FERRIS' KARLA FAIRBANKS EARNS LEAGUE AWARD
Senior Outside Hitter Named Schelde/GLIAC North Division Player of Week
Ferris State University senior outside hitter Karla Fairbanks (Rogers City) has been named this week's (Sept. 28) recipient of the Schelde/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division Women's Volleyball Player of the Week Award in an announcment made by the league office.
The All-America candidate averaged 6.1 kills per game as Ferris won two of three matches on its annual trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula last weekend (Sept. 23-25). Fairbanks totaled 61 kills, 26 digs, nine service aces and eight total blocks in the three matches at Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech. She posted 20 or more kills in all three outings, including 21 kills, 10 digs and five service aces at MTU (Sept. 25). Fairbanks also recorded 20 kills, 13 digs and four aces at LSSU (Sept. 23) while notching 20 kills at NMU (Sept. 24).
The 5-11 Fairbanks has 1,332 career kills to date and is 14 shy of tying Sheri Harris (1,346; 1987-88, '96, '98) for sixth place on the school's career leaders list. In addition, she leads the Bulldogs in both kills (5.02 kpg) and service aces (0.77 apg) to date this season.
Fairbanks, who was named a co-recipient of Ferris’ 2003 Most Valuable Player Award, registered a team-high 516 kills and 336 digs during the 2003 campaign. She also became the 13th player in school history to register 1,000 career kills. A 2004 team tri-captain, Fairbanks recorded 26 double-figure kill outings and totaled 17 double-double (kills & digs) performances last campaign while earning first-team All-GLIAC recognition. She claimed GLIAC North Division Player of the Week kudos twice (9/8 & 10/5) last season and finished the season ranked third in kills (4.57 kpg) and fourth in service aces (0.51 apg) among the league’s leaders.
Besides earning first-team All-GLIAC accolades in 2003, Fairbanks attained both first team American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) and Daktronics, Inc., All-Great Lakes Region kudos. She also garnered AVCA Honorable Mention All-America recognition as a junior.
Ferris State, which is presently 12-3 overall and 4-1 in GLIAC action this season, will host Saginaw Valley State this Thursday, Sept. 30, for a 7 p.m. (EDT) league match at FSU’s Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs will then square off against Northwood Saturday, Oct. 2, in a 4 p.m. (EDT) conference home contest.
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