Southern Arkansas University Athletics

A native of Liberty Center, Iowa, Kristen (Smith) Olson played volleyball at Southern Arkansas University in 1992-1994.  She set and still holds several Lady Mulerider records.  She transferred to Southern Arkansas after a successful two-year career at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, where she was named a Junior College All-American.
           
In 1994, Smith set the school record for digs with 965, she set the digs per game record of 4.3 in a year in 1992, and for a career in both 1992 and 1994, also 4.3.  Olson had a school record of aces in a match with 11 against Harding in 1992, and for a year with 91, also 1992.  She had a record aces per game in a year .81 in 1992, and for a career, .78 in 1994.
           
Kristin set six school records while at SAU, and still holds four, with 11 service aces in a match, and 91 in a season, and service aces per set with .81 in a season and .78 in a career.
           
After she tore an anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in 1993, she came back in 1994 to blossom as an outside hitter, leading the Lady Muleriders to the AIC championship.
           
Olson was National Athletic Intercollegiate Association (NAIA) All-District 17 in 1992, NAIA Southwest Regional in 1994, Honorable Mention NAIA All-America in 1994, First Team All-AIC In 1992 and 1994, and NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 1994.                        
Olson also participated in track and field at SAU and helped the Lady Muleriders win an AIC championship in 1993, but had to drop the sport after blowing out a knee that season.