Austin Zimmerman was a fixture on the Colorado front row during the 2002-04 seasons. She took a medical redshirt in 2005 and is fired up and ready to return to the front line. She has started every match of her career and has a chance to become one of the most decorated middle blockers in team history. Zimmerman, who has played both right side and middle in her collegiate career, is already 20th on CU’s all-time blocking list (181) and is on pace to rank among the Buffs’ all-time hitters in terms of percentage.
As a Junior in 2005
Zimmerman was a redshirt in 2005.
As a Sophomore in 2004
Zimmerman led all Colorado primary attackers in hitting percentage last year sporting a .297 mark (198k-63e-455att) while averaging 2.02 kills and 1.90 digs per game. She averaged exactly one block per game ranking just behind fellow sophomore middle Lara Bossow who led the Buffs at 1.06 bpg. Her 98 total blocks ranked 18th on CU’s all-time single season list. She had at least one block in all but three matches and at least three blocks in 18 of 28 matches including a string of 10 straight (9/15 vs. Kansas State to 10/20 vs. Texas A&M). Zimmerman also had at least five digs in 18 of 28 matches peaking with a career-high 16 at Kansas (11/27). She hit .350 or better on 12 occasions including a personal-best .647 in the home finale against Iowa State (11k-0e-17att). Zimmerman started all 28 matches, one of only three Buffs to do so, and has started all 59 matches of her career.
As a Freshman in 2003
Zimmerman became the first true-freshman to start every match since Elizabeth Gower in 1999. Her 31 starts were also the second most by a freshman in team history, trailing only Karrie Downey’s 35 starts in 1991. Zimmerman ranked fourth on CU’s season freshman chart with 110 games played. She had the second most blocks by any CU freshman (75) trailing only Meghan Barkman who had 134 in 1999. Zimmerman also ranked ninth in digs by a freshman with 213. She earned a spot on the Denver Invitational All-Tournament team by hitting .309 (34-10e-67att) while averaging 2.27 digs and one block per game. Opened her Big 12 career in style by recording a career-best 19 kills against Texas Tech in Boulder (9/17). She was a consistent presence on the floor averaging 1.77 kills, 1.97 digs and 0.75 blocks per game.
High School
After finishing seventh in the state tournament as a junior, Zimmerman paced a Lewis and Clark team to an undefeated regular season Greater Spokane Lake League title in 2002 going 13-0 in conference play, 34-4 overall, en route to bringing district and regional championship titles and a third place state finish home. She was voted the best hitter in 2000 and MVP of the Spokane Splash in 2002 when the club team took fifth place at nationals in the open division.
Personal
Austin Brooke Zimmerman is the oldest of Randy and Melaine Zimmerman’s three children. Randy played running back in college for the University of Oregon (one year) and the University of Idaho (three years). Her younger sister Hannah will be a senior in high school and her younger brother, Joe, will be a sophomore. Her hobbies include rafting, camping, kayaking, going to the lake and spending time with friends.
Academics
A socialogy major at Colorado, Zimmerman earned a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in the fall of ’05 and the spring of ’06, just missing a 4.0 in the fall with a 3.940 GPA. She carries a 3.089 GPA.
