NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State volleyball team recapped another milestone season under the direction of third-year head coach Leah Johnson last weekend at its annual end-of-the-season team dinner.
Four Redbirds – Stef Jankiewicz, Sydney Holt, Kendal Meier and Carley Nicholson – were presented with individual awards, voted on by their teammates.
Linda Herman Most Valuable Player – Stef Jankiewicz
Jankiewicz, a junior from Farmington Hills, Michigan, collected All-Missouri Valley Conference honors for the third-straight year in 2019, landing a spot on the first team for the second time. The setter finished in the top 25 in all of NCAA Division I in total assists (1,329) and assists per set (11.08), respectively, while finishing second in the conference in both categories. The two-time AVCA All-North Region Honorable Mention selection has accumulated 4,079 assists in her career – moving into No. 5 all-time at Illinois State – after becoming the second-fastest setter to reach the top 10 last season.
Most Improved Player – Sydney Holt
Holt is secured her first career all-conference honor after boasting the third-best hitting percentage (.316) in the league and best among the Redbirds. The league leader in total blocks and blocks per set, Holt ranked in the top 25 in the nation in blocks. Holt's 144 block assists ranked second all-time at ISU in a single season, while her total blocks fell at No. 8 on the charts. The middle blocker currently ranks in the top 25 all-time in program history in four categories – blocks per set, total blocks, service attempts and block assists.
Kelly Meisner Courage Award – Carley Nicholson
Nicholson appeared in 32 matches, covering 107 sets for the Redbirds as the lone sophomore on the roster in 2019. She collected 180 total digs to average 1.68 per set. The Festus, Missouri, native recorded a team-high 15 digs in a five-set thrilling win at UNI and dished out a career-best 24 assists in a victory over Valparaiso. Nicholson finished third on the team with 27 service aces, delivering a season-high seven aces in a sweep of Little Rock.
Kristin Kueltzo Inspiration Award – Kendal Meier
Meier earned the program's starting libero position in 2019, filling the void of two-time All-American Courtney Pence. The junior made an appearance in 24 matches, covering 85 sets for the Redbirds, despite being sidelined with an injury for most of the season. Meier fought her way back to regain the starting spot, finishing second on the team with 370 digs to average a team-best 4.35 digs per set. She recorded double-digit digs in all but five matches, including a career-high 30 digs in a five-set win at Valparaiso.
Illinois State won its 11th MVC Tournament Title in 2019, making its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 15th overall. The Redbirds are coming off their fourth 20-win season in five years and third-straight that resulted in post-season play. ISU will return a trio of all-conference players in Jankiewicz, Holt and Kaylee Martin for the 2020 season. Season tickets are now available as a part of the program's 'Raise the Banner' campaign.
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