Opposing defenses beware: Junior captain Katie Bruzdzinski has wreaked havoc on any team that dares line up on the other side of the net.

While the Michigan volleyball team has struggled in Big Ten play this season, Bruzdzinski has racked up kills faster than a kid hovering a magnifying glass over an anthill. She became the fastest Michigan player to reach 1,000 kills (76 games), and she currently ranks fourth on Michigan's all-time kill list with 1,142, just 420 behind the all-time leader, Jennifer Gandolph.

As an outside hitter, Bruzdzinski isn't considered the most physical player on the court. Most players at that position use brute strength to blast the ball across the net at opposing defenses, but Bruzdzinski uses her knowledge of the game for an extra advantage.

Instead of just spiking the ball as hard as possible, Bruzdzinski likes to mix up her array of shots with short tips over the defenders and other shots that she has in her arsenal. A savvy approach Michigan coach Mark Rosen said. Her shots keep the defense on its toes because it can't predict what might be coming next.

But kills and crafty shots aren't Bruzdzinski's only specialties. She currently ranks eighth on Michigan's all-time aces leaderboard with 106 and leads the Big Ten in service aces per game. She is also quickly moving up the ranks in all-time digs.

"She has great volleyball skills, but it's the intangible things that make a player really special," Rosen said. "Katie definitely displays those intangible qualities."

Another intangible Rosen attributes to Bruzdzinski is her growing leadership abilities. Rosen said one of the differences between good players and great players is how they can affect other players on the court. A great player can make those around her play better, while a good player has great skills but leaves her teammates feeling alienated and alone.

"Katie is a really intense and competitive leader," Rosen said. "Whatever she needs to get her teammates going, whether it be a light-hearted comment, a look across the court that shows confidence in another player or just an honest kick in the tail, she knows how to do it."

Bruzdzinski, who is more modest than Rosen about her role on he court, said that the only difference of being a captain is the need for more maturity.

"I don't really feel that much added pressure this year because I am a captain," Bruzdzinski said. "I do feel the need to be a steady player on the court and show steady behavior off it. I want the team to know that they can trust me."

Freshman Veronica Rood, who has started the last two games for the Wolverines, is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Bruzdzinksi's leadership. When an injury to senior Megan Bowman left the team without a middle blocker, junior Lyndsay Miller filled the spot, opening a spot for Rood to start at outside hitter. Starting as a freshman can sometimes be overwhelming, but Bruzdzinski, who also started her first year, helped Rood through it.

"She's someone to look up to on the court," Rood said. "She is always there if you ever need to ask any questions, and she always has advice when we're on the court together."

Rood agreed that Bruzdzinski's leadership abilities have helped her improve, but it's Bruzdzinksi's play on the court that really motivates her.

"At the beginning of the year, I would always be across the net from her in practice because I wasn't on the starting team yet," Rood said. "Competing against her like that helped me a lot because I want to be able to be a great outside hitter like she is."