N.C. State has seen many breakthrough athletes in its time. What sets Lisa Kretchman apart from other athletes is her modesty. This season alone, she has dominated the volleyball team’s statistics and has reached that pinnacle with the poise and class of someone to be truly admired for both her athleticism and her ingenuity.

Kretchman, a nutrition science major, only played in three matches last season, but the middle blocker has already played, and done well in, virtually every game since this season began in late August. With high kills in tournaments, nonconference and conference games alike, she accredits her greatest game to be the Dartmouth game, as it was the highest scoring with 14 kills and 15.5 points.

Though this was her best match, she doesn’t claim it as her shining moment as an N.C. State volleyball player.

“I’m just proud that I can play and stay in there, and that I’ve made my place on the team,” Kretchman said. “Even if [my role on the team] isn’t a starting one all the time, I just hope my teammates can count on me and that I can get the job done in most cases.”

Kretchman tried out for the team in the spring of her junior year and became part of the Wolfpack volleyball program the following fall. As a volleyball and soccer player throughout high school, she earned all-conference titles three years of her high school volleyball career.

She joined the team because she not only missed the sport itself, but because of the drastic change from being an athlete to just being a full-time student since; in high school, volleyball was “all she did.”

Kretchman and her coaches did something differently this season that has put her on the board as one of the statistical leaders. Coach Charita Stubbs believes that a more honed-in knowledge of the game has been the greatest component of Kretchman’s individual success.

Stubbs and the coaching administration focused heavily on teaching Kretchman about her belonging to the court and about the speed of the game. Stubbs believes that the athlete has “adapted to that very well.”

“Before it was always just going fast, and she couldn’t understand even though she did have the skill to excel and the desire to be better,” Stubbs said. “[This season] she’s done a great job of coming in and stepping up to the plate and filling the hole when we needed it.”

Captain Alex Smith also gives credit to Kretchman’s ability to adapt to circumstance, stating that she “came in at the perfect time,” and also compliments her skills as an athlete.

“She really helped out with another body in the middle because we lost our senior blocker,” Smith said. “She takes care of everything and gets things done that have been asked of her.”

Kretchman accredits her newfound knowledge of the game to her coaches and teammates, claiming they helped her improve “on a physical level as well as mentally” by teaching her more and more as the season has progressed.

Kretchman also believes having more playing time this season has possibly been the biggest change that has helped her individually.

“Having the opportunity to play more has boosted my confidence, and that’s something that’s helped me to carry on and improve,” Kretchman said.

As a fifth-year senior, Kretchman is playing in her second and final fall season and has been a dynamic asset to the team as one of the leading players as far as kills and points go.

Her success hasn’t gotten to her head, though, Stubbs said.

“By nature she’s a quiet person, but she’s the kind of person who does everything you ask her to do,” Stubbs said. “She’s probably one of the most comfortable athletes we have.”