make the team, she would spend May through early August practicing with the nation's top volleyball players. Weismiller said the A-2 team, run by USA Volleyball, is planning a trip to compete overseas, as well. \nWeismiller notified Gardner in January she would be making the trip.\n"Katie called me into her office and asked me if I'd like to go," Gardner said. "I said sure. I was excited and nervous at the same time."\nThe extensive tryouts, eating up nearly eight hours a day, didn't allow Gardner much time to explore Colorado Springs. Gardner met a handful of people and said that was the best aspect of attending the sessions. \nParticipants represented schools from coast to coast, giving Gardner the opportunity to spread the word about IU volleyball. The Hoosiers battled through a youth movement this season to a 16-14 overall record, while trudging through the highly competitive Big Ten with a 7-13 mark. IU didn't earn a berth in post-season play, ending a two-year streak in which the Hoosiers made the NCAA Tournament. The 1999 tournament appearance included a first-round upset of 16th-ranked Clemson. \n"We're getting better and better," Weismiller said. "We have a great opportunity this fall, and Laurie helped us get some name recognition."\nGardner said the experience helped her prepare for spring practice, which recently began, as coaches pounded the fundamentals with drills and scrimmages. Gardner admitted she was nervous upon arriving but said the jitters faded once the practice sessions began. Her teammates saw the need for some jumpy nerves but admired the chance thrown Gardner's way.\n"We were excited for her," junior Crecia Keithley said. "Any time anyone can get that kind of experience and bring it back, it will help the team. We are proud we had someone on our team who could go and do that."\nGardner said she won't be disappointed if she doesn't make the team, but, like Keithley, sees the importance of what she learned. \n"If I make it, I'll be shocked," Gardner said. "But, either way, I benefitted from going out there. Not everyone gets to do something like that during college"