Caren Kemner

Caren Kemner
Personal information
BornCaren Marie Alexius Kemner
April 16, 1965 (1965-04-16) (age 59)
Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
College / UniversityUniversity of Arizona
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter
Number7 (1988–1992)
4 (1996)
9 (University of Arizona)
National team
1985–1996 United States
Medal record
Women's volleyball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Barcelona Team
World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 1990 China Team
FIVB World Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place 1995 Shanghai
Goodwill Games
Bronze medal – third place 1986 Moscow
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Indianapolis Team

Caren Marie Alexius Kemner (born April 16, 1965) is an American former volleyball player and three-time Olympian.

Kemner was inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2013.[1]

High school

Kemner played volleyball at Quincy Notre Dame High School, and led her team to an undefeated season and a state championship in 1980 as a sophomore.[1] She graduated from high school in 1983.[1]

College

Kemner played two seasons of college women's volleyball and softball at the University of Arizona.[1] She was an AVCA second-team All-American in volleyball in 1984.[2]

Kemner was inducted into the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.[3]

National team

Kemner competed with the United States women's national volleyball team at the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow, where she won a bronze medal.[1] She made her Olympic debut at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, finishing seventh.[4][5] She helped the United States to the bronze medal at the 1990 FIVB World Championship in China.[4] She won another bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.[4][6][7] Kemner then won a gold medal at the 1995 FIVB World Grand Prix in Shanghai.[1] She played her third and final Olympics at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, finishing seventh.[4][8]

Kemner was the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) female player of the year in 1991.[9]

Beach volleyball

Kemner played in one beach volleyball tournament in 1987 in Santa Monica, California, partnering with Kim Oden.[10] She briefly returned to beach volleyball between 1999 and 2000, notably partnering with Karolyn Kirby.[10]

Coaching

Kemner coached the women's volleyball team at Culver-Stockton College from 2010 to 2021, and also coached the men's team from 2017 to 2021.[1][11]

On May 6, 2021, Kemner was named head coach for the men's volleyball team at Quincy University after the previous coach Gavin Mueller stepped down.[12][13]

International competitions

  • 1985 – NORCECA (silver)
  • 1986 – World Championships
  • 1986 – Goodwill Games (bronze)
  • 1987 – NORCECA (silver)
  • 1987 – Pan American Games (bronze)
  • 1988 – Summer Olympics
  • 1990 – Goodwill Games
  • 1990 – World Championships (bronze)
  • 1991 – NORCECA (silver)
  • 1991 – World Gala
  • 1991 – World Cup
  • 1992 – Summer Olympics (bronze)
  • 1992 – FIVB Super Four (bronze)
  • 1993 – NORCECA Championships (silver)
  • 1993 – FIVB Grand Champions Cup
  • 1995 – World Grand Prix (gold)
  • 1995 – World Cup
  • 1996 – Summer Olympics (7th place)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Caren Kemner". International Volleyball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  2. ^ "Women's Volleyball All-America Teams and Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "Kemner Named to Volleyball Hall of Fame". University of Arizona Athletics. April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Caren Marie Alexis Kemner". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. ^ O'Brien, Richard (September 14, 1988). "Long Live This Team". Sports Illustrated. New York City: Time. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Bondy, Filip (August 8, 1992). "Barcelona: Volleyball; No More Tears: Women Bully Way to Bronze". The New York Times. sec. 1 p. 31. Retrieved September 24, 2024. (subscription required)
  7. ^ Riding, Alan (August 7, 1992). "Barcelona: Volleyball; It's Brains Over Bronze as Clever Cuba Reaches Final". The New York Times. p. B8. Retrieved September 6, 2024. (subscription required)
  8. ^ Schoffner, Chuck (July 19, 1996). "Ex-Volleyball Star's New Role". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Penner, Mike (August 1, 1992). "Barcelona '92 Olympics / Day 7 : U.S. Victory Makes a World of Difference : Women's volleyball: Americans upset CIS in five games to gain instant international credibility". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023. (subscription required)
  10. ^ a b "Karen Kemner". Beach Volleyball Database. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  11. ^ "Kemner Steps Down From Culver-Stockton Men's Volleyball Post". Victory Sports Network. May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "Mueller Steps Down as Men's Volleyball Coach; Kemner Selected as Successor". Quincy University Athletics. May 6, 2021. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Schuckman, Matt (May 6, 2021). "Kemner coming home as she takes over QU men's volleyball program". Herald-Whig. Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.