by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College volleyball standout Blair Russell has been named both National Division II Player of the Week by the National Junior College Athletic Association and Jayhawk Community College Conference Player of the Week.
A 5-10 sophomore from Marysville, Kan., Russell is currently ranked second in the nation in the number of kills (432) and eighth in kills per set (3.96).
The Jayhawk Player of the Week award is the second for Russell, who was also chosen the first week of the season. She also becomes only the second player in KCKCC history to earn national player of the week honors, joining Lisa Angello who was selected in 2012.
Russell was selected for her play in a pivotal 3-1 over Jayhawk rival Fort Scott and the Central Nebraska tournament where KCKCC defeated No. 18 ranked Northeast and North Platte while losing to Division I powers, No. 1 ranked Iowa Western and No. 6 Central Nebraska. Russell had a big 21-kill match against Fort Scott and averaged 4.26 kills per set on offense and 3.84 digs per set on offense. She also passed a cumulative 2.1 out of a 3.0 on 95 attempts.
“Blair is very deserving, both as a person and a player,” said KCKCC coach Mary Bruno. “Her time and work ethic put in during the spring have transformed her into one of the Jayhawk Conference’s very best. A smart player, she jumps well and has great contact when she hits.”
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.