Bio
Honors & Awards
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2009-10 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Candidate
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Second-Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District (2008-09)
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Second-Team MVC Scholar-Athlete (2008-09)
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Two-Time Carl Grose Service Award Winner (2008 & 09)
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Honorable Mention MVC Scholar-Athlete (2007-08)
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Five-Time Bradley Scholar-Athlete of the Week
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Bradley Athletic Directors Honor Roll all six semesters
Overview
Described by the coaches as the glue of the team ... Two-year captain ... Has started 42 games over the last two seasons ... A heady player, she provides the Braves with a tall option on the wing, but also has the ability to play in the post ... A solid rebounder and defender, she will challenge for a starting spot.
2008-09 (Junior)
Earned second-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors ... Also named a second-team MVC Scholar-Athlete and received the MVC's Good Neighbor Award ... Named the Bradley Scholar-Athlete of the Week for the week of Nov. 25, Dec. 23 and Jan. 14 ... Made 15 consecutive free throws to start the season ... Connected on eight of her last 18 three-point attempts (44.4 percent) ... One of three players on the roster with more assists than turnovers, she was third on the team in rebounding (4.1 per game), assists, blocks and steals ... Turned in her first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Air Force ... Blogged on the Bradley Athletics website thoughout the 2008-09 season ... Scored in double figures four times ... The Braves were 19-7 when she had at least one assist.
2007-08 (Sophomore)
Named an honorable mention Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete ... Earned Bradley's Scholar-Athlete of the Week twice ... Came off the bench in the first five games of the season, before being inserted into the starting lineup ... Team won five of the next six games with Van Kirk in the starting lineup and finished the season 10-15 in games she started, compared to a 2-5 mark when she came off the bench ... Scored a career-best 20 points off the bench against Cleveland State ... Missed her first two three-point attempts of the season, before connecting on eight of her next 11 attempts (72.7 percent) from long range including a 4-for-5 performance against Cleveland State ... Hit 17 of her last 41 trey's and had an 11-game stretch in which she nailed 13-of-23 (56.5 percent) from beyond the arc ... Reached double figures in scoring eight times and had a seven-game stretch in which she averaged 10.3 points per game.
2006-07 Season (Freshman)
Played in 19 games, seeing the bulk of her action in Missouri Valley Conference play, where she appeared in 16 contests ... Did not see the court in nine of the first 11 games, before playing in each of the next 14 games ... Scored her first career points against San Jose State, hitting 3-of-4 free throws in her first collegiate action ... Pulled down five rebounds, two points, one assist and one steal at Illinois State ... Played a season-high 19 minutes against Evansville.
High School
Named honorable mention all-state as a senior and junior ... Helped Waconia to a conference championship in her final prep season ... An all-conference pick as a senior, she averaged 14.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game ... Earned all-conference honors in 2004-05 after averaging 13 points, six rebounds and three assists per game ... Also earned all-conference three times in volleyball and was a five-time all-conference selection in golf, where she competed in the state finals all four years and was a two-time all-state performer.
Getting To Know Jenny Van Kirk
Parents: Cynthia Van Kirk and Joseph Van Kirk
Birthdate: Feb. 13, 1988
Birthplace: Waconia, Minn.
Siblings: Emily (24) and Patrick (18)
Major: Individualized Major Program
