Lauren Schaefer in 2008
Lauren Schaefer looks to become one of the top middle blockers in Colorado history. She has consistently held one of the top attack percentages on the team since her arrival in Boulder. Schaefer was sidelined last season but looks to be one of the top blockers in the Big 12 Conference her final season.
As a Junior in 2007
Schaefer started out the season by recording 14 kills in each of the first two matches of the season against Tulane and Furman. Schaefer also added seven total blocks against Tulane and was named to the All-State Sugar Bowl All-Tournament Team. She recorded a career-high attack percentage of .769 against UNC-Wilmington in Colorado Invitational. Schaefer hammed 10 kills on 13 errorless swings en route to being named to the CU Invite All-Tournament Team. On Oct. 17 against Iowa State, Schaefer recorded 12 blocks, one solo and 11 assists and became the first Buff since 2001 to record 12 or more blocks in a match. Her 12 blocks also ranked eighth in the Big 12 for overall matches and was sixth in conference only matches. Schaefer tallied 24 kills and 26.5 points against Oklahoma (10/24); both were career-bests. Her season ending hitting percentage was .360. It ranked fifth in the league and first on the team. Schaefer led the Buffs with 3.11 kills per game and was second with 0.83 blocks per game. Schaefer missed the final seven matches of the season due to injury.
As a Sophomore in 2006
Schaefer saw the most action of any of Colorado’s middle blockers in 2006. She played in 28 matches, starting in 23. Schaefer led the Buffs in blocking with 92 (13 solo and 79 assists). She was third in hitting percentage (.301) and was fourth in kills (226) and points (279.5). Schaefer also ranked 10th in Big 12 only matches with a hitting percentage of .308. She recorded a career-high three block solos against Oklahoma (9/30). Schaefer recorded a career-high 19 kills and five digs against Kansas State (11/1) and added six block assists for a career-best 22.0 points. She hit .750 against No. 5 Florida (9/3) with three kills on four swings and .688 against Cincinnati (9/7) with 11 kills on 16 errorless swings. In a five-game upset of No. 17 Missouri (9/13), Schaefer recorded 12 kills and four blocks. She hit above .333 in 13 matches and recorded 10 or more kills in 11 matches. Schaefer is 22nd on the career blocks list with 180 and is 23rd on the single season chart with 92.
As a Freshman in 2005
Schaefer saw time in every match as a freshman, including 26 starts. She cranked out a career-high 13 kills and 15.5 points in an upset of No. 8 Missouri (10/29). Schaefer hit .700 against Texas Tech (11/5) when she tallied seven kills on 10 attacks with no errors. On three occasions, she recorded seven blocks, which tied for the team-high on the season. Against Iowa State (9/28), Schaefer tallied seven block assists and against Kansas State (10/12) and Texas A&M (10/16), she recorded one block solo and six assists. She notched 12 kills against No. 11 Texas (11/9). In both matches against top-ranked Nebraska, Schaefer tallied five kills. On the season, she hit .242 and in conference only matches, she hit .273, which ranked 13th in the league. Schaefer made her collegiate debut against St. Peter’s (8/27).
High School
A 2004 PrepVolleyball.com High School All-American, Schaefer led Los Altos High School to a program-best 29-7 record as a senior. She paced the Eagles with 372 kills, 332 digs and 166 blocks, 88 of which were solo, en route to San Jose Mercury News Athlete of the Year honors. Schaefer was also a two-time Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division first team selection. She led the Eagles to a gold medal at the Harbour Invitational Tournament, earning MVP honors. Schaefer played her club ball for Vision Volleyball out of San Jose. Her Vision 16 Gold team won the bronze medal at the Junior Olympics and her Vision 18 Gold team picked up a silver medal. Schaefer is also a four-year letterwinner and team MVP for the Los Altos basketball squad.
Personal
Born Lauren Elizabeth Schaefer on June 2, 1987, in Honolulu, Hawai’i. She is the daughter of Gary and Perry Schaefer of Mountain View, Calif. She has three younger siblings, Christan (sister), who is a sophomore on the CU volleyball team and Derek who are twins. Nick will be a 11th grader. She chose CU because of the academic excellence of Leeds School of Business, Top 25 Division I volleyball, the beauty of the campus and the fantastic coaching staff. Schaefer would like to compete for Team USA in the Olympics and play professional volleyball after graduation.
Academics
She is majoring in business at Colorado with an emphasis in accounting. She has career goals of graduating with her CPA and to join one of the big four accounting firms. Schaefer earned a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll the spring of ?07 and fall of ?07.
