January 30, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
Kelly Rikli, a record-breaking setter who was a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection and an honorable mention American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region choice, was presented the 2004 Linda Herman Most Valuable Player Award for Illinois State volleyball at the Redbird Volleyball Post-Season Banquet Sunday at The Chateau in Bloomington.
The senior from Highlands Ranch, Colo., who finished her career No. 2 in set assists at Illinois State, was No. 4 in the Valley in set assists and No. 5 in the league in hitting percentage in 2004 while leading her team to a 22-9 record and second place in the Missouri Valley Conference. Her 1,421 set assists are the fourth-best single-season total in Redbird history and her .317 hitting percentage is No. 7 on the all-time Redbird list.
Two other individual awards went to sophomore Jessie Janik. Kristin Kueltzo Zvonar, a Redbird star of the mid-1990s, presented Janik with the Kristin Kueltzo Inspiration Award as the team's most inspirational player. Janik also was honored as the team's Most Improved Player.
Bill Meisner and Jean Young, parents of the late Kelly Meisner, presented the Kelly Meisner Courage Award to senior Amber Rogers, who spent a portion of her 2004 summer helping refugees in the Dominican Republic. The award is named for Meisner, who died after a courageous battle with cancer in 1996.
Rikli, Rogers and Paige White received their Redbird jerseys framed. White's 457 digs in 2004 are the fourth best single-season total in Redbird history. She finished her career with 993 digs, No. 6 on the Illinois State career list.
More than 120 fans, family and friends were on hand for the banquet, which was emceed by Redbird volleyball radio voice R.C. McBride and featured a poetic, lyrical review of the season by Redbird head coach Sharon Dingman.
Laura Doornbos, who joined Rikli as a first-team all-Valley selection, was presented with a ceremonial ball for earning her 1,000th career kill. Rikli was honored for her 4,000th set assist. Other Valley honors recognized included Savannah Knowles as a second-team all-Valley choice and a State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament selection and Kari Staehlin as a member of the Valley All-Freshman team. Emily Kabbes, Doornbos and Staehlin were recognized as Missouri Valley Conference Players of the Week.
