Sept. 17, 2007
ST. LOUIS -
After leading the Illinois State volleyball team to its first 2-0 start in league play since the 2004 season, junior right side hitter M.C. Richmond was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week. It is Richmond's first weekly accolade of her career, and the second for a Redbird player this season. Outside hitter Mallory Leggett was tabbed the league's Freshman of the Week for the period ending Sept. 9.
Richmond averaged 4.33 kills and 3.33 digs-per-game while hitting .319 for the week, in a home match against No. 20 Ohio State, and road tilts at Southern Illinois and Evansville. In the five-game win at Evansville, Richmond tied her career-high with 23 kills, recorded a career-best 22 digs and hit .358. She also added five blocks and scored a match-high 28.0 points.
The previous night at SIU, Richmond had 14 kills, recorded three service aces, tallied 12 digs and scored 17.5 points. Against the Buckeyes, Richmond had a team-high 15 kills on a .333 hitting percentage.
For the week, Richmond, one of ISU's three six-rotation players (she also attacks from the back row), tallied 52 kills, recorded 40 digs, contributed seven blocks and scored 61.0 points.
Richmond enters this week as the only player in the Valley to rank in the top-five in both kills (3.81 kpg; 2nd) and hitting percentage (.324; 5th). She has recorded double-digit kills in 11-of-13 matches, and has tallied nine double-digit dig outings. Richmond has hit .300 or better in eight contests.
Richmond was named to the All-MVC first-team last season, and was an honorable mention scholar-athlete team honoree.
Illinois State returns home to host both Wichita State (Sept. 21) and Missouri State (Sept. 22) this weekend at Redbird Arena. Both matches are set to begin at 7:05 p.m.
