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Natalie Uhart

Class: Senior Hometown: Lansing, Kan. High School: Lansing

Last College: Long Beach State Height: 6-2 Position: Middle Blocker Experience: 1L

2008 Outlook
Extremely hard working and very driven ... Physical blocker ... Brings high-level experience ... A motivational leader for the team.

2007: Redshirt Junior
Played and started 20 matches at middle blocker ... Academic All-Big 12 Second Team ... Was forced to sit out a month after the discovery of a congenital heart defect ... Led the squad with 1.17 blocks per game and a .271 hitting percentage upon her return ... Of the 20 matches she appeared in, she led the team in total blocks 15 times ... Led the team with 3.37 points per game ... Contributed 2.49 kpg and 1.15 bpg in conference matches, eighth in Big 12 contests ... Blocked five or more balls 11 times throughout the season ... Recorded double-digit kills eight times and had a .400 or better hitting percentage in four matches ... Opened the year with a career-high four service aces against Cal State Bakersfield on Aug. 24 ... Hit at a season-best .562 clip (10K-1E-16 TA) versus Idaho State on Aug. 25 ... Contributed 14 kills on a team-high .522 hitting percentage along with seven total blocks in a win over Colorado on Oct. 10 ... Went 8-for-16 with no errors versus Texas A&M on Oct. 24 ... Had a team season-high 19 kills and 12 blocks in five games versus Missouri on Oct. 27 ... Her 12 blocks were also the fourth-best by a Big 12 player ... Chipped in 14 kills (.324 hitting percentage) and five blocks to help KU upset No. 18 Oklahoma.

2006: Redshirt Season
Voted Big 12 Conference Preseason Newcomer of the Year by league coaches ... Suffered a season-ending knee injury in an alumni match prior to the season.

2005: Junior Season (Long Beach State - Medical Hardship)
Saw action in 19 games and five matches early in the season ... Averaged 0.88 blocks and 0.81 kills per game for the 49ers ... Granted a medical hardship waiver by the Big West Conference (participated in less than 20 percent of the team's matches).

2004: Sophomore Season (Long Beach State)
Appeared in 30 games for the 49ers despite battling injuries ... Averaged 1.90 kills and 1.02 blocks per game ... Compiled an impressive .336 hitting efficiency.

2003: Freshman Season (Long Beach State)
Competed in 94 games in her first season at LBSU, averaging 1.91 kills per game ... Led the team with 1.04 blocks per game and a .325 attack percentage ... Selected to the Big West All-Freshman Team ... Coached by Brian Gimmillaro.

High School
Graduated from Lansing High and was coached by Julie Slater ... A four-time all-league, two-time all-state and two-time all-state tournament selection ... Chosen as the 2001-02 and 2002-03 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year ... Named 2002 and 2003 KC Metro Player of the Year ... Member of the Junior National Training Team in summer 2003 ... Led her team to three Kaw Valley state championships (2000-02), three sub-state championships (2000-02), and a 4A state championship and 38-2 record in 2002 ... Left LHS as the record holder in digs (546), kills (1,185) and blocks (462) ... Played club ball for Team KC and was coached by current KU assistant coach Christi Posey.

Personal
Parents are Mark and Gloria Uhart ... Has two brothers, Jonathan and Matt ... Communications major.