ARLINGTON, Texas — Germany could also be taking its lumps within the Volleyball Nations League, however Lena Kindermann is having a breakout event.
“They are saying she got here out of nowhere,” Germany coach Alexander Waibl mentioned.
Maybe, however to not him.
After Kindermann left Jacksonville State, the Alabama college that performs within the ASUN, she joined the German professional group VfB Suhl Lotto Thüringen, the place she performed the previous two seasons.
“I hoped to provide {that a} shot and I believe it went fairly effectively for me,” Kindermann mentioned. “I developed rather a lot.”
Certainly. Waibl, who has coached Dresdner SC since 2009, took discover of the hard-hitting left-handed reverse.
“I performed her fairly typically with my membership group within the Bundesliga and I used to be impressed by her energy,” mentioned Waibl, who took over as Germany’s coach simply 5 weeks in the past. “She’s a strong lefty and that is one thing you need.”
The 6-foot-2 Kindermann, who in 5 seasons at Jacksonville State was a four-time all-first-team ASUN participant, had 16 kills for Germany on Friday in its 25-20, 25-20, 25-21 loss to Poland. It left Germany 1-6. The group, fifteenth of 16 in standings, finishes this second spherical of VNL on Sunday towards last-place Bulgaria.
However for Kindermann, losses apart, she’s having a blast.
“I’d by no means been with the nationwide group,” she mentioned with a smile.
“I suppose I wasn’t adequate.”
And she or he smiled once more.
The product of Neuenkirchen, Landhagan, on the north coast of Germany throughout the water from Malmo, Sweden, may be adequate now.
After seven matches, she has 56 kills, third on the group. A type of kills Friday, a back-row assault, hit Poland’s Martyna Lukasik in the fitting shoulder and actually knocked her foolish to the ground.
“She’s solely been with the nationwide group two or three weeks, however she’s a doubtlessly nice expertise. You may see that she has a lot to be taught in regards to the sport. That is the very best stage and you must be good in serve and protection and block and you must place how you place the ball into spots. It’s an enormous load you must carry however together with her spike potential she could be for Germany sooner or later an important participant.”
Kindermann mentioned taking part in for Jacksonville State helped her develop a unique volleyball angle.
“Effort is an enormous deal over right here. Not simply at my college, however generally,” mentioned Kindermann, who additionally had an ace, a block and 5 digs towards Poland. “I’ll offer you an instance. We used to take action many punishments for ball management stuff. It adjustments your mindset. You simply go for a ball and do what you’ve received to do.
“It prepares you otherwise since you go for balls you don’t wish to go for and that you simply usually wouldn’t.”
Kindermann received her undergraduate diploma in English after which her grasp’s diploma in English. And she or he mentioned she’s enrolled in a German faculty to get one other diploma.
“I’ve to one thing after volleyball,” Kindermann mentioned. “I’m sticking with the professional ball now, I suppose.”
And she or he mentioned if a suggestion comes, she’d play in one of many U.S. professional leagues.
“Completely. I actually preferred it in America.”
