By Mitch Streufert
The University of Louisville volleyball team has been on a roll in the past two weeks. The Cardinals have won seven matches in a row, including a comeback win against the previously undefeated, 23rd-ranked University of Cincinnati. The Cards went down in a 0-2 hole, but U of L fought back and took control of the match with defensive play. The Cardinals dominated the Bearcats in blocking, winning the category 19-5. Leading the Cards that night, and for the season in blocking, was Gwen Rucker, a junior mid hitter.
Rucker is not foreign to success at U of L. As a freshman, she was a part of the U of L women’s basketball team that finished runner-up to the University of Connecticut in the NCAA tournament. After another year of basketball and volleyball, Rucker was faced with a tough decision: play basketball full time or play volleyball full time for the rest of her collegiate career. It was a complicated decision for Rucker.
“It wasn’t easy for me to decide what to do,” said Rucker. “I had to look at where I fit in the best and where I felt I had the most potential to succeed. So far, I think I made the right decision. I’m happy where I’m at and focused on helping the team win volleyball matches.”
As a junior on the team, Rucker is looked to as a leader for the volleyball program. She is called to be a complete player, both on and off the floor. On the floor, Rucker not only is a leader for the Cards in blocking, with 87 total blocks on the season, but she is also among the team leaders in kills, with 108 on the season. According to head coach Leonid Yelin, Rucker’s skills on the court don’t tell the whole story.
“Gwen is a rare player and athlete,” said Yelin. “She has the ability to win you a match with great defense or great offense. But she isn’t just a great player on the floor – she is rare person off the floor. She makes good grades, leads by example on and off the court. Gwen is just a pleasure to coach. U of L is lucky to have somebody like Gwen representing the university the way she does.”
But the coaches aren’t the only ones who recognize Rucker’s talents. Many of her teammates feel the same way. Maci Wachtel, a junior defensive specialist and Rucker’s freshman roommate, has had the opportunity to see all sides of Rucker’s personality.
“I think most people would be surprised to hear that she is goofy,” said Wachtel. “She does a good job of being serious on the floor, and then being able to be herself off the floor. She just brings a positive attitude to the table, day in and day out. And, in my opinion, that’s one of her best qualities. When Gwen comes into the game, you know what you’re going to get – someone who is willing to do anything to win, and a few blocks to go along with it.”
The Cardinals continue their season in Knoxville, Tenn. on Wednesday, Oct. 27 against the University of Tennessee. The team will return to Cardinal Arena on Friday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. to face the Villanova Wildcats in a Big East showdown. The Cards will be looking for a big performance and looking to Gwen Rucker to lead the way.
