University of Tennessee Athletics
Senior Spotlight: Chloe Goldman
November 25, 2009 | Volleyball
Nov. 25, 2009
2009 Senior Spotlight Features: Carol Cheade | Kylie Marshall | Farren Powe
By Zach Stipe, Media Relations Graduate AssistantKNOXVILLE, Tenn. -When people discuss the success of the University of Tennessee volleyball team over the past few years, the conversation invariably leads to talk about its ball control and defensive play. No player has had a more direct effect on that than senior libero Chloe Goldman, arguably the best defensive player to ever don the Orange and White.
The only player in school history to surpass 500 digs in three consecutive seasons, Goldman became the Tennessee career leader in digs on Oct. 16 in four-set win at Alabama. It's undoubtedly an accomplishment to be proud of, but when asked about the milestone, the libero deflected the credit on to her teammates.
"It's great to accomplish something like that, but I couldn't have done it without the team," Goldman said. "We have such a great all-around team, and my teammates helped me get the record."
Goldman's unselfishness should come as no surprise. UT head volleyball coach Rob Patrick identified Goldman's improved passing to teammates in her final year in Orange and White as a major part of his team's current success.
"Chloe's always been a great defensive player, but she's worked really hard on perfecting her passing this year," Patrick said. "That was something she had the ability to get better in and she spent the time and energy to do that. (Fellow senior) Kylie Marshall had always been our best passer, but Chloe improved her skill set to the point that her passing is now as consistent as Kylie's."
Always a stout scooper in the back row, Goldman was able to add her new wrinkle from putting in extra time at the gym. Ever since the first tournament of the season, she has spent an hour after practice each weekday working on her passing.
"I was a really inconsistent passer, and just practicing everyday and getting the reps made me more comfortable and more consistent in games," Goldman said.
Goldman working on her game an hour extra everyday is something that probably would've been a surprise at the start of her career.
The Monterrey, Calif., native admits she struggled with the move from the West Coast to Knoxville and didn't always make the right decisions.
"Like many freshmen do, she came into college a little immature," Patrick said. "However, the growth she has shown in her college career has just been fantastic to see and be a part of. There have only been a couple of other players in my 13 years here who have grown from where she started to the young woman she is today. She's somebody who I'm really proud of how not only she represents herself, but how she represents the University of Tennessee and our volleyball program."
And it's in that Tennessee volleyball program where Goldman will be severely missed. While she's gained recognition from her coaches and teammates for that new wrinkle - her passing, Goldman's digging and defensive abilities are what she's renowned for across the Southeastern Conference.
Just last week, Goldman had 17 digs in three-set sweep of South Carolina and another stellar performance in the four-set come-from-behind victory over No. 13 Florida - the Lady Vols' first victory over the Gators since 2005. Before the match, Goldman said she didn't want to end her career without ever having taken a match from the perennial SEC-power, and backed up her words with a sterling 21-dig, five assist performance that included a superwoman-like dive over press table as she chased second-hit.
All eyes were on Goldman as she got up unscathed from her spill against UF, and you can expect all eyes will remain on the one Lady Vol in the light blue jersey, diving after attacks with her long black pony tail whipping around in UT's regular-season finale against Kentucky on Wednesday night.
"The one thing that Tennessee volleyball is known for is our ball control, and our great defense," Patrick said. "You could say Chloe is the embodiment of that. Opposing coaches and teams will tell you when you are playing Tennessee, the one player you notice is the libero, Chloe, and what she does on the court."
