HER SMILE CAN disarm the nervous child who wonders whether to approach for an autograph, and it can provide reassurance to the one who may be self-conscious about being the tallest in their class.
But beyond a doubt, Kendall Kipp’s smile proves that intensity and focus on the volleyball court does not have to drown out joy.
The ever-present smile is the first thing many notice about Kipp, the Stanford All-American. It reminds us that even in the tension of an NCAA tournament, where a miscalculation or lapse could cost a team its season, that volleyball remains a game.
The game is one of details, of inches, of millimeters. Fifth set. Tie score. Season on the line.
And still, Kipp smiles.
“It’s just the way I am,” said Kipp, a national player of the year candidate. “I just enjoy playing volleyball so much. It’s just my nature. If I started getting grumpy and serious and pouty on the court, my teammates would probably be a little concerned because that’s not my role. I’m just trying to enjoy the moment and move on to the next point.”
As No. 2-ranked Stanford advances into the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a home match against Arizona State on Thursday at Maples Pavilion, Kipp will be staring at the end of her collegiate career. Stanford is a veteran team, full of talented players like Pac-12 Setter of the Year Kami Miner, All-American outside hitter Caitie Baird, four-year starting middle blocker McKenna Vicini, Pac-12 Libero of the Year Elena Oglivie, and all-conference middle Sami Francis and outside hitter Elia Rubin.
It's a team that knows what it’s doing, loves hostile environments, and has seen it all. But the Cardinal players experience pressure too. And when they do, it’s often Kipp, a 6-foot-5 opposite hitter, to whom they turn.
“I feel confident when I look around at my teammates and remember everything that we’ve been training for and how capable each person is,” Vicini said. “I see the determination behind my teammates’ eyes and know that we’ve been through hard times before and overcome them.
“Kendall plays a huge role in those stressful moments. She’s great at staying level-headed and reminding everyone to have confidence in themselves, because you can see how much she believes in the rest of the team.”
Kipp says simply, “I hate to lose.” The smile may fade from time to time, but the effort never does. When the ball is served, particularly in one of those typically precarious moments, Kipp seems to shine.
“She’s at her best when it matters most,” said Kevin Hambly, Stanford’s Montag Family Director of Women's Volleyball. “That’s when her competitiveness comes in and her determination to win. There are times when she’s the only one scoring and she’s carrying us. That’s where I see it: C’mon, I can do this. Give it to me and I can carry us right now.”
A 28-3 record … a Pac-12 championship … 11 top-25 victories, including seven in the top 10 … Stanford can seem like a machine. But under the surface, Hambly knows the team is playing from behind.