Oct. 1, 2003
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Sophomore MB Lauren Kelbley (Bascom, Ohio/Hopewell-Loudon H.S.) was named the BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week on Monday after helping Notre Dame (10-2, 2-0) to a pair of convincing victories in the opening weekend of league play. Kelbley, who had 26 kills on .478 hitting to go with 12 blocks in the matches, has won the award twice already in five weeks this season.
The Irish middle blocker was a big reason Notre Dame turned in its best offensive performance of the year, hitting .358 on Sunday vs. Georgetown in the Joyce Center. She registered 12 kills and no errors on 17 attempts for a .706 attack percentage. It marked the second time in her career she hit over .700 in a match. It was the best individual hitting match for any Irish player with a minimum of 12 kills since Kristy Kreher hit .765 (13-0-17) on Nov. 4, 2001 at Pittsburgh. Kelbley also was in on three blocks.
On Friday vs. Villanova, Kelbley had 14 kills on .345 hitting, while taking part in nine of Notre Dame’s 20 blocks. She added three digs, one service ace, and an assist.
Kelbley leads the Irish this season with a .342 attack percentage and has been above .300 in 10 of 12 contests. In her career, she has hit better than .300 in 29 of 44 matches, while hitting the .400 mark 20 times, bettering .500 on 10 occasions, and hitting over .600 six times.
The Irish sophomore is among the BIG EAST leaders in both blocks and hitting percentage. She ranks fifth in the former (1.22 per game) and sixth in the latter.
The award marked the fourth league honor copped by Kelbley in her collegiate career. She was the BIG EAST Player of the Week on Sept. 8 of this season and won rookie-of-the-week honors twice in 2002 (Sept. 2 and Oct. 13).
Miami setter Jill Robinson was named the conference rookie of the week, also announced Monday.
After a seven-match homestand, Kelbley and the Irish will hit the road this weekend, playing at St. John’s on Saturday at 2 p.m. (EDT) and at Connecticut on Sunday at 1 p.m. (EDT). Notre Dame returns to the Joyce Center next weekend, welcoming Seton Hall on Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. (EST) and Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. (EST).