Frodl, Gustafson Are AVCA All-Americans

Good things come to those who wait.

Just ask Falcon volleyball player Jennifer Frodl. The middle hitter waited four years to become only the second American Volleyball Coaches Association all-American selection in the program's history for her contributions during the 1996 WIAC championship season.

Frodl was a major contributor to the Falcons first ever conference championship in volleyball, according to head coach Patti Ford.

However, Frodl is much more modest about her significant achievement.

"I don't know why I was selected. I was very surprised," Frodl said. "I'm very excited and happy to be selected though."

Perhaps Frodl was surprised because in her previous three seasons she was never recognized as an all-conference or honorable mention performer. However, she was an all-region selection in 1995.

As questions were being fired, the modest Frodl eventually opened up.

"I played with more consistency in my hitting and that helped me out," Frodl said.

Just prior to the Falcons second straight Div. III championship appearance, is when Frodl was recognized as an All-American in her final season.

The 6-0, Frodl was selected as an all-Midwest region player in 1995. She recorded 306 career solo blocks, a Falcons record. Last season she recorded a career high 458 kills. Frodl also lead the 1996 Falcons with 127 blocks.

During her first three seasons with the Falcons, Frodl was over shadowed by another middle hitter, 5-9 Cara Gustafson. Gustafson, who was the first ever Falcons volleyball all-American selection in 1995, was recognized with her second all-American award in 1996 as well. She combined with Frodl as the team's first ever all-American tandem.

"I didn't expect it my junior year," Gustafson said. "And I hoped for it my senior year. It was a lot more stressful playing because there was more pressure. But it was still fun."

Gustafson led the Falcons last season with a .319 hitting efficiency and finished her career second to Frodl with 233 solo blocks. Gustafson was also an all-conference selection in 1995 and 1996.

Despite their similar uncanny accomplishments, Ford said that both Frodl and Gustafson had a very unique individual styles of play.

"Jen was a power hitter. While Cara was more of a finesse player," Ford said. "Jen was the tallest player on the team and Cara was the most athletic. They complimented each other well," Ford said.

"Frodl was great at blocking and Cara played all around," Ford added. "Neither of them would have achieved what they did without (1996 all-region setter) Amy Holm. They'll tell you that."

Indeed.

Frodl did give much credit to all of her teammates for her magical season. Like Frodl, Gustafson credited the team's success for her back-to-back all-American awards.

"Without my teammates this would not have happened," Gustafson said. "Without a doubt our appearances in the Div. III championships gave us some recognition."

Gustafson has stayed with the Falcons program as an assistant coach as she works as the assistant manager at Hunt Arena on campus.

"Jen was more confident out there. She was no longer thinking about the system," Ford said. "It helped her that many teams were focused on Cara because when Cara was in the back row teams would let there guard down a little, forgetting about Jen in the front ."

"They were both in my first recruiting class my second year here," said Ford, who was the 1995 WIAC Coach of the Year. "They have come along way since then." Indeed. Nobody becomes an All-American overnight.

"When they were freshmen they worked with assistant coach Julie Sherman, a former all-American middle hitter at North Dakota State," Ford said. "As they worked with her everyday they improved and so did the team."