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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Athletics to Retire Jersey of Volleyball Standout Kim Turner
9/16/2019 9:01 AM | Volleyball
Turner is the First Volleyball Player to have Her Jersey Retired
SALT LAKE CITY – A special weekend honoring head coach Beth Launiere for coaching in her 30th season just got a little more special as Utah volleyball is retiring Kim Turner's jersey on Friday, October 11, Launiere announced. It is the first jersey retired in Utah volleyball history.
"Kim Turner was Utah volleyball's first AVCA All-American and had a huge impact on the success of our program," Launiere said. "During her time at Utah, she amassed almost every accolade possible while leading our team into the nationally recognized program we have today. Kim was a leader from the first moment she stepped onto campus as a freshman, and literally put the team on her back for four years. She was the consummate All-American and a great representative of our program in every aspect, and I'm very happy we're able to honor her by retiring her jersey."
Turner, inducted into the Crimson Club Hall of Fame in 2014, ended her Utah career holding program records in kills (1620), total blocks (670), block assists (589) and second in hitting percentage (.326) and became the first All-American in program history after being named to the AVCA Third Team in 2003.
Turner's jersey will be hung in the rafters during the 30th year reunion celebrated the weekend of October 11-13 that will also honor Launiere.
"I was originally coming to Utah to celebrate Beth and her 30-year career so I think it says a lot about her that she is willing to incorporate this into an event that was supposed to be all about her," Turner said. "I'm honored she worked so hard to make it happen. I know this is not something that happens every day, and I don't take that lightly. I'm just really grateful to Beth and the Utah program for doing this for me. You don't really set goals that you want your jersey retired because it's something that happens after your career is over, so it's icing on the cake. My four years of playing had a positive impact on me, and I'm just really excited about this whole thing."
In addition to being an All-American, Turner was also named AVCA First Team All-Region (West) three times, Mountain West Conference Player of the Year two times, Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2000 and was named to the All-Mountain West Team all four years.
Turner was also an exemplary student-athlete being named CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-District in 2002 and First Team Academic All-District in 2003.
In her four years on campus, the Utes went 95-33 from 2000-03 and made the NCAA Tournament every season. She also helped lead Utah to the program's first Sweet 16 in 2001. Turner was named Mountain West Tournament MVP after Utah won the tournament in 2001 and 2002.
"It's such a unique experience to be a college athlete in general, and I had the opportunity to be surrounded by really talented student-athletes that were willing to go to work from day one to make each other better," Turner said. "I think that you can't have a successful career without the help of your teammates, and I believe I had the best teammates by my side. I want to recognize them in this whole thing as well. I cherished them my entire time at Utah and especially with Beth. I think she's an amazing coach and it brought out the best in me. That's why I think she's had such a great career is she sees the best in her athletes and creates a vision moving forward."
During her senior season in 2003, Turner's best made her one of the best players in the country. She ranked 18th in the nation in blocks per set (1.48) and 31st in hitting percentage (.367). Turner's senior year ended with Co-Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors for a second-straight season, as she led the MWC in hitting percentage (.434) and points-per-set (5.61). During conference play, she tallied 231 kills, which set the league's single-season record. Her 1,620 career kills ranked most all-time in the MWC until 2014.
For more detail on the festivities that weekend celebrating Coach Launiere and Turner, check UtahUtes.com or follow Utah volleyball on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
"Kim Turner was Utah volleyball's first AVCA All-American and had a huge impact on the success of our program," Launiere said. "During her time at Utah, she amassed almost every accolade possible while leading our team into the nationally recognized program we have today. Kim was a leader from the first moment she stepped onto campus as a freshman, and literally put the team on her back for four years. She was the consummate All-American and a great representative of our program in every aspect, and I'm very happy we're able to honor her by retiring her jersey."
Turner, inducted into the Crimson Club Hall of Fame in 2014, ended her Utah career holding program records in kills (1620), total blocks (670), block assists (589) and second in hitting percentage (.326) and became the first All-American in program history after being named to the AVCA Third Team in 2003.
Turner's jersey will be hung in the rafters during the 30th year reunion celebrated the weekend of October 11-13 that will also honor Launiere.
"I was originally coming to Utah to celebrate Beth and her 30-year career so I think it says a lot about her that she is willing to incorporate this into an event that was supposed to be all about her," Turner said. "I'm honored she worked so hard to make it happen. I know this is not something that happens every day, and I don't take that lightly. I'm just really grateful to Beth and the Utah program for doing this for me. You don't really set goals that you want your jersey retired because it's something that happens after your career is over, so it's icing on the cake. My four years of playing had a positive impact on me, and I'm just really excited about this whole thing."
In addition to being an All-American, Turner was also named AVCA First Team All-Region (West) three times, Mountain West Conference Player of the Year two times, Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2000 and was named to the All-Mountain West Team all four years.
Turner was also an exemplary student-athlete being named CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-District in 2002 and First Team Academic All-District in 2003.
In her four years on campus, the Utes went 95-33 from 2000-03 and made the NCAA Tournament every season. She also helped lead Utah to the program's first Sweet 16 in 2001. Turner was named Mountain West Tournament MVP after Utah won the tournament in 2001 and 2002.
"It's such a unique experience to be a college athlete in general, and I had the opportunity to be surrounded by really talented student-athletes that were willing to go to work from day one to make each other better," Turner said. "I think that you can't have a successful career without the help of your teammates, and I believe I had the best teammates by my side. I want to recognize them in this whole thing as well. I cherished them my entire time at Utah and especially with Beth. I think she's an amazing coach and it brought out the best in me. That's why I think she's had such a great career is she sees the best in her athletes and creates a vision moving forward."
During her senior season in 2003, Turner's best made her one of the best players in the country. She ranked 18th in the nation in blocks per set (1.48) and 31st in hitting percentage (.367). Turner's senior year ended with Co-Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors for a second-straight season, as she led the MWC in hitting percentage (.434) and points-per-set (5.61). During conference play, she tallied 231 kills, which set the league's single-season record. Her 1,620 career kills ranked most all-time in the MWC until 2014.
For more detail on the festivities that weekend celebrating Coach Launiere and Turner, check UtahUtes.com or follow Utah volleyball on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
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