Kim Willoughby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kim Willoughby |
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Full name | Kim Marie Willoughby | |||||||||||||
| Born | November 7, 1980 Houma, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |||||||||||||
| Spike | 124 in (315 cm) | |||||||||||||
| Block | 120 in (300 cm) | |||||||||||||
| College(s) | University of Hawaii | |||||||||||||
| Volleyball information | ||||||||||||||
| Position | Outside hitter | |||||||||||||
| Number | 14, 12 (2008) | |||||||||||||
| Career | ||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Kim Marie Willoughby, born on November 7, 1980, is a former American indoor volleyball player. She played as an outside hitter and stands 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters) tall. In 2007, she played professional volleyball in Italy for a team called Familia Chieri. In April 2008, she joined the U.S. national women's volleyball team. Kim played in her first Olympics at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she helped the United States win a silver medal.
While playing with Colussi Sirio Perugia, Kim won a bronze medal at the 2008–09 CEV Indesit Champions League. She was also recognized as the "Best Receiver" during this competition.
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Kim Willoughby's Early Life and Family
Kim was born in Houma, Louisiana, and grew up in Napoleonville, Louisiana. She went to Assumption High School. Kim was a talented athlete who played not only volleyball but also track & field and basketball. She led her high school volleyball team to win three state championships in a row. She was named the Louisiana Player of the Year in her junior and senior years. She was also chosen as a First Team All-American.
Kim's parents are Vincent Gaines and Lula Willoughby. During Kim's junior year, her mother was in a car accident. This event caused her mother to have two strokes and become paralyzed. Kim faced many challenges during her younger years.
A famous volleyball player, Danielle Scott-Arruda, who played in five U.S. Olympics, is Kim's third cousin.
Kim Willoughby's College Volleyball Career
During her time in college, Kim Willoughby played for the University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Wahine volleyball team. She was honored three times as an AVCA All-America player. In 2003, she was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Year.
In her senior year (2003), Kim was second in the country for "kills per game" with 6.60. She also averaged 3.04 digs, 0.62 aces, 0.57 blocks, and 0.41 assists per game. She had a strong hitting percentage of .373. Her great play helped the Rainbow Wahine team reach the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournament national semifinals for the second year in a row.
As a junior in 2002, Kim averaged 6.31 kills, placing her among the top three nationally. She had a .342 hitting percentage and averaged 3.35 digs, 0.70 aces, 0.61 blocks, and 0.30 assists per game. In 2001, her sophomore year, she led the country in kills with an average of 7.20. She also led her team with 3.66 digs per game, setting a new school record at that time.
Throughout her college career, Kim averaged 5.91 kills per game. This was the third-best average in NCAA history at the time. She also had a total of 1,440 digs, 194 aces, and 291 blocks in 459 games. Kim was a starter for all four years in college. She began as an opposite/right-side hitter in her freshman year. In her last three seasons, she became the main outside hitter for her team. She was also honored four times by the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). She was on the second team as a freshman in 2000. Then, she earned first-team honors in 2001, 2002, and 2003. Kim was also named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in her final three years.
Kim Willoughby's Awards and Honors
Individual Awards
- 2008–09 CEV Indesit Champions League Final Four "Best Receiver"
College Awards
- 3-Time NCAA 1st Team All-American (2001, 2002, 2003)
- 2003 NCAA National Player of the Year
- 3-Time NCAA 1st Team All-Region (2001, 2002, 2003)
- 3-Time WAC 1st Team All-Conference (2001, 2002, 2003)
- 3-Time WAC Player of the Year (2001, 2002, 2003)
- 2000 WAC Co-Freshman of the Year
