Oct. 20, 2003

Chicago, Ill. - Upon her arrival at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Kristi Herrington noticed an immediate difference between high school and collegiate volleyball.

"When you're this tall in high school, blocking isn't really a factor," Herrington, who stands 6-foot-1, said. "When I came here, all of a sudden, you're a freshman, playing like you normally do.

"I got blocked all of the time."

Herrington, however, knew that her rookie campaign at UIC would be a learning experience for the St. Louis, Mich., native.

"I didn't think I was going to contribute right away because in high school, I got moved up to varsity as a sophomore and I sat," Herrington said. "I learned to play the position that the seniors were playing and then I was ready to step in my junior and senior year.

"I was a freshman. I'm going to sit, I'm going to learn and then I'll be ready to contribute when I'm ready."

The time has come for Herrington.

Herrington, who is in her second season as a starting middle blocker for the Flames, is currently second on the squad with 258 kills and tops the team with 72 total blocks. She has topped 20 kills twice this season, including a career-high, 24 kills against Youngstown State on October 3rd.

Herrington credits her success this season to keeping herself on an even keel.

"My main focus this year is to remain mentally tough," Herrington said. "I'm kind of an emotional player.

"Last year, if was playing bad, everyone in the gym knew that I was playing bad," Herrington continued. "This year, instead of making a bad play and saying 'That was terrible,' its 'OK, you made a bad play, but we're not going to do it again."

UIC head coach Don August has also noticed the difference in Herrington.

"Obviously it's been a huge improvement from the time she was a freshman until now," August said. "Her biggest improvement has come in her emotional maturity.

"Last year, when she got blocked, it would get her down and she would let it affect the next couple of plays," August continued. "Now she has the ability to shake it off and move onto the next play.

"That has been very gratifying for (the coaching staff) because she has become a very solid player on the court."

Herrington also credits Assistant Coach Jeanette Simenson for her success. Simenson was a former middle hitter at the University of Wisconsin, helping the Badgers to two NCAA Appearances and a NIT Championship.

Simenson has shown Herrington some of the subtle nuances of collegiate volleyball.

"College volleyball is a lot more disciplined than high school," Herrington said. "You can hit the ball hard, but so what?

"Everyone can hit the ball hard, but it's all in technique and discipline," Herrington continued. "Jeanette does a good job during the game and when you make a bad play, she's not going to say 'That was bad, do it better.' She's going to say 'The reason that didn't work was because your arm wasn't up or this is going on.'

"When you go in the game, you're thinking 'I have to have my arm up,' that helps you play better."

Despite Herrington's success, UIC has struggled this season and remain winless in Horizon League play. Herrington and her teammates are doing their best to put on a brave face.

"Our team has done a real good job of sticking together, even though we haven't done so well in conference," Herrington said. "Obviously it's mental and not physical.

"We're trying to pinpoint what's going on," Herrington continued. "The real easy thing for us to do is to fall apart and everyone get mad at each other, but we've done a real good job trying to work through it together."

While carrying a fair share of the volleyball workload, Herrington focuses just as much attention to her schoolwork.

"It's really hard being a student-athlete because it takes up a lot of your time," Herrington said. "A lot of people don't realize that it's just like a job."

That being said, Herrington makes sure she has enough time for both her teammates and classes.

"I think sometimes its difficult, because tonight we're going to have a pasta dinner together, but I have a midterm tomorrow," Herrington said. "It's real hard because you need to do stuff with your team and afterwards you have to study all night for your midterm the next day.

"You find yourself being tired a lot, but once you're in the gym, you remember why you came here and what its all about."