It took a team effort for Illinois State to rebound from a 5-10 start to finish the 2003 volleyball season with a 19-13 record including a late-season win over No. 12 Northern Iowa. But every member of that team would indicate that the leadership of record-breaking junior setter Kelly Rikli as the focal point of that turnaround.
Rikli, who became just the second Redbird setter to record 1,500 or more set assists in a season, was a second-team all-conference selection as well. For her efforts, she was presented with the Linda Herman Most Valuable Player Award named in honor of the pioneering Redbird volleyball coach and administrator for more than three decades.
Rikli and others Redbird award winners and honorees were formally recognized during halftime of the Jan. 24 Redbird womens basketball game vs. Indiana State.
Freshman defensive specialist Jessie Janik came back to play a key role in the Redbird rotation just one year after suffering a broken leg. Janik received the Kelly Meisner Courage Award named for the former Redbird player who lost a courageous battle to cancer in 1997.
Redbird kill leader Laura Doornbos was the teams Most Improved Player. She was the first Redbird sophomore to record 400 kills in a season. Junior Amber Rogers, who moved between middle blocker and right-side hitter as a valued reserve for the Redbirds most of the season, received the Kristen Kueltzo Most Inspirational Player Award named for a mid-1990s Redbird player who also moved among several positions to bolster her teams.
Emily Kabbes, who was the only Missouri Valley player among the leagues leaders in hitting percentage, blocks and service aces, was recognized as the only Redbird player to earn first-team all-conference. Savannah Knowles, the only Valley freshman to average at least 2.5 kills and 2.0 digs, was recognized as the Valleys Newcomer of the Year. Redbird dig leader Paige White, a junior, was honored for making the State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament team.
2003 Redbird Award Winners
Linda Herman Most Valuable Player Kelly Rikli, Jr., Setter
Kelly Meisner Courage Award Jessie Janik, Fr., Defensive Specialist
Most Improved Player Laura Doornbos, So., Outside Hitter
Kristen Kueltzo Most Inspirational Player Amber Rogers, Jr., Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker
First-Team All-Conference Emily Kabbes, So., Middle Blocker
Second-Team All-Conference Laura Doornbos, So., Outside Hitter
Kelly Rikli, Jr., Setter
MVC Newcomer of the Year Savannah Knowles, Fr., Outside Hitter
State Farm-MVC All-Tournament Team Paige White, Jr., Libero
