For the better part of a year and a half, Aly Kindelberger was away from volleyball.
Her club seasons were interrupted by the pandemic in 2020 and ’21. In between, she did squeeze in her senior season at Franklin Regional, but then a family move in June and an ankle injury that kept her in a walking boot for more than two months wiped out any summer training.
When she finally got back on the court, it was in August for her freshman preseason camp with DePaul.
If there was any rust from her relative lack of competition, it hasn’t shown. Kindelberger, a middle hitter, has played 86 of 87 sets for the Blue Demons, accumulated 80 blocks (second on the team) and contributed 74 kills to the offense.
DePaul is 6-6 in the Big East, fifth in the conference, and is vying for a spot in the top four to qualify for the Big East Tournament.
“I’m loving it here. I was very fortunate to be able to start as a freshman, and I am continuing to start throughout the season,” she said. “It’s been a lot of pressure. It has been a big adjustment, but it’s been great.”
Blue Demons coach Marie Zidek said she always believed Kindelberger had the ability to contribute right away.
“She’s very athletic and has the natural gift of a vertical,” said Zidek, in her fourth season as DePaul’s coach. “She’s quick laterally. … I think players that have potential coming into college, the earlier in their careers they see playing time usually depends on their work ethic and their coachability. And she knocks that out of the park.
“She just has a light-heartedness about her that no moment is too big, and I think those intangibles have really allowed her tangibles to show in the forefront.”
Kindelberger has made her biggest impact on defense, which has come as a bit of a surprise because she didn’t consider herself to be a strong defender as a club player. She has no explanation for the turnaround other than it “just clicked.”
While her defense has been solid, Kindelberger’s offense has a long way to go. Her forte offensively is to curl behind the setter, leap from one foot and swing at a back-set. Zidek wants her to improve her efficiency hitting from in front of the setter: taking quick, low sets in the middle of the net, thus diversifying her offensive repertoire.
Zidek likens it to a wide receiver who can run deep patterns as well as shorter patterns. But knowing Kindelberger is only scratching the surface of being a college volleyball player excites her and her coach.
“I was definitely — and still continue to be — a little overwhelmed,” Kindelberger said. “It’s a big change from high school volleyball or even club volleyball. So I’m still adjusting, and the coaches are happy with how I am doing so far.”
Zidek is just as happy with what lies ahead.
“I think by the end of her career, we expect her to be an all-conference player and be challenging to be an all-region player,” Zidek said. “Aly has a very high ceiling.”