July 11, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. -
In volleyball, setters are responsible for directing the offense, being a leader and serving as an extension of the head coach on the court. With her exemplary leadership skills and impact that she brings to the Redbirds, Illinois State head volleyball coach Sharon Dingman has named Erin Lindsey as the recipient of the 2007 Janyth Aellig Endowed Scholarship.
"We are honored to have the Janyth Aellig Scholarship in our program. It is a true testament to the love Janyth had for Redbird athletics," said Dingman. "To name Erin Lindsey the recipient is fitting because of her love for Redbird volleyball. Erin loves to compete, she loves to win and she loves to represent Illinois State University. As all of our fans do, I am sure Janyth would appreciate the dedication to Redbird volleyball and Illinois State University that Erin displays on the court and in the classroom."
The Janyth Aellig Endowed Scholarship is named in honor of avid Redbird women's basketball and volleyball fan. Jan, and her husband, Fred, had several seasons where they attended every Redbird contest - home and away - in both sports. When Jan passed away in 1997, Fred and a group of more than 50 friends and family members began the endowment. It is awarded annually to a deserving volleyball and women's basketball student-athlete.
During the 2006 season, Lindsey earned first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors after ranking second in the league in assists-per-game (11.96 apg). She recorded 40 or more set assists in 20 matches on the season, and tallied 17 double-doubles (set assists-digs). Lindsey was named to the MVC scholar-athlete team and was a third-team CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree.
Lindsey was honored to be associated with such an honor.
"To be recognized as the recipient of the Janyth Aellig Endowment is truly an honor," said Lindsey. "Our fans and community supporters are so valuable to our program. I'm humbled to be associated with Janyth's name and appreciate what she meant to Redbird volleyball.
"While it can be difficult to balance being both a full-time student and an athlete, it has made me a much more rounded individual, and people like Janyth continue to make my experience that much more rewarding."
The Janyth Aellig Endowment is one of ISU's16 fully funded scholarships. For information about supporting this, or other Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
