The University of Mississippi Athletics
Softball Senior Spotlight: Vanessa Gibbs
4/27/2007 | Softball
By Elizabeth Zaremba
Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations
Making adjustments has been the story of Vanessa Gibbs’ career.
The senior outfielder from Seminary,
Though she has since made many accomplishments playing fast-pitch softball, it was not until her junior year of high school that Seminary started a fast-pitch program.
“I only played (fast-pitch) for two years,” Gibbs recalls. “I played during the summer in fast-pitch once, but that was just for one summer.”
The adjustments Gibbs had to make were tough, but her willingness to learn paid off when she received a scholarship with the Ole Miss Rebels.
“I hit right-handed before my freshman year, but I was turned into a slapper,” Gibbs said. “My first coach thought I was quick, so I had to adjust by learning how to hit the ball left-handed.”
Gibbs’ quickness showed early on as she saw action in 29 games as a pinch runner in addition to six starts her freshman year, and in 2006 was second on the team in stolen bases with four. Though she has several personal-best games in her career, Gibbs’ most memorable game came in 2005 when the Rebels upset national powerhouse UCLA by a 3-2 score.
“When we beat UCLA we had to play 14 innings, which is like two games. That was the most memorable moment because no one thought we would be able to do something like that.”
This season Gibbs has played in 39 games with 22 starts, helping the Rebs win 21 games with a record-tying 10 victories in SEC play. For her career, Gibbs ranks among the top 11 in school history in stolen bases and triples.
Even with her efforts on the field, her presence outside the lines is what makes a big impact with her teammates. Freshman outfielder Emily Sarver credits the team’s positive attitude and energy to Gibbs.
“She’s always upbeat,” Sarver said. “If somebody’s down, she picks them up, and she’s always goofy. She’s always dancing or singing or doing something to pump everyone up.”
Though the Rebels have accomplished a lot this season, Gibbs knows that there is still room for improvement and understands the potential of the team.
“I think it’s really easy in this game to get down,” she said. “They’re young and they’re feeling a lot of pressure, but I feel like the older they get, the easier it gets.”
Whether it will get easier or not is left to be seen. Sarver knows that at the end of the season the Rebels will be losing one of their great leaders.
“We’ll miss her lightheartedness. She’s always behind us 100 percent.”
