The decision came from Kristy Jaeckel’s family before she ever stepped on campus.
Knowing their daughter would be starting college at a young age due to her late birthday, the Jaeckels suggested Florida redshirt the 6-foot-2 outside hitter.
“We’re getting the payback, the dividends from the decision her family made during the recruiting process,” UF volleyball coach Mary Wise said. “Kristy, now in her fifth year, is in the best shape of her life.”
Called “Grandma” by teammates, Jaeckel has seen a number of changes over the years. When she first arrived on campus, the Littleton, Colo., native was excited but unsure. Now she’s in a stretch where she has recorded double-digit kills in 13 straight games.
“Being here, you get kind of star-struck,” Jaeckel said. “You’re surrounded by so many All-American players. … It took me a while to adapt to this level of volleyball and the school and working out and just the overall schedule.”
Teammates and coaches agree the redshirt senior is currently playing the best volleyball of her life. Filling a vital role as both a frontcourt attacker and a middle-back defender, Jaeckel has picked up 188 kills, 98 digs and hit .327 during the current 13-game stretch. She was also honored as AVCA National Player of the Week on Oct. 4.
“She’s just on fire,“ junior middle blocker Betsy Smith said. “Everything she touches turns to gold.”
Part of a five-deep senior class, Jaeckel, who recorded her 1,000th career kill earlier this season, complements other frontcourt veterans like Kelly Murphy, Cassandra Anderson and Stephanie Ferrell.
But according to Wise, Jaeckel has improved the most since arriving at Florida.
“I’m not sure we’ve ever had a player who is this good at paying attention to the details,” Wise said.
Wise has repeatedly credited Jaeckel’s improvements over the years to work ethic. She said Jaeckel didn’t come in as the most gifted athlete, but her dedication to getting better has been contagious for young players.
“She’s always looking out for me and telling me what I need to do,” freshman defensive specialist Madison Monserez said. “She’s really nurturing for everyone, but at the same time, she lets us know we need to get down to business and finish games.”
Monserez also credited Jaeckel with helping her adjust to the middle-back position and college life.
In her five years at Florida, Jaeckel has seen the same ending to every season — a loss in the NCAA Regional Semifinals. Now 18 games into her final collegiate campaign, she is focused on not letting that happen again.
“I said I wanted to leave my senior year with no regrets, and at this point what we’ve accomplished is pretty awesome and pretty special,” Jaeckel said. “We’ve left some things out here, but it’s nothing we can’t improve on before the end of the season.”
Florida senior Kristy Jaeckel is on a tear the last 13 games with 188 kills, 98 digs and a .327 hitting percentage.
