Sept. 11, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
Just three days after being tabbed the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, junior outside hitter Peggy Riessen garnered another honor from the league office, being named the Prairie Farms/MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week for the period ending Sept. 7. Riessen has a 3.52 cumulative grade-point average in ISU's international business program.
"Peggy has really worked hard to improve her game early this season, and her impact has certainly been significant," said head coach Melissa Myers. "For her to be recognized for both her academic and athletic success is even more exciting. The demands of a student-athlete, especially one that is in the middle of their season, are unparalleled. Peggy, like many of her teammates, has done a great job finding a balance and staying committed to both academics and volleyball."
Riessen has been recognized for her academic success in each of her first two seasons in a Redbird uniform. Last season, she was named to the District 5 CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Team, while also collecting MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention plaudits. Riessen has also been a member of the AFNI honor roll in every semester at Illinois State.
Riessen emerged as Illinois State's top offensive option in ISU's four home matches last week, leading the Redbirds to a 3-1 record, including a runner-up finish in the Redbird Classic at Redbird Arena. For the week, Riessen averaged 5.07 kills per set on a .374 hitting percentage, 3.27 digs per set, and 5.43 points per frame.
In the home opener against Northern Illinois (Sept. 2), Riessen recorded career-highs in both kills (24) and points (25), while adding 19 digs for her first of two double-doubles on the week. In the Redbirds' three-set sweep over Western Carolina in the Redbird Classic first-round, Riessen's team-high 18 kills on a .517 hitting percentage led a threesome of Illinois State players with double-digit kills.
In the second-round sweep of Oakland, Riessen had 14 kills on just 25 swings (.560 hitting percentage), and added two service aces for a total of 16 points. Against Mid-American Conference West Division favorite and unbeaten Western Michigan, Riessen dished out a match-high 20 kills, scored 21 points and added 14 digs to record her second double-double in the past four matches.
In ISU's four contests last week, Riessen totaled 76 kills, four set-assists, four service aces, 49 digs, three blocks and 81.5 points. She has led the Redbirds in kills in each of the past four matches, and ranks fourth overall in the Valley in kills per set (3.71).
Riessen's torrid offensive numbers may have overshadowed the career milestones she reached last week. Riessen passed the 500-career-kill plateau, and enters this weekend's Chicago Invitational with 553-career kills. Her eight digs against Western Carolina in the Redbird Classic first-round also gave Riessen more than 500 digs in her career.
Riessen and the Redbirds head to the Windy City for the Chicago Classic Friday and Saturday.
