Nov. 2, 2004
Los Angeles, Calif. - On November 19, 2004, a fourth volleyball jersey will be unveiled in the rafters of Gersten Pavilion. That jersey will bear the number 18 and the name Kimball, in honor Loyola Marymount volleyball standout Kealani Kimball. The LMU alumna will be honored with a jersey retirement ceremony prior to the Lions' match against San Diego at 7:00 p.m.
Kimball will become just the fourth volleyball player in LMU history to have her number retired, an honor reserved for the top athlete, student, and person. Her jersey will join those of three other LMU volleyball greats: Tracy Holman (1994-97), Sarah McFarland (1997-2000), and Mardell Wrensch (1992-95).
The Kaunakakai, Hawaii, native led the Lions from 2000-2003, receiving her degree in business administration from LMU in May of 2004. She was a three-time All-West Coast Conference first-team selection, receiving the honor in 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Kimball is just the fifth LMU volleyball player to receive the first-team selection in three consecutive seasons, and the fourth Lion to surpass both the 1,000 kill and the 1,000 dig milestone in her career. A three-time team captain for the Lions, she spent time at both outside hitter and middle blocker.
She wrapped up her four years at LMU ranking in the Lion record books in several all-time career statistics: third in service aces (122), sixth in kills (1,105), sixth in total attempts (2,915), sixth in solo blocks (73), sixth in digs (1,032), eighth in dig average (2.65), eighth in games played (389), and tenth in kill average (2.84).
To compliment her success on the court, Kimball was a three-time Academic All-WCC selection. Over her career, she achieved a 3.32 cumulative grade point average and was the recipient of the 2002-03 Fr. Alfred Kilp, S.J. Award, presented to LMU juniors who excel in service and leadership on campus.
Kimball was also selected to the Academic All-District VIII third-team for her achievements on the court and in the classroom during her senior season, as she led the Lions to a NCAA tournament second round appearance.
She was also honored with an NCAA Ethnic Minority Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics. One of the highest honors for an NCAA student-athlete, Kimball received the postgraduate scholarship for the 2004-05 academic year for her graduate studies.
Fans coming to watch the Lions' final weekend of 2004 conference action will have the chance to be a part of LMU Athletics history, when Kimball's jersey is unveiled in the rafters on November19, just before the Lions take the court against San Diego. After all, no LMU volleyball player will ever wear Kimball's number 18 again.
-GO LIONS-
