Being a versatile player and always putting the team first has made senior Holly Bordewyk an important asset to the ISU women’s basketball team.

ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said when he was recruiting, Bordewyk was just the type of person and player that the ISU women’s basketball team was looking for.

“A friend of mine coached Holly’s AAU team,” Fennelly said. “He said she had good skills, was athletic for her size and was a team player.”

Bordewyk began her basketball career in third grade on a co-ed YMCA team. She followed in the footsteps of her two older brothers and took up soccer, but realized in high school that there were more opportunities in college if she stuck with basketball.

“I really grew to love the game,” Bordewyk said. “I quit soccer my sophomore year in high school to play basketball.”

After playing on high-school and AAU teams, Bordewyk came to Iowa State on an official visit and said that she felt the program had a bright future.

“Iowa State seemed like a great place to come to school and play basketball,” Bordewyk said. “I’m glad I chose Iowa State.”

Originally scheduled to redshirt her freshman year, the 6-foot-1 Bordewyk ended up averaging 6.7 minutes of playing time per game. In one game against Western Michigan, she was perfect from the floor, scoring a career-high nine points and tacking on five rebounds in ten minutes of play.

“She has adapted to different roles and has played a variety of positions,” Fennelly said. “Her versatility has been important.”

During her sophomore year, Bordewyk played in 24 games and had five points, three rebounds and three steals in a season-best 15 minutes against Nebraska. She also made the academic all-Big 12 first team.

“Holly is a good student and an easy kid to coach,” Fennelly said. “She puts the team first.”

Fennelly said Bordewyk has matured as a player and she understands her role on the team.

“She has the ability to make plays that, at her size, wouldn’t be expected,” Fennelly said. “Most of her success is in the open court creating plays off the break.”

Whether in the game or shouting encouragement from the bench, Bordewyk said each player is always an important part.

“Holly is very supportive of her teammates,” Fennelly said. “I have never heard or seen her show a selfish attitude. She has great respect from the team and coaches.”

Bordewyk has spent time preparing for this year’s season. She played in a summer league in Iowa City with some of her teammates and averaged about an hour and a half of practice or playing time five days a week.

“I’ve been working out all summer,” Bordewyk said. “I have confidence that I’m prepared.”

The team is excited to get the season started, Bordewyk said. As for herself, she said she hopes to play and contribute toward a successful season. “The team comes first,” she said. “Individual things take care of themselves.”

The ISU women opened their season at home with a 68-57 win over the Johnson Financial exhibition squad on Sunday. Bordewyk said playing in front of a home crowd can have a tremendous impact on a game.

“We have the best fans in the country,” Bordewyk said. “The energy from the fans is incredible. We miss them on the road.”

The team has another exhibition game slated against Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 17 before starting regular play on the 24th. Bordewyk said they haven’t begun discussing goals for the season but that they hope to make it to the NCAA tournament.

“We hope to win enough games to make it to the tournament,” she said. “There are a lot of things we need to do to make that happen.”

Bordewyk said the most important aspect of the team is the chemistry between the players.

“Having everyone together and united for a common goal is more important than the individual skills of the players,” she said.