THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — On October 20th, 2018, senior outside hitter Amanda Roberts became the fifth Regal in Cal Lutheran's history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. The accomplishment puts her on a short list with other Regal volleyball legends. The list for 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs consists of Allie Eason, Tracy Little, Kylie McLogan, Summer Plante-Newman and now Roberts.
Prior to committing to Cal Lutheran, Roberts played club volleyball and was thinking about her next move.
"I was on a club team where I was surrounded by all Division I athletes," said Roberts. "There was this huge pressure for me to feel like I had to go to a Division I team as well. I just had to make the right choice for me."
After doing some thinking, and committing late, she signed with Cal Lutheran and the rest is history.
"I believed that Amanda was a five tool kit and a gamer," said head volleyball coach Kellee Roesel. "She passed real well and she was smart offensively. She works tirelessly on her block and is a complete player."
Roberts made an immediate impact, cracking the 2015 roster, while being just a freshman. She went on to win the SCIAC Newcomer of the Year award. She then got to see what Regals' volleyball was really about as Cal Lutheran kept advancing through the NCAA playoffs. She became an important piece down the stretch and helped the Regals win their first National Championship.
After winning a national title, Roberts explained that as a young freshman, she had to gain her teammates' trust. She was one of the youngest on the team, especially being a newcomer, and had lots to prove.
"It taught me a lot about being a leader," said Roberts. I got to try and emulate those things the rest of my time here."
"She got a real sense of what we preach to the kids about the sisterhood," said Roesel. "She was really confident coming out of that. I always thought that Amanda was a natural leader. She figured out what the culture was like and has shown that throughout her time here.
"She is a kid who absolutely loves the game. She loves every part of it and those are the types of kids I want to recruit. She not only got to hear us talk about competing for a national championship, she was able to be a part of one."
While maintaining a good sense of humor "she's left a huge impression on this program. She's a kid who walks it," said Roesel.
"Seeing my name on a list like that means a lot. I never recognized the genuine role and impact I have made on this program until now. I have always played to play and it was never about the stats. I am now understanding the magnitude of all the hard work I have put in," said Roberts.
"She's been an absolute dream for me to coach. It's hard for me to believe that she is a senior and she's one of the girls I am absolutely going to miss," said Roesel.
Roberts currently sits in the record books with the seventh most kills in Regals' history at 1,016 and has the fifth most in digs with 1,184.
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Release by Joe Zimmerly, Sports Informtation Assistant; Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director