http://uncbears.com/sports/wvball/2011-12/releases/20111129bq0hi2
GREELEY -- Right about the time she boarded a flight for Honolulu on Tuesday, Northern Colorado junior Kelley Arnold was honored as the National Player of the Week from Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU.com).
Arnold's performance in last weekend's Big Sky Conference Volleyball Championship was deemed the best of any player in the entire country for matches played between Nov. 21 and Nov. 27.
The 6-2 junior from Berthoud started the weekend by earning Big Sky Conference MVP honors on Thursday, then lived up to that billing by leading the Bears to this year's Big Sky Championship title and their second NCAA Tournament bid in three seasons.
Northern Colorado will face 10th-seeded Hawai'i at 10 p.m. (MT) on Thursday at the Stan Sheriff Center in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Arnold helped the Bears cruise by Eastern Washington in their first match last weekend by blistering 16 kills on .412 hitting and then adding 11 digs to go along with a block and an ace.
Then, in the Championship final, Arnold and Northern Colorado had no problem with host Portland State, steamrolling past the Viks for the third time this season and into the NCAA Tournament.
Against Portland State, Arnold again led the way offensively, knocking down 14 more kills on .458 hitting and picking up eight digs and three blocks.
For the weekend, the junior outside hitter averaged five kills and 3.17 digs per set while hitting a stellar .431. She was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts.
Arnold is the first Northern Colorado player to earn the CVU.com weekly honor and only the second player ever honored from the Big Sky.
NATIONAL TOP PERFORMERS
Kelley Arnold, Northern Colorado, Junior, Outside hitter, 6-2
Lane Carico, Miami, Senior, Outside hitter, 5-11
Kellie Catanach, Duke, Senior, Setter, 6-2
Kanani Danielson, Hawai'i, Senior, Outside hitter, 5-10
Kim Hill, Pepperdine, Senior, Middle blocker, 6-4
Yvonne Marten, Dayton, Senior, Outside hitter, 6-2
Bre Payton, Northern Iowa, Senior, Setter, 5-8
Amanda Philpot, Mississippi, Junior, Setter, 5-8
Megan Plourde, Colorado State, Junior, Middle blocker, 6-3
Kelsea Seymour, Southern Mississippi, Senior, Setter, 5-9
Ariel Turner, Purdue, Junior, Outside hitter, 6-1
GREELEY -- Right about the time she boarded a flight for Honolulu on Tuesday, Northern Colorado junior Kelley Arnold was honored as the National Player of the Week from Collegiate Volleyball Update (CVU.com).
Arnold's performance in last weekend's Big Sky Conference Volleyball Championship was deemed the best of any player in the entire country for matches played between Nov. 21 and Nov. 27.
The 6-2 junior from Berthoud started the weekend by earning Big Sky Conference MVP honors on Thursday, then lived up to that billing by leading the Bears to this year's Big Sky Championship title and their second NCAA Tournament bid in three seasons.
Northern Colorado will face 10th-seeded Hawai'i at 10 p.m. (MT) on Thursday at the Stan Sheriff Center in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Arnold helped the Bears cruise by Eastern Washington in their first match last weekend by blistering 16 kills on .412 hitting and then adding 11 digs to go along with a block and an ace.
Then, in the Championship final, Arnold and Northern Colorado had no problem with host Portland State, steamrolling past the Viks for the third time this season and into the NCAA Tournament.
Against Portland State, Arnold again led the way offensively, knocking down 14 more kills on .458 hitting and picking up eight digs and three blocks.
For the weekend, the junior outside hitter averaged five kills and 3.17 digs per set while hitting a stellar .431. She was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts.
Arnold is the first Northern Colorado player to earn the CVU.com weekly honor and only the second player ever honored from the Big Sky.
NATIONAL TOP PERFORMERS
Kelley Arnold, Northern Colorado, Junior, Outside hitter, 6-2
Lane Carico, Miami, Senior, Outside hitter, 5-11
Kellie Catanach, Duke, Senior, Setter, 6-2
Kanani Danielson, Hawai'i, Senior, Outside hitter, 5-10
Kim Hill, Pepperdine, Senior, Middle blocker, 6-4
Yvonne Marten, Dayton, Senior, Outside hitter, 6-2
Bre Payton, Northern Iowa, Senior, Setter, 5-8
Amanda Philpot, Mississippi, Junior, Setter, 5-8
Megan Plourde, Colorado State, Junior, Middle blocker, 6-3
Kelsea Seymour, Southern Mississippi, Senior, Setter, 5-9
Ariel Turner, Purdue, Junior, Outside hitter, 6-1
