by Kelly Brocklehurst
Daily Lobo
Since her freshman year in college, Chelsea Sondrup has been accumulating awards and breaking school records as a middle blocker on the volleyball team.
She said this season shouldn't be any different.
"I'm honored and I hope to be able to break more," the senior said.
As a freshman, Sondrup had 131 block assists, establishing the single-season block assist record at UNM, and she set a school record when she had 14 blocks and 13 block assists against Southern Methodist University. Sondrup also holds the school record with 294 block assists. In 2004, Sondrup became the fourth player in UNM history to reach 300 career blocks.
During her junior year, Sondrup had 11 block assists against Weber State, which tied her for second-most ever in a UNM match. As a sophomore, she had four service aces at Washington State - a career-high.
Sondrup said she attributes her achievements to her work ethic.
"I feel like good things come when you work hard," she said.
Sondrup has also won numerous accolades.
As a sophomore, she was named the Most Valuable Player of the Comcast Lobo Invitational and she was named a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete. In 2004, she was named to the Albuquerque Marriott Lobo Volleyball Classic All-Tournament team. She also earned Mountain West Conference Academic All-Conference honors in fall of 2004. As one of three seniors on the team, Sondrup is one of the team leaders this year. Her responsibilities include motivating the team, making sure the players are all on the same page and keeping everybody working hard.
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"It's a great responsibility and I'm glad to set an example for my teammates," Sondrup said.
Despite the added responsibility, Sondrup is used to the pressure that comes with being a team leader, she said.
"There's always pressure," she said.
Sondrup also attributes her success as a volleyball player to her coaches.
She began playing volleyball as a freshman in high school and she has had good coaches throughout the years, she said.
She has improved during her college career in all aspects, largely due to the environment the coaches at UNM create in practice. An environment that helps everyone achieve their goals, Sondrup said.
Sondrup juggles volleyball, school, work and a social life. Although carrying such a heavy load can be difficult, Sondrup said she handles the demands well.
"I've learned a lot," she said. "I gain a good working relationship with professors."
Sondrup, an elementary education major, also coaches a club volleyball team, which she has done for the past few years. Though she doesn't aspire to play professional volleyball, Sondrup said she will continue to be involved with volleyball when her collegiate career ends after this season as a coach.
