Vreeman caps Division I volleyball career at Denver
Kresson Vreeman's volleyball career for the Denver Pioneers came to a close last Thursday, leaving her seventh on the all-time assist list with 2,827 despite missing most of her sophomore season with an injured ankle.
"There were moments where if felt like the seasons dragged on," she said by telephone on Monday night. "But looking back, it flew by. It still hasn't hit me that it's over."
Vreeman was a standout setter in high school for Central Minnesota Christian, earning All-Area status three times before graduating in 2007. She finished with 2,373 assists in her prep career, seventh on the all-time area list.
After a solid freshman season (938 assists, 219 digs) for Denver (22-11), a Division I team that plays in the Sun Belt Conference, Vreeman injured her ankle and missed all but two matches as a sophomore.
"I had a high ankle sprain," he said. "I landed on our other setter's foot. They told me it was the worst sprain they had seen in a long time, It just never healed all season. It was hard sitting, especially because they had such a good season (25-7). I wanted to be a part of it."
Vreeman returned to the Pioneers' lineup as a junior and chalked up 1,078 assists, 240 digs, 74 kills and 57 blocks as the team posted a 20-23 season.
This season, Denver finished a disappointing 14-18, including an 8-8 mark in the Sun Belt Conference.
"I really enjoyed this last season despite not having a good record," said Vreeman, who finished with 807 assists, 174 kills, 218 digs and 64 blocks. "We were really inexperienced so it was such a roller coaster. But we all got along well and had a lot of fun."
One of the reasons Vreeman enjoyed it was that it was the first time she was able to play a match in her home state. The Pioneers opened the season playing the Minnesota Gophers in Minneapolis, losing in three sets.
"We hosted the Gophers my junior year," she said. "That was a lot of fun. But it was special playing in Minnesota. My family was there and Traci (Grussing), my high school coach and the players on the CMCS team were there. And I got to play against a lot of players I was on a club team with when I was in high school."
Vreeman is eyeing a future as a high school English teacher and may get into coaching if the right opportunity presents itself.
"If something opens up in Denver, I would have to consider it," she said. "I love it here. The mountains are beautiful. And we get like 300 days of sunshine here. The weather is bi-polar, though. It can be sixty five degrees and sunny in the morning and be snowing two hours later."
Just like her career. One minute it seems like it just began ... the next minute it's over.
