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Princeton University Athletics
King and Her Court
October 18, 2000 | Women's Volleyball
When Sabrina King was growing up in Southern California, she used to follow her sister to the beach to play volleyball. King was already an excellent soccer player, but she soon realized her passion for volleyball. It quickly became her favorite sport, and Princeton will be forever grateful.
"It was always so fun," says King. "There was always action going on the court. I still love soccer, but you're into every play when you play volleyball."
King has become one of the most dominant players in Princeton history. Last year King was named the Ivy League Player of the Year, as she led the Tigers to the league title and into the NCAA tournament.
King arrived at Princeton in 1997. The Laguna Beach native always wanted to attend an Ivy League school, and she was quickly impressed with the volleyball program after meeting with coach Glenn Nelson. King made an immediate impact, and she was already a member of the second-team All-Ivy squad by her sophomore season. The 1998 campaign was bittersweet for King and her teammates, however. The Tigers led Brown two games to one in the Ivy League title match, but Princeton lost the last two games, leaving King and the rest of the team wondering what might have been. The Tigers regrouped in 1999 and finished with a 19-6 regular-season record. Princeton advanced to the Ivy final against Harvard and pulled out a thrilling 3-2 victory to win the 11th league title in school history. The win was especially satisfying for King after coming so close the year before.
"It was pretty sweet," King says. "Not just because we won the title, but also because we had lost to Harvard in the regular season. We thought we might see Brown again in the finals, which would have been exciting, but we knew we were the better team no matter whom we played."
King put up some impressive numbers during the Tigers' march to the championship. She led the league with 4.44 digs per game and averaged a team-high 4.04 kills per game. Many of the country's top volleyball players get their kills by using overpowering force at the net. The 5' 7" King's ability to finish off points, however, is more strategic than powerful. Her placement is the reason she had 432 kills in 1999.
"It's just a different style," says King. "A lot of times people sacrifice accuracy for power. In my case I'm not tall enough to really hit down. I have to be smart about my placement, or else I'll get blocked every time."
While King racks up plenty of kills, she takes pride in her defense more than her ability to pick up points. King's 466 digs in 30 contests last fall is perhaps her most impressive individual statistic. Despite her individual numbers, King would rather focus on the team's accomplishments, even after being named the best player in the Ivy League.
"I really didn't expect to win the award," King says. "It's kind of arbitrary, anyway. Volleyball is very much a team sport. Individual success is less important than the team's success."
Princeton had little time to celebrate its Ivy League championship after disposing of Harvard. The Tigers headed to Provo, Utah, for the first round of the NCAA tournament. Princeton took on BYU, the ninth-ranked team in the country. The Cougars defeated the Tigers 15-5, 15-5, 15-5. However, King and company gave their best effort against one of the top teams in the nation.
"It was still a lot of fun," says King. "We got to fly somewhere different. To be there and play against one of the top teams was really a great feeling."
Expectations are high for the Tigers again this fall. With King, senior Emily Brown and sophomore Michelle Buffum, Princeton could be ready for a repeat in 2000. When the season and the school year come to an end, King will decide where her degree in religion will take her. She is hoping to travel to Africa to do volunteer work for the Wilson Foundation, an organization that helps people fight addictions. But before life after Princeton gets underway, she has more work to do on the volleyball court. Wherever King goes after Princeton, she hopes to continue playing the sport she loves.
"I think it will always be a part of my life," says King. "I'll either be playing in leagues or back on the beach in California. But it will never be as competitive as it was here. It just won't be the same."
And the Tigers just won't be the same without King.
by Ed Benkin