Ranking No. 2 in the conference in hitting percentage, No. 8 in blocks and No. 10 in kills per game, Illinois State freshman Kari Staehlin is making a strong imprint on the Missouri Valley Conference in her first three weeks of college volleyball. The Valley has recognized Staehlins impact; for the second time in three weeks, the 6-foot-2 middle blocker is the Valleys Freshman of the Week.
Hitting .360 with 3.29 kills and 1.23 blocks per game, Staehlin has helped Illinois State to a 7-2 record and a 2-0 start in the Missouri Valley Conference. In wins at Drake and Creighton last weekend, Staehlin led the Birds with 19 kills and 8 blocks in seven games.
In the process, Staehlin helped the Redbirds out-score their two opponents by an average of 11 points per game (30-19).
The Valley began a Freshman of the Week honor this season and Staehlin has won it two of the first three weeks. In the week she didnt win, Redbird middle Emily Kabbes was the leagues Player of the Week. This week, that honor goes to Wichita States Darcy Vohs, who averaged 3.71 kills and hit .457 in Shocker wins at Evansville and Southern lllinois.
Staehlin has company among the conference individual stat leaders. Kabbes is No. 5 in hitting percentage and No. 10 in blocks. Savannah Knowles is No. 8 in kills and No. 10 in service aces. Laura Doornbos is No. 7 in kills. As a team, ISU is No. 1 in the Valley with the lowest opponent hitting percentage (.146) and the Birds are No. 2 in the league in hitting percentage, assists and kills.
The Redbirds return home for the first time in three weeks with a 7 p.m. Friday match against Bradley and a 7 p.m. Saturday contest against Northern Iowa, both at Redbird Arena.
