Kintzel, Butler Ready For NCAA Experience
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
For a person who will be taking part in the NCAA volleyball tournament for the first time, Jennifer Kintzel seems awfully relaxed.
The Butler senior setter and former Warsaw Community High School three-sport star doesn't seem fazed at all by the Bulldogs' rookie trek to the NCAA's biggest volleyball tourney.
"We are looking at it as we have nothing to lose," Kintzel said. "From here on out, we are just having fun."
The Bulldogs (27-6) will face Michigan State (22-11) in the first round of the Pacific Regional tonight at 8:30 p.m. at Lincoln, Neb. Despite having the better record, Butler has two things against them - Michigan State's earlier win over Butler this year and Michigan State's previous experience in the NCAA tourney.
"They are going to have the experience of having played in the NCAA tourney and the big crowds," Kintzel said.
Kintzel said that the Bulldogs might be able to use that previous loss to the Spartans to their advantage.
"They are probably going to look past us," Kintzel said. "We will know if we played our best if we won. I think the tournament is just how we approach regular season matches. We have taken each one at a time."
The winner of that match gets a date with No. 2 seed Nebraska on its home court.
"This season we were in a position that we have never been in before where the teams were coming after us, and we were the team to beat," Kintzel said. "A couple of times we looked past teams, and we got burnt. We have learned to take it one at a time, and obviously we can't look past Michigan State."
When she left WCHS four years ago, Kintzel was one of the most celebrated female athletes in school history as she earned all-state honors in three sports - volleyball, basketball and softball.
One of the toughest decisions of her life was figuring out where and what to play in college. The decision moved more towards where for Kintzel.
"I went with what would be best for me," she said. "It wasn't just the sport, I had to take everything into consideration. It would have been difficult to pick just between sports. I don't know what I would have done."
It came down to going to Notre Dame to play softball or Butler to play volleyball. Kintzel said she doesn't regret her decision at all.
During her career at Butler, Kintzel is a four-year starter and a three-year captain. In her four years, Kintzel has ran up some gaudy numbers including over 5,300 assists, 210 aces and 1,610 digs. She will end up as No. 1 in career assists in the school and in the top three in several other categories.
This season, she ranks third in the NCAA in aces per game.
Now as her college volleyball career comes to a close, Kintzel could possibly stay in the athletic area, quite possibly as a coach.
"I am keeping my options over," she said the accounting major. "I am a firm believer in giving back in what has been given to you. So many people have helped me out along the way. I feel I need to give back to the sport of volleyball." [[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
For a person who will be taking part in the NCAA volleyball tournament for the first time, Jennifer Kintzel seems awfully relaxed.
The Butler senior setter and former Warsaw Community High School three-sport star doesn't seem fazed at all by the Bulldogs' rookie trek to the NCAA's biggest volleyball tourney.
"We are looking at it as we have nothing to lose," Kintzel said. "From here on out, we are just having fun."
The Bulldogs (27-6) will face Michigan State (22-11) in the first round of the Pacific Regional tonight at 8:30 p.m. at Lincoln, Neb. Despite having the better record, Butler has two things against them - Michigan State's earlier win over Butler this year and Michigan State's previous experience in the NCAA tourney.
"They are going to have the experience of having played in the NCAA tourney and the big crowds," Kintzel said.
Kintzel said that the Bulldogs might be able to use that previous loss to the Spartans to their advantage.
"They are probably going to look past us," Kintzel said. "We will know if we played our best if we won. I think the tournament is just how we approach regular season matches. We have taken each one at a time."
The winner of that match gets a date with No. 2 seed Nebraska on its home court.
"This season we were in a position that we have never been in before where the teams were coming after us, and we were the team to beat," Kintzel said. "A couple of times we looked past teams, and we got burnt. We have learned to take it one at a time, and obviously we can't look past Michigan State."
When she left WCHS four years ago, Kintzel was one of the most celebrated female athletes in school history as she earned all-state honors in three sports - volleyball, basketball and softball.
One of the toughest decisions of her life was figuring out where and what to play in college. The decision moved more towards where for Kintzel.
"I went with what would be best for me," she said. "It wasn't just the sport, I had to take everything into consideration. It would have been difficult to pick just between sports. I don't know what I would have done."
It came down to going to Notre Dame to play softball or Butler to play volleyball. Kintzel said she doesn't regret her decision at all.
During her career at Butler, Kintzel is a four-year starter and a three-year captain. In her four years, Kintzel has ran up some gaudy numbers including over 5,300 assists, 210 aces and 1,610 digs. She will end up as No. 1 in career assists in the school and in the top three in several other categories.
This season, she ranks third in the NCAA in aces per game.
Now as her college volleyball career comes to a close, Kintzel could possibly stay in the athletic area, quite possibly as a coach.
"I am keeping my options over," she said the accounting major. "I am a firm believer in giving back in what has been given to you. So many people have helped me out along the way. I feel I need to give back to the sport of volleyball." [[In-content Ad]]