By: Evan Smegal

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017
AVCA Release

The entire nation took notice this week as junior right side hitter Sarah Kelly was  named the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Women's National Player of the Week. This comes one day after Kelly was rewarded with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor. Kelly spurred the No. 5 Bulldogs to a pair of road wins over then-No. 14 Winona State University and Upper Iowa University last weekend.

A 2016 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, Kelly erupted for 3.62 kills per set, with a potent .412 attack percentage as she throttled 29 total kills past the two clubs who, combined, have strangle opposing attacks (.171) this season. She had a team-high 18 kills versus the Warriors (18-30, .500) while registering four blocks in a five-set thriller. Then, she backed up her strong performance with 11 kills, a club-best nine digs and two aces versus the Peacocks.

This season, Kelly ranks as the most efficient hitter in NCAA II, attacking at a boisterous attacking mark of .457. She is also dominating top-25 competition as she has 3.75 kills/set and .419 hitting percentage against ranked clubs thus far. Kelly is pacing the club with 234 kills (3.71 kills/set) and is on pace to become the 20th Bulldog to achieve the 1,000-kill club. She needs 198 more kills to reach the milestone.

Kelly is the 14th Bulldog to be named AVCA Player of the Week. The last UMD player to earn the AVCA's Player of the Week was outside hitter Mariah Scharf  on Nov. 17, 2015. Kelly joins SMSU's Taylor Reiss as the two NSIC players to earn the award this season.