TicketsOct. 24, 2005
by Elise Keeler, Sports Communications Student Assistant
In high school, there wasn't a sport that Jenny Custer was not involved in. At Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Colo. she received 11 varsity letters by participating in volleyball, basketball, soccer, and tennis and led her volleyball team to a state championship. For her accomplishments she was inducted into Doherty's Athletic Hall of Fame. She was also successful off the court with her involvement in her high school's National Honor Society chapter and graduating seventh in her class. Her academic and athletic success has certainly continued at UC.
Custer was named to Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll last year as a freshman and saw time on the court as an outside hitter and a setter. Last year the team was led by seniors Rachel Torblaa and Julie DuPont. This year the whole team has really stepped up and become leaders. "Last year, Julie really had all the stats, but this year it has become more spread out. I think as a whole we are all taking a bigger part in our success," she says.
Custer has had a lot of success this year. She is second on the team in kills and assists and third in digs and blocks. She has hit double-figures in kills in 16 of 19 matches, including a career high 19 against Western Kentucky. The season looks bright for Custer and her fellow Bearcats. "Personally, I would like to keep playing well, getting kills, and not too many errors," she says regarding the remainder of the season.
At Doherty High, before Jenny would compete she would always spray a `J' of Axe body spray on herself. To the apprehension of her fellow team mates she brought this superstition with her to UC; though she admits to not doing it as much for the sake of her teammates.
Now in her second year, Jenny has really seen the campus' transformation. "There is a lot I like about UC. I like how small it is, and it's easy to get to classes. I also like all the new athletic facilities being built. It'll be nice to be able to go straight to the gym from the dorm," she says.
Not only does she like the physical aspect of UC, but she really loves her teammates. The friendships Custer has with her teammates continue when they are not on the court. She says, "The girls on the team are my only girlfriends."
This year the team had a chance to bond more with freshmen and each other at the tournament they were apart of in Hawaii. The whole volleyball team is also involved in C.P.A.W.S. (Committee to Promote Athlete Welfare and Success) in which they help with Habitat for Humanity and Make a Difference Day.
Through much of Jenny's career she has told herself, "Give it everything you've got because you only have a short amount of time to play before it's over."
Beyond volleyball and UC, Custer is really unclear of what her future holds. She has thought about becoming a dentist or an orthodontist. It would appear that more schooling looms in her future. She would also like to continue playing volleyball, but there are not many opportunities unless you play overseas.
Teammates Natalie Dossman and Myanna Hellsten have a lot of energy coming into every single match, and they keep Custer's energy up. A lot of fans cheering them on at the games adds a lot more energy, adds more intensity to Fifth Third Arena, and makes them play even better. Fans can come out to a game and watch Custer and her teammates continue the successful legacy of UC volleyball.