Two-time Volleyball captain Potter simply wants to play

After two consecutive years as captain of the Penn volleyball team, K. C. Potter voluntarily took the spring practice season off in order to fulfill several major requirements. The two-time Academic All-Ivy honoree needed the time to complete some artwork that was very important to her. But Potter, a Fine Arts major in the College, has returned and is once again ready to give a dedicated effort to the Quakers. In her absence, seniors Kristel Weaver and Karin Witte emerged to fill the leadership void; the pair have been elected captains by their Penn teammates. After much thought and serious consideration, Potter decided that she wanted to come back to the team this fall and take full advantage of her last opportunity to play collegiate volleyball. Although a semester away from competition would hurt most athletes, Potter feels that she will actually see benefits from her time off this season. According to Penn coach Kerry Major, Potter stayed in excellent shape on her own and has yet to miss a beat since coming back. "I think [the time off] invigorated me to come back. I'm extremely motivated this season because I had time to sit back and think about how much I love the game," Potter said. "I'm here because I love the game, and I want to take total advantage of this last opportunity to play collegiately." While no longer a captain, Potter will still be called upon to fill a leadership role on and off the court. This was never more apparent than last weekend when Potter, a starting outside hitter, led Penn back from an 11-14 deficit in the fifth game to win 16-14 against La Salle. Potter's two critical kills and solid passing down the stretch were keys to the Quakers' comeback. "She's still a big leader on the court. I consider all three of my seniors to be captains," Major said. "Her experience is very much needed on the court and that maturity adds to her leadership. She is not as up and down emotionally as she was in the past, which helps with the younger players." Potter realizes how important her leadership is to the team this season, especially with regard to the underclassmen. She knows that her leadership role does not end when Penn steps off the court, and she "hopes to maintain a role that brings the team together." Team chemistry will be critical to the Quakers' hopes of improving on their 11-16 overall record from last season. With only a few months left in her collegiate career, Potter hopes to go out with the same bang that made her the Penn volleyball Rookie of the Year in 1996. "I've definitely had my ups and downs. I went through a coaching change which was hard individually and as a team," Potter said. "I think athletics has helped me individually. Playing collegiate volleyball has been an honor and I will carry it with me for the rest of my life."