Nov. 11, 2003

By Chris Storms
Mizzou Media Relations

Junior Middle Blocker Jenny Duitsman hails from Lincoln, Neb.- yet plays for the Missouri Tigers. Many people from Nebraska would urge against this, but not Duitsman. She decided to leave her home state and come to Missouri, however, it was not easy to do.

"I grew up in an environment where if you lived in Nebraska, you went to Nebraska," Duitsman said

That obviously didn't have a big effect on her, and the Missouri is glad to have her. MU happily recruited the first-team Super State volleyball player and hasn't regretted it since.

As a player at the University of Missouri, Duitsman has put up great numbers including a 1.000 percentage against UMKC in 2002. She is a great physical attribute to this team and helps the team in several ways, but there are many more things Duitsman provides for the team outside of the physical aspect.

"Volleyball has mental aspects and my favorite thing about Missouri Volleyball is the girls," Duitsman said.

This team cohesiveness is a great quality for Missouri, and has helped all players, including Duitsman, get through the rigors of a busy season.

Having a family-type bond is an important part of being a team, and it is obvious these girls are together. However, alone time is something they do have, and Duitsman includes music and movies as something she likes to do when she has spare time.

"I like all kinds of music- Simple Plan, All-American Rejects, John Mayer, and Neil Diamond would be some of my favorites," Duitsman said, tentative to mention Neil Diamond as one of her favorites.

"I love movies. I could sit in my room and watch them all the time. I recently saw Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it was very scary. My favorite movie is Dirty Dancing," Duitsman said.

Everyone has that something they yearn for, and in Duitsman's case she has a sweet tooth. She admits to a craving for chocolate and caffeine.

Simply put, "I am a chocoholic," Duitsman said.

Aside from the extracurricular, Duitsman is ready to play Nebraska again. The first time MU and Nebraska met this season, Missouri won. Needless to say, that win was big for the team and had added significance to the Nebraska native.

"It's definitely big to beat Nebraska, as a team and for bragging rights within myself. Beating them gives us confidence for what I think is a team that will go very far. I'd do anything for this team, the girls," Duitsman said.

It's clear that she likes music, movies, and chocolate, but most of all she likes being part of this team. She loves her teammates and wants to go far with them. She's ready to be a leader, and Mizzou can continue to expect good things from her.