SUCCESSFUL AAU CAREER LEADS TO MORE

Written by: Amanda Szylin  

In her last year at the University of Nebraska, Kelsey Robinson contributed greatly to the volleyball program. In her senior season, she started in all 33 matches, collecting a total of 530 kills with 4.45 kills per set and led the Big Ten in kills and points per set during her conference season. At the end of her senior season, she was ranked ninth in hitting percentage, second in kills and fifth in aces in the Big Ten. Robinson’s 530 kills were the fifth most by a Husker and her 1,206 attacks earned her the number seven spot on Nebraska’s all time chart. She was named the Big Ten Player of the Week four times in 2013 and was honored as the AVCA/Sports Imports Player of the Week, along with earning the 2013 All-Big Ten and 2013 Big Ten Player of the Year awards. In addition, Robinson was named to the 2013 AVCA First-Team All-American and First-Team North Region.

Now, she could possibly add the title of AAU Sullivan Award winner to her already expansive collection.

But before her impressive college career and multiple accolades, she participated in the AAU.

She started AAU when she was ten years old and racked up eight National Championships between two sports, basketball and volleyball. She was a part of three National Championships with basketball and five with volleyball. Robinson ended her high school club season by winning the 18 Open bracket in Florida with Sports Performance, a club that attends Nationals every year.

Now, four years later, she will be returning to Florida for another AAU event, this time with her being one of three honorees. The ceremony for the AAU Sullivan Award will be on April 11th in Orlando, Florida at AAU National Headquarters.

Known as the “Oscar” of sports awards, and older than The Heisman, the AAU Sullivan Award honors the outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. It has been presented annually by the AAU since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president of the Amateur Athletic Union, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. Based on the qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship, and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award goes far beyond athletic accomplishments and honors those who have shown strong moral character.