Oct. 24, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
For the first time this year, and the third time in her career, Illinois State middle blocker Emily Kabbes is the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week.
The 6-foot-2 senior from Normal, Ill., led the Redbirds to roard wins at Creighton and Drake, and had a strong match in Illinois State's four-game loss to No. 7 Notre Dame as well. Kabbes hit .345 for the week with 37 kills in 84 attempts and just eight errors. She averaged 2.85 kills, 0.77 digs and 0.67 blocks per game for the Redbirds. In the two conference matches, she hit .361 with 28 kills in nine games, adding seven digs and five blocks.
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman believes Kabbes has been playing well recently, aiding the `Birds in their current nine-match Valley winning streak.
"I'm exited for Em," said Dingman. "In my opinion, she has played the last three weekends well enough to deserve this honor, but I know our conference has a large number of quality players. It's just nice to see her get this recognition."
Recently, the former Bloomington Central Catholic High School star joined her sister, current assistant coach Jenny Fuente, and former Redbird star Kendra Haselhorst as the only players in Illinois State history with 400 career block assists. With a .301 career hitting percentage, she has a chance to join Haselhorst, Andi Hardwick and Julie Mueller Paska as the only players in Redbird history with a career hitting percentage above .300.
The 2003 First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and 2004 First Team Valley Scholar-Athlete choice has garnered player of the week awards twice previously--Sept. 13, 2004 and Nov. 15, 2004. She joins teammate Kari Staehlin as the only two Redbirds to earn Valley Player of the Week this season. Staehlin was honored two weeks ago.
The Redbirds play Tuesday at Northern Illinois before returning home to face Valley foes Evansville (7 p.m. Friday) and Southern Illinois (7 p.m. Saturday).
