Succeeding at an elite level in one area is a rare enough accomplishment in itself, but to do so in two sports is a feat that is even more unique.
And Tina Kampa did just that, earning All-American honors in both volleyball and basketball during her career with the Blazers, while also leading the two teams to multiple runs through the NCAA Tournament.
She was the first player to record over 1,000 kills in volleyball and 1,000 points in basketball. She collected a total of seven All-MIAC awards throughout the two sports, while racking up two MIAC championships in basketball (1992-93, 1994-95) and another in volleyball (1991).
Twice she earned CSB Athlete of the Year honors (1993-94, 1994-95) and after her senior season of 1994-95 was named Division III Female Athlete of the Year by the Midwest Sports Channel. Coached by Carol Howe-Veenstra, Kampa earned All-American honors as a junior and senior on the volleyball court. She was also an Honorable Mention All-American as a senior playing for Coach Mike Durbin.
Her CSB career had a strong start. She played on a volleyball team that went to the Sweet Sixteen during her first year, and on a basketball team that went to the Final Four when she was a sophomore. She would go on to play in eight NCAA Tournaments, leading both teams to the postseason in each of her four years on campus. The volleyball team played in the Sweet Sixteen three times, while the basketball season never ended before the second round.
She closed her career second all-time on the Blazer volleyball charts in kills with 1,478, and was third all-time in points when her basketball career ended, at 1,346. Her volleyball record of 604 career blocks still stands today, as does her career shooting percentage mark of .684 in basketball.
Off the court, the honors continued to roll in as well. She was a multiple honoree on the Academic All-MIAC Team and was a Third Team Academic All-American in basketball as a senior.
She graduated cum laude from CSB in 1995 with a degree in liberal studies. In 1998 she earned her master’s degree from St. Cloud State University in counseling psychology and is in her 14th year as a licensed high school counselor at Mound Westonka High School.
A native of St. Cloud, Minn., and a St. Cloud Cathedral High School graduate, she currently resides in St. Louis Park, Minn.
