FERRIS' KARLA FAIRBANKS CLAIMS GLIAC WEEKLY HONOR AGAIN
Senior Outside Hitter Named Schelde/GLIAC North Division Player of Week
Ferris State University women's volleyball senior outside hitter Karla Fairbanks (Rogers City) has been selected the recipient of this week's (Oct. 18) Schelde/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division Player of the Week Award for the second consecutive week in an announcement made by the league office.
Fairbanks' selection not only represents the second-straight week she has claimed the award, but also the fourth time in eight weeks this campaign. She previously was honored Sept. 13, Sept. 29 and Oct. 11 by the GLIAC.
The 5-11 Fairbanks totaled 32 kills, 25 digs, seven blocks and six service aces in FSU's two conference home victories last weekend (Oct. 15-16) at FSU's Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.
Fairbanks, who averaged 5.33 kills along with 4.17 digs, 1.17 blocks and 1.00 aces per game in the stretch, compiled a match-high 22 kills, 14 digs, four aces and three blocks in Friday's (Oct. 15) 3-0 win over Wayne State. She added 10 kills, 11 digs, four blocks and two aces in Saturday's (Oct. 16) 3-0 triumph versus nationally-ranked Hillsdale.
Fairbanks, who presently ranks second in kills (5.00 kpg) and third in service aces (0.66 apg) in the league’s overall statistical rankings, registered a .211 attack percentage for the weekend.
Fairbanks has 166 career service aces to date and is three away from matching Kris Johnson's (1982-85) fifth-place career mark of 169 aces at Ferris State. The 2002 GLIAC All-Academic Team pick has presently posted 20 or more kills in nine of her last 13 appearances this season. She currently ranks fifth on FSU’s career kills chart with 1,461 kills and also attained her 800th career dig versus Wayne State.
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. 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.
A co-recipient of Ferris’ 2003 Most Valuable Player Award, Fairbanks tallied a team-best 516 kills and 336 digs in 2003. She also became the 13th player in school history to register 1,000 career kills. 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.
Ferris State, which is currently 17-5 overall and 9-3 in GLIAC action this campaign, will visit archrival and nationally-ranked Grand Valley State Thursday, Oct. 21, for a 7 p.m. (EDT) conference match at GVSU’s Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale, Mich. The Lakers are ranked 10th in the latest (Oct. 12) CSTV/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II National Poll.
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