Lehigh University Athletics
Kober topples personal strife
9/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Jill Kober, a junior captain on the Lehigh volleyball team, is more than just a defensive specialist who averages almost four digs per game. She is a math wiz, a sports nut, an honor student, and a carefree person who doesn’t have to be asked twice to do something goofy. She has overcome a rare bone disease and has stood strong alongside her mother, following two divorces. Kober is a spirited student-athlete who has as good a story to tell off the court as she does on.
Born July 25, 1982, Kober was behind the eight ball from the start. At only nine months of age she was diagnosed with a rare bone disorder that caused one leg to be normal and one leg to be bowed. "No one really knew what was up until I was old enough to walk," said Kober. "My parents took me to the doctors office and they had never seen anything like it."
Surgery of any kind is dangerous. When the surgery is being performed on a nine month old, it can be traumatic. "My leg had to be cut open," said Kober. "The doctors broke my leg bone in two places just so it could be reset and placed in a cast," added Kober. "I felt bad for my mom, she had to carry me and my cast everywhere. I was a fat baby as it was and now with the cast there was extra weight added."
Kober overcame the adversity of the leg disorder with only one regret. "I wish they would have named it after me," she said with a smile.
Having already dealt with one mountainous task at such a young age, Kober was faced with the daunting challenge of coping with the divorce of her mom and dad. "Mom got married when she was still in high school," said Kober. "She wasn’t able to go to college due to being a full-time mom and wife. "Mom worked so hard to not only raise me but my brother Brandon as well. In my mind mom is just as successful now as some people who haven gone to college and gotten a degree," said a proud Kober.
As Kober entered high school, she became intrigued with two things, math and volleyball. "Dad would always push math on my brother and me," said Kober. "We would be tested, and since I was so competitive and always wanted to beat my brother at everything, it was easy for me to pick up," noted Kober. "Once I saw that it was easy, I knew I wanted to take my math skills and make a career out of it."
With regards to volleyball, Kober has always enjoyed playing, however, her height of 5-4" has always produced doubters when it comes to her playing ability. Kober logged a majority of her playing minutes outside of high school on her mom's club team. "I was the youngest one on the team," said Kober. "The oldest person was over 50 years old and some of those ladies had a very competitive fire inside of them," added Kober. "Playing on mom's team was just one way for me to play as much volleyball as I could. I would play on the high school team in the fall, a co-ed team in the spring, and open gym when ever I could find the time," noted Kober.
As her high school career came to a close, Kober hoped to continue to crunch numbers and crush volleyballs at the college level. Her initial choice was Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "I really was hoping to go to Duke because of its math department. I also hoped to walk-on to their volleyball team," remarked Kober. "I felt that I could handle the academic side of Duke without a problem. Athletically, my friends doubted me because of my height."
For Kober, what she could, and couldn't do, never became an issue. Duke said thanks but no thanks. Without a college to attend or a court to play volleyball on, one of Kober's friends told her about Lehigh. The Maryland native applied and was accepted into Lehigh University and its math department. Kober also tried out for and made the volleyball team. "It was my goal to not only play in college but to play at the NCAA Division I level," said Kober. "Getting turned down by Duke turned out to be the best thing that could have ever happened to me athletically."
Kober was selected to be a co-captain by her teammates prior to the start of the 2002 season. The distinction, although important to some, isn't to Kober. "I just want to keep being me and do the things that I normally do," said Kober. "Being the captain has not changed my attitude or who I am on the court. If I was not the captain, I'd still just be me."
During competition, Kober is one of the top defensive players league wide. Her drive, grit, and determination make her who she is as a player. "I play for my teammates and I play to win," noted Kober. "Every day Coach Nicholas reminds us that game time is our time. It's when we play for each other and play to win. As a team we have to play together," added Kober.
With the defensive skill that Kober possesses, the 2002 season was heaven sent. The libero position was introduced into the NCAA this season. The position allows for Kober to stay on the floor more often than she did her sophomore year. In previous seasons, due to her short stature, Kober would have to be substituted for whenever it came time to rotate to the front line. "Obviously I like the libero position a lot more," said Kober. "I can see more playing time because I do not have to sub in and out as much. I can get more of a playing rhythm by staying on the floor longer and it doesn’t waste our allotted substitutions," added Kober. Her passion for defense is so strong that when she is asked if she is ok with simply being a defensive player, her response is an emphatic "Yes!"
When not playing volleyball, Kober can be found spending time studying or hanging out with friend, roommate, and teammate Jeannette Singleton. Kober is also a member of the National Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma, C.O.A.C.H., and is fittingly enough serving as the treasurer on the student-athlete executive board.
"Jill is the best teammate and roommate I could ask for," said Singleton. With the team she always puts us first and she’s focused on making sure the team succeeds," added Singleton. As a roommate I could not have a better friend."
Kober hopes to travel and work with sports statistics following graduation. "I love sports and it would be fun to travel with a team and work with stats. If that doesn't pan out I wouldn't mind working as an actuary (someone who deals with life insurance)," noted Kober.
A down to earth person, Kober remarked, "if I could be one person, any person, it would be Emmitt Smith. I've read books about him and he maintains his modesty, he keeps his mind set on his goals, and is not loud or flashy."
Kober is a young lady who has overcome adversity in various forms throughout her life. She has persevered through personal and family issues along with overcoming the stereotype of being short in a tall persons game.
"Jill is someone that is very important to the team," said head coach Patrick Nicholas. "She walked on and eventually was elected by her teammates as a co-captain. She is outgoing and speaks her mind," added Nicholas. "Jill serves as a mentor for the younger players, on and off the court."
