Pritchard Named NAIA Player of the Week

10.27.2009

Taylor sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Pritchard (Indianapolis, Ind./Brownsburg) has been named the NAIA Volleyball National Player of the Week, the association announced Tuesday.

Pritchard had a career-high 33 kills for a .467 hitting percentage Friday to lead No. 20-ranked Taylor (26-4) to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over No. 18 Madonna. She then matched a career-high with 11 digs in a 3-1 win over Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on Saturday. The six-footer had 80 kills in four matches and she was named to the all-tournament team as the Trojans captured the Madonna Crusader Classic title.

Earlier in the week Pritchard helped lead Taylor to its third straight Mid-Central College Conference championship in a 3-2 win at Spring Arbor (Mich.).

Last season's MCC Freshman of the Year, Pritchard ranks sixth nationally in both kills (448) and kills/set (4.35). She has recorded double-figure kill totals in 27 of 30 matches this season. For her career, the sophomore has a current total of 953 kills.

Pritchard was selected based on her performances from Oct. 19 - 25. She was chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 23 conferences.

The last Taylor volleyball player to be recognized with the national honor was Natalie Steele in 1997. Steele still holds the NAIA record with 3,602 career kills.

Taylor returns to the court this Wednesday as they play host to Huntington at 7 p.m.