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9/14/2009 - VOLLEYBALL
Asjia “Stokes” Owls’ Hot Start in A-Sun Action
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Stokes' StatsMACON, Ga. – On Monday, the Atlantic Sun Conference announced its weekly volleyball award with Asjia Stokes of Kennesaw State winning the Player of the Week, the first such honor won by an Owl in their four years in the league.
Stokes, the A-Sun's leader in kills per set in conference matches, led the Owls in kills with wins against Mercer and USC Upstate. The senior, from North Chicago, Ill., notched 17 kills in a 3-1 win against Mercer on Tuesday night, giving the Owls their first win against the Bears in program history. On Saturday night in Spartanburg, S.C., Stokes tallied 19 kills to lead KSU to a 3-1 win against the Spartans. In that match, with KSU trailing 25-24 in the fourth set, Stokes connected for a kill to tie the score, and then served consecutive aces to give the Owls their seventh win of the season, a new program record. Overall, Stokes collected 36 kills (4.50 kills per set), a .364 attack percentage, 19 digs (2.38 digs per set) and six total blocks. Picked eighth in the preseason poll, the Owls have started 2-0 in A-Sun play for the first time in program history.
During the Great 8 Volleyball Challenge Presented by Residence Inn - Kennesaw, Stokes earned Co-MVP honors after leading the Owls to their first tournament championship in program history. Stokes notched double-figure kill totals in all three matches, hitting a phenomenal .593 in KSU's four set win versus Rider and connecting for 19 kills with just three errors in 27 attempts.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
Other Top Performers
Erin Jacobsen – USC Upstate (Jr. - OH – Virginia, Minn. – Interdisciplinary Studies) – Jacobsen posted a career-high 17 kills and five blocks in a four-set match against Kennesaw State, while hitting .464. Hurley also added six kills and four blocks against Mercer and 10 kills and four blocks at ETSU. Hurley ranks third in the A-Sun in blocks per set in league play (1.08).
Krista Hurley - Mercer (Jr. - MB – LaVerne, Calif. - Communications) – In two conference matches, Hurley pounded out 28 kills while striking just seven errors for a .389 hitting percentage. Hurley also tallied six block-assists and a service ace as the Bears went 1-1 in the opening week of conference action. Hurley holds a .299 hitting percentage with 23 total blocks on the year.
Stefine “Jake” Pease - Lipscomb (Jr. - S – Berryton, Kan. – Fashion Merchandising) – Jake quarterbacked the Lady Bisons to three A-Sun match sweeps with 3-0 wins at Belmont and two 3-0 wins at home against North Florida and Jacksonville. Coach Brandon Rosenthal credited Pease's passing skills for setting up middle hitter Alex Kelly and outside hitters Meghan Hinemeyer and Kaycee Green.
Jelena Simic – FGCU (Jr. – OH – Lazarevec, Serbia. – Business) – Simic led the Eagles to a perfect 3-0 record with wins at Stetson, Campbell, and ETSU. The Eagles have yet to drop a set in conference play thanks to the strong play of Simic. At Stetson, Simic recorded 11 kills and eight digs. In FGCU's sweep at Campbell, Simic recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 12 digs. Simic again reached double-figures in kills with 11, along with a .346 hitting percentage at ETSU. For the week, Simic registered 32 kills with a .224 hitting percentage, along with 27 digs.
Ashley Weers – Campbell (Sr. – MB – Littleton, Co. – Sport Management) – Weers led Campbell to a 1-1 split in its first pair of A-Sun matches, hitting .400 and totaling a team-high 18.5 points. Weers added 14 kills on 30 attempts in her six sets for the Camels with only two errors, averaging 2.33 scores a frame. Weers also notched seven total blocks (five assisted, two solo), all against FGCU. The senior's five blocks moves her past both Tabitha Turner (172, 2003-06) and Femi Alabi (173, 2005-07) on the Camels' all-time block assists list, now standing at 177. Weers also moved past Robin Marshall (214, 1991-94) on the Campbell all-time blocks list. With 220 career blocks, Weers now stands ninth all-time. Weers added six kills with a .357 hitting percentage against the Eagles, and eight kills with only one error on 16 attempts (.438 attack percentage) in a 3-0 sweep of Stetson on Saturday.
