ST LOUIS – Kaitlyn Early and Jaelyn Keene earned recognition as the Missouri Valley Conference announced its weekly awards Monday. Early was named the MVC Offensive Player of the Week, while Keene earned MVC Freshman of the Week honors.
The awards come on the heels of Illinois State's road wins at Wichita State and Missouri State over the weekend. The Redbirds won both matches in straight sets.
Early, a senior setter from Wildwood, Missouri, earned MVC Offensive Player of the Week status for the second time in her career, having previously earned the honor on Oct. 14, 2013. She earned the honor again Monday for her stellar play over the weekend as the Redbirds won their first two league matches of the season. Early tallied 78 assists in the two matches, at a rate of 13 per set, while the Redbirds posted a .239 hitting percentage. Early also tallied eight kills, five blocks and 20 digs to help Illinois State to the 2-0 start in league play.
The senior setter leads the Valley in total assists (543), while ranking third in assists per set (10.44).
Keene, a freshman middle hitter from Jacksonville, Illinois, was named the MVC Freshman of the Week, as she continued her streak of efficient play. Keene contributed 20 kills in the two weekend matches, while recording a hitting percentage of .410. She tallied a team-high 11 kills, and a .500 hitting percentage, in the Redbirds' 3-0 win at Wichita State. She added nine more kills, on a .319 hitting percentage, in a 3-0 win at Missouri State. Keene also chipped in nine blocks and 11 digs over the weekend.
The freshman middle currently ranks third in the Valley in blocks (1.10 per set) and sixth in hitting percentage (.318).
The wins over the weekend marked the first time since 2006 that ISU won regular-season matches at both Wichita State and Missouri State. The 3-0 wins marked the first time since 1999 the Redbirds won both matches in straight sets.
Illinois State is back in action this weekend, as it hosts its first Valley match of the season Friday against Southern Illinois at 7 p.m. The Redbirds will then host Evansville Sunday at 1 p.m.
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