One moment Chelsea Gibson is joking about how she hopes she gets another 21 kills this season. The next she's talking about going for 2,000 in her career. That's where modesty, a sense of humor and confidence collide to create one of the most dynamic volleyball players in Angelo State history.  

Gibson, a former middle blocker turned right-side hitter, enters this weekend's matches with 979 kills in her illustrious career. She is a senior captain, a former Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Year and a three-time LSC first-team performer.

“I'm really blessed that I've been able to play at a high level and be consistent throughout my career here,” said Gibson, who is also only 21 blocks away from 300 in her career.  “Stats have never really mattered to me though. I'm not running to the computer after the match to see how many kills I had or keep up with it. I'm just trying to remain humble and get to 2,000.”

Although Gibson proclaims being shy, her opponents have never seen that side of her. Right from the beginning as a freshman out of Smithson Valley High School, the 5-foot-10 athlete made her presence felt as a Belle. She finished her freshman season with 269 kills and took home the honor of best freshman in the conference. She avoided the dreaded sophomore slump with 310 kills and recorded another 346 last season to help the Belles reach the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time since 1992.

Now, only eight matches into her senior season, Gibson is about to cross a milestone that only 10 of other ASU volleyball players have reached since the program was started in 1976. The last Belle to reach the 1,000 kill mark was Lindsey Jones who finished her career with 1,029 kills in the 2004 season. Twice in Gibson's career she has recorded 22 kills in a match – first against St. Edward's as a freshman and then last year against Washburn.

“That's a testament to her consistency and ability to be a go-to player for us,” ASU head coach Chuck Waddington said. “A thousand is a big number and I'm really proud of the work that she has put in to get there. She is a huge piece of our puzzle and has been since she got here. The impact she has made will last for years.”

Also a LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll selection and the president of the Sociology Club at ASU, Gibson epitomizes the meaning of student-athlete. She's also a tremendous teammate, according to fellow team captains Katie Coleman and Alex Woolsey.

“She is always there for you and has never let me down as a friend,” Coleman said. “She is always encouraging and building me and the rest of the team up.”

“Chelsea Gibson is the person you can always count on to have a smile on her face and always be in your corner no matter what,” Woolsey added. “She's an intense competitor and really fun to set and play with. She is one of the best people I know on and off the court. Her middle name should be humble because that's who she is.”

Gibson and the Belles have been on the road their first eight matches of the season, but will play the next four at home including hosting Cameron at 7 p.m. on Friday and Midwestern State at 2 p.m. on Saturday in the first weekend of LSC play. Gibson has 54 kills through the first eight matches and averages 2.90 kills per set in her career. Whether she reaches 1,000 with a monster match on Friday, on Saturday by combining two solid performances or the milestone comes next week or later, Gibson's main focus is on team goals.

“We are capable of winning conference but we still have a lot of work to do in order to accomplish that,” Gibson said. “We have to stay focused and be prepared every day. There isn't a goal out there that we are not capable of achieving if we don't get ahead of ourselves and fight for every point.

“I really just want to enjoy this season and help our team go further than it has in a long time.”
 
Quick Fact
Gail Allison is the all-time Angelo State career leader with 1,934 kills. Allison played for the Belles from 1989-92 and was a two-time AVCA All-South Central Regional selection.
 

Additional Chelsea Gibson Quotes
 
On the contributing factors to her confidence on the court:
I know my teammates always have my back and I know that as long as I continue believing in myself and have them that everything is going to work out.

On the mindset of the Belles after the team dropped two matches last weekend:
We were on a high but being beaten was really an eye-opener. It showed us that when we aren't focused that we will be beat. The other teams outplayed us on the court and a lot of that was our fault.

On the confidence of the Belles this season:
Our success the last couple of years really does give us confidence this season. It has also carried over into other aspects of life where I feel more confidents because I'm a part of such a great team with great players.

On her responsibilities as a team captain:
I need to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that conflicts are limited. I need to be there to stop it immediately and make sure it doesn't hurt the team at all. I like having that having that responsibility and fixing issues. I never want to be the person who just sits back and let something hurt our team.

On why she enjoys playing volleyball:
There's nothing better than the competitive side of volleyball where you go out trying your best to win every point. I'm really going to miss that part of it when it's all over.

On what the future holds for Miss Chelsea Gibson:
I have a lot of options but haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do.