By LadySwish contributor Bob Flynn
With 52 seconds left in the third quarter of a game against William & Mary on Dec. 17, ODU’s MaKayla Timmons drove the right side of the lane, trying to cut into a 10-point deficit. Tribe center Abby Rendle came over to help defensively, and as she had done 273 times before in her career, thwarted the offensive attempt with a blocked shot. The ball didn’t end up in the third row nor was it sent back to half court. But it was just as impressive because it allowed Rendle to set the CAA record for career blocks, surpassing the mark set by current WNBA standout Elena Delle Donne, who starred at Delaware from 2009-13.
“I think it’s really cool. I kind of look up to her,” said Rendle, who earlier in the season set the Tribe’s career record for blocks. “It’s cool being able to say I surpassed Elena Delle Donne.”
Rendle, a 6-foot-4 senior from Reston, Va., has had a major impact on the W&M program since stepping foot on the school’s campus in Williamsburg. She set a W&M freshman record for blocks with 68 in 2014-15, had 53 her sophomore season before missing the final 13 games of the season because of a foot injury, and set a single-season school record with 101 last year. With her nine blocks in the win over ODU and two more four days later against Norfolk State, Rendle has 277 in her career. Another current WNBA star, Brittney Griner, holds the NCAA Division I record with 748 blocks. She played for Baylor from 2010-13.
“The record is tremendous. When you think of the name (of who she passed) it just adds to the validity of the record she just broke,” said Tribe coach Ed Swanson. “And you look at it and she missed half a year with an ankle injury.”
Assistant coach Sarah Eichler, in her second year with the Tribe, works with post players every day.
“When I first saw Abby was on my interview and she was very soft-spoken,” Eichler said in an email. “I remember thinking to myself ‘Someone with her frame must dominate on the court.’ She has delivered in all aspects of the game.”
Rendle has been a defensive force for some time. At South Lakes High School, she finished her career with 489 blocks, including a single-game record of 16.
“I was good at blocking in high school, but you don’t really compare yourself … you don’t really see the big picture of it all,” she said. “I’ve never really had a comparison until now of how good a blocker I am.”
Teammate Jenna Green has had a close view of Rendle’s talents for a number of years. They were teammates in AAU ball before coming to the Tribe.
“You learn over time not to try to shoot a layup over Abby Rendle,” Green said.
Many opponents learned that lesson the hard way. ODU’s Odegua Oigbokie, a 6-1 redshirt senior, shot just 4 for 12 (10 points), with Rendle registering five blocks against her. Rendle’s career high in blocks is 10, which she has done three times. She has posted the only three triple-doubles in school history, all coming on points, rebounds and blocks. Her 55 blocks and 5.0 average this year are among the best in the country.
“She’s got really good timing, and she doesn’t foul often,” Swanson said of Rendle’s shot-blocking ability. “It’s just a skill you really can’t teach. It’s a knack. It’s timing.”
Eichler agreed.
“Abby has impeccable timing. … Even though she has length as an advantage, shot-blocking without fouling is much more difficult than she makes it look.”
Swanson adds Rendle has an intangible that also plays a key role in her defense.
“She has a really good feel for the game, and I think that translates over to her defense, to her shot-blocking,” he said. “She comes up with big blocks. She’s a good help defender. She blocks her player’s shot a lot, but she also blocks the guards who continue to challenge her inside, which I find kind of surprising.”
All that was evident on her block that set the CAA record. Timmons, a 5-7 junior guard, was side-by-side with Green coming down the lane. Rendle came over to help out. Instead of the Tribe’s lead being cut to 8, W&M added two free throws and a field goal after the block to take a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter before closing out a 75-58 win.
Rendle, averaging 13.3 points this year and shooting 51.8 percent from the field, hopes her playing career isn’t over when W&M’s season ends. She is looking to follow in the footsteps of recent Tribe grads and play professionally.
“When I first came to play (in) college, I didn’t think I wanted to play overseas or continue past college,” she said. “But after four years, I’m definitely considering going overseas to continue my basketball career.”
Eichler said Rendle knows she has to be more than just a shot-blocker on defense to reach the next level.
“She draws a lot of attention because she can block shots, but she really wants to be more than that as a defender,” Eichler said. “She knows it’s important to continue to improve her foot speed, perimeter defensive abilities and her one-on-one block defense. I think (by) honing those skills while continuing to improve her finishing she will become the complete package for any coach that comes looking.”