Five true freshmen decorate the Wisconsin volleyball roster this season. One in particular has shined brightest, and it's not solely because of her skills on the court.
Menomonee Falls, Wis., native Janelle Gabrielsen has almost always had some type of ball in hand. A highly acclaimed four-year starter for the Menomonee Falls Indians on the volleyball court, she earned two-time Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year, two-time first team all-state, and Wisconsin's 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year honors by the end of her senior year.
The kind of athlete she was, we needed her to do just about anything, whether it was set, block, hit or pass,""
Menomonee Falls High School head coach J.C. Bruns said. ""We had her doing just about everything because of the skill set she had.""
Though born into a family of volleyball athletes - two of Gabrielsen's sisters played college volleyball - it took ""Nellie"" a bit to develop a sense of leadership for her high school squad.
""Being a setter-only as a freshman, she got pulled in all kinds of directions by the upperclassmen as to how they were getting the sets,"" Bruns said. ""She was kind of on the team, but not really a leader. As her experience grew, she would always be more of a leader-by-example kind of player with her tremendous work ethic, effort and hustle even in practices. By the time she was a senior, she began to be more of a vocal leader as well.""
Bruns said Gabrielsen, the freshman setter turned middle hitter/setter in a modified 6-2 offense, was always a fierce competitor, yet led with an unthreatening style.
""She demanded a lot from herself first and felt it was her job to carry the team, yet also encourage the other players,"" Bruns said. ""She was always a very positive leader. You could tell in her body language when she was frustrated with herself or with how the team was playing, but she was definitely not mean-spirited in any way.""
One thing both Bruns and Wisconsin head coach Pete Waite noticed is Gabrielsen's demeanor on and off the court.
""She was an exceptional student - a very smart girl who always liked to have fun,"" Bruns said. ""I would describer her as goofy, just kind of happy-go-lucky.
Not the type of person you would think to be an assassin on the court so to speak. When she steps across those lines onto the court, she's all business.""
""When I watched her playing in club tournaments, sometimes she'd just be goofy on the court,"" Waite said. ""She would just really enjoy something funny that happened, and I think that's great. It means a kid has great balance; they're willing to relax on the court.
In the blink of an eye she could be screaming through the net after just having pounded a ball down. She's got both sides to her.""
On this year's UW volleyball squad, the Spongebob-loving Gabrielsen feels as if she has already settled in as the team ""goof.""
""I'm kind of the comic relief,"" she said. ""I like to make situations better.""
""She's got a really fun personality off the court,"" Waite said. ""She loves to laugh; she loves to tell stories '¦ It's neat to have that. It's fun to have somebody on the team, or a number of people on the team, that bring lighthearted, easy-going life and a lot of fun.""
Gabrielsen also refused to hang up the athletic shoes during the winter months in high school, as she was a star post player on the MFHS basketball team until a pair of stress fractures in her leg caused her to sit out most of her senior hoops season.
""It was either I play the rest of basketball season and wait to get surgery; then I wouldn't know how I'd be here,"" Gabrielsen said. ""But I decided to get surgery right away and got to play a little bit of club [volleyball] season and then came in here and have played pretty well.""
And played well she has. Gabrielsen totaled a career-high five blocks this past weekend at Minnesota to lead her Badger squad and has already recorded four double-doubles in just 12 matches this season.
While it remains to be seen whether Gabrielsen will try out for the UW basketball team, her competitive nature and her easy-going attitude are what both her coaches see as a recipe for success.
""On the court and off she's very competitive, very intense and has a great sports IQ,"" Waite said. ""It's a good combination of off the court and on the court.""
""She's just a joy to coach,"" Bruns said. ""She has a rare blend of intelligence and is a gifted athlete that still works her tail off anyway when so many talented athletes these days don't. That definitely will manifest itself in the opportunity that she has now in Madison.""
