Keene, Pence named Valley Players of the Week

Posted on September 19, 2016

By ISU Sports Information

NORMAL – Illinois State’s Jaelyn Keene and Courtney Pence have been named Missouri Valley Conference players of the week, the league announced Monday. Keene was named the MVC Offensive Player of the Week, while Pence was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week.

Keene and Pence helped Illinois State to a 3-0 record at the UNI Tournament, which included an MVC season-opening win over host Northern Iowa.

Keene, a middle blocker from Jacksonville, Illinois, tallied 46 kills (4.18 per set) on a .557 hitting percentage, while earning all-tournament team honors at the UNI Tournament. Keene added 14 blocks (1.27 per set) and 16 digs (1.45 per set), as well as five service aces. Keene registered 15 or more kills and hit over .500 in all three matches over the weekend. The junior leads the Valley and ranks second nationally in hitting percentage (.466), while also ranking in the top 10 in the MVC in points (3.70 per set) and aces (0.39 per set).

Pence, a defensive specialist from Springfield, Illinois, turned in a record-breaking performance in the Redbirds’ win over Northern Iowa. The sophomore collected 44 digs in the Redbirds’ five-set win, the most in Illinois State history and the second-highest total in a match between MVC foes. The 44 digs are also the most by a Division I player in a match this season. Over the three-match stretch, Pence tallied 87 digs (7.91 per set) and 12 assists (1.09 per set).

Illinois State (8-5, 1-0 MVC) will host its first conference matches of the season when it welcomes Loyola and Bradley to Redbird Arena this Friday and Saturday. Both matches start at 7 p.m.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…