Freshman Kendra Kahanek has earned her playing time this season. (Lindsey Perkins)
At 6 foot 2 inches, freshman Kendra Kahanek looks like a varsity athlete. On the court, Kahanek plays middle blocker and has been a strong force at the net for the Mustangs so far this season. She’s had the most playing time of any freshman this year.
Originally from Houston, Kahanek began playing volleyball in the eighth grade. She chose SMU for its atmosphere, the beauty of the campus and the size of the school.
“It’s small which is really what I wanted coming from a little, tiny Christian school back home,” Kahanek said.
Coming to SMU was about more than getting a higher education for Kahanek. It was a dream of hers to earn a Division I scholarship for volleyball, which she now lists as her biggest accomplishment.
Being a student athlete is not easy. Kahanek recognizes the difficulties she faces in balancing her time, which is her least favorite thing about being an athlete in college. She has, however, managed to have a social life. Kahanek joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to find friends outside the team.
But volleyball still comes first. Kahanek considers the team her favorite aspect of college.
“I love volleyball, I have a passion for it,” she said.
It’s no surprise that Kahanek’s most memorable moment at SMU involves volleyball. So far, her two-a-day practices have made the most impact on her young college career.
“We are with the whole team and we see how we function together, how our personalities blend on the court and off the court,” she said.
Kahanek has definitely blended with her teammates. She has started in almost every game this season and posted double digit kills more than once. As a freshman, Kahanek hasn’t set many personal goals for herself this year, but she is certain that she wants to help her team achieve a C-USA championship “especially for the seniors.”
Like many college athletes whose parents can’t attend every game, Kahanek looks forward to calling her mom after every match.
“She watches all the games online, but she loves hearing it from me because she knows I was there and I’ll be a lot more in depth than [CSTV] is,” Kahanek said.
Although volleyball is a dominant force in her life, Kahanek makes time for other hobbies.
“I like to sew. I like to do cross-stitch and knitting; it calms me, it’s my haven,” she said.
Kahanek can be seen defending the Mustang front line and pounding volleyballs at opposing teams in Moody Coliseum.
