NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team put a wrap on the 2016 season as four Redbirds were recognized with individual awards, as voted on by the team, at an end-of-the-season team dinner Sunday in the Legends Room.
Jaelyn Keene, Courtney Pence, Elianna Lovejoy and Ratasha Garbes were among the student-athletes honored at Sunday's team dinner.
Keene, a junior middle hitter from Jacksonville, Illinois, was named the Linda Herman Most Valuable Player after earning All-Missouri Valley Conference First-Team honors for the third year in a row. Keene led her team in kills (364), hitting percentage (.396), aces (50), aces per set (0.42), blocks (115) and blocks per set (0.97), and was a two-time MVC Offensive Player of the Week.
Pence, a sophomore defensive specialist from Springfield, Illinois, was named Most Improved Player. Pence was named the MVC Libero of the Year and an All-MVC First-Team pick one year after earning second-team all-conference and all-freshman team accolades. Pence led the Valley in digs (652) and digs per set (5.53) for the second year in a row, while also setting Illinois State's single-match digs record, with 44 in a win at Northern Iowa on Sept. 16.
Lovejoy earned the Kristin Kueltzo Inspiration Award, marking the second time in her career she has claimed the honor (also won in 2014). A junior from Bettendorf, Iowa, Lovejoy ranked fifth on the team in digs per set (1.60) and eighth in total digs (93). She set a career high with 10 digs versus Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 2.
Garbes, a senior from Sycamore, Illinois, won the Kelly Meisner Courage Award in her final season with the team. Garbes ranked sixth on the team in kills per set (1.60) and set a career high with 10 kills in her Senior Night match against Drake on Nov. 19.
The Illinois State volleyball team concluded its season on Nov. 25, falling to top-seeded Missouri State in a five-set match at the MVC Tournament in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Redbirds ended their season with a 17-15 overall record.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
