(from Colorado College's website)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Meredith Ballard has
been named the Sports
Imports/AVCA Division III National Player of the Week by the
American Volleyball Coaches Association for her performance at
least weekend's Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Central-West crossover matches.
The freshman opposite hitter had a combined .638 hitting percentage
with 41 kills on 58 attacks with only four errors as CC won all
four of its matches and 12 of 13 sets. In a 25-20, 25-22, 25-23
sweep of No. 24 Austin College on the Kangaroos' home court,
Ballard had a season-best 15 kills and a .700 hitting
percentage.
"Meredith had an unbelievable weekend," said head coach Rick Swan.
"Every time she was set, something good happened. She's getting
more comfortable on the court and is really developing great
chemistry with her setter, Annie Bernacchi."
Ballard joins former Tiger All-American Sarah Boyles, who received
the honor as a junior on Oct. 8, 2001, as the only Colorado College
players to earn the award since its inception in 1998.
The native of Libertyville, Ill., hit double figures with 11 kills
and hit .500 as Colorado College rallied to defeat Millsaps College
23-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-20 in its first match of the weekend. She
also had a season-high eight digs against the Majors.
She hit .800 with eight kills on 10 attacks in a 25-22, 25-16,
25-21 victory over Rhodes and .500 with six kills in a 25-20,
25-14, 25-10 win against Hendrix College.
"We knew it was only a matter of time before Meredith adjusted to
the speed of the college game and the quickness of our offense,"
Swan said. "She's got great potential and the ability to dominate a
match."
Colorado College puts its seven-match winning streak on the line
this weekend when the Tigers travel to Atlanta for SCAC matches
against the East Division.