Kroll sets dreams for future

Tori Kroll, captain of the University of South Dakota’s volleyball team, not only has big hits but also big dreams.

Kroll, who became interested in volleyball after watching her mother play, began at an early age. She too discovered a love for the game and played  throughout high school.  She was recruited by USD to play at the college level.

As a setter, her job is to successfully pass the ball to her teammates and assist in putting points up on the scoreboard.

“She is very good at her job,” said Matt Houk, head coach of the volleyball team for the past six seasons.

Junior Kendall Kritenbrink said Kroll is great on the court and is always there for the rest of the team.

“I can go to her for anything” Kritenbrink said. “She knows everyone’s personality and is able to work with everyone on the team.”

Kritenbrink credited Kroll’s strength and leadership within the team to be a factor in the USD Coyotes No. 69 ranking on the NCAA rankings.

Passionate about volleyball, Kroll, a social work major, hopes to bring the game overseas, Germany to be specific. What many may not know is that before she learned English, Kroll’s first language was German. She attended a German Immersion school and later learned English.

Once she got into high school she was able to attend a school trip to Germany and fell in love with the country, the culture and the people. When asked what her dream job would be, Kroll  answered, “I would like to go back to Germany and become a social worker on a (military) base.” If the chance arose, she would also like to coach there because of her passion for volleyball.

When she is not on the court she is out volunteering in the vermillion community. She is involved in the student-athlete advisory council  and through SAAC and volleyball she is frequently volunteering. Her favorite volunteer activity is called “food fight.” This is typically done at the end of the volleyball season, around January, and is a competition in the Summit League as well as within the volleyball team.

The team usually splits into teams of three or four and the goal is to gather the most items of canned or non-perishable foods for the Vermillion food pantry. Last year, Kroll and two other players were the winners of the competition. Though this is just one of her favorite volunteer activities, she also participates in a mitten toss which is similar to food fight, however, mittens, hats and scarves are collected by the Vermillion Public School District and are donated to places where they are needed.

In the summer, when she is not training with the volleyball team or volunteering, Kroll attends various country music concerts and plays in sand volleyball tournaments to hone her skills.

Volleyball will always be a part of Tori’s college years and the memories she made with her team, but Kroll has other goals for her life and is excited to get it started.