ST. LOUIS – Jaelyn Keene, of the Illinois State volleyball team, has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week, the league announced Wednesday. Missouri State's Liam Priestley was named the MVC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
A senior middle blocker from Jacksonville, Illinois, Keene played a leading role in guiding Illinois State to three league wins over the past week, leading her team in kills in all three matches, while setting a Redbird Arena record in Saturday's victory. Keene averaged 4.91 kills per set on a .387 hitting percentage over the three-match stretch, to go along with four aces and averages of 1.18 digs and 1.00 blocks per set.
But it was Keene's performance in a win over Valparaiso Saturday that stood out, as she tallied a career-high 29 kills in the Redbird win, matching the Illinois State Redbird Arena record for kills in a match. The kill total is tied for the fourth most by a Redbird in school history, regardless of venue.
Keene currently ranks among the top 10 in The Valley in hitting percentage (.324), kills per set (3.96), aces per set (0.34) and blocks per set (1.00), and leads the league in total aces (27) and points per set (4.87).
Keene and the Illinois State volleyball team are back in action Friday versus Bradley at Redbird Arena. The match begins at 7 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets online at GoRedbirds.com/Tickets, by calling (309) 438-8000, or by visiting the ticket office, located at the north entrance to Redbird Arena.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.Â
