VB's Jaeckel Named SEC Freshman of Week for Second Consecutive Week
Monday, September 8, 2008 | Volleyball
Florida redshirt freshman Kristy Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the second consecutive week, the league offices in Birmingham, Ala., announced on Monday.
Jaeckel becomes the first player in school history to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks and the fifth player in league history to accomplish that feat. Jaeckel is just the second player in school history – Elyse Cusack is the other – to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors more than once in her career.
Jaeckel was named the Most Valuable Player of the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational after averaging 3.88 kills per set on .339 hitting with 1.38 digs per set and 0.38 blocks per set. She recorded a career-high 23 kills in a thrilling five-set comeback win against No. 23/17 Long Beach State on Saturday, making her the first Florida freshman to produce a 20-kill output in a single match since 2004.
Jaeckel has earned Most Valuable Player honors at both of Florida's regular-season tournaments this season and becomes the first UF freshman to do so since former All-America selection Aury Cruz accomplished that feat during her rookie campaign of 2000.
On the season, Jaeckel leads the team and ranks second in the SEC with 3.87 kills per set and is eighth in hitting percentage with a .342 clip. She is the only freshman to rank in the league's top 10 in both kills and hitting percentage.
Jaeckel has led the team in points in each of its four outings this season, including a career-high 25.0 points Saturday vs. Long Beach State.
Florida returns to action tonight when it faces intra-state rival Florida State in Tallahassee. Opening serve in Tully Gym is set for 8 p.m. EDT and the match will be carried live on Sun Sports and WRUF-AM in Gainesville with Tom Collett.
SEC WEEK 2 WEEKLY HONORS
Offensive Player of the Week – Maria Taylor, Georgia
Defensive Player of the Week – Amy Pauly, Alabama
Freshman of the Week – Kristy Jaeckel, Florida
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