Kristy Jaeckel Named SEC Offensive Player of the Week
Monday, October 3, 2011 | Volleyball
Senior outside hitter Kristy Jaeckel (Littleton, Colo.) has been named the Southeastern Conference's Offensive Player of the Week for her performances on the road against Auburn and Georgia. This is Florida's third SEC weekly honor of the 2011 season and the first time in Jaeckel's career to be named SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
Jaeckel had her best weekend in a Gator uniform against the Tigers and the Bulldogs, averaging 6.08 points, 4.83 kills and 1.83 blocks per set, contributing to Florida's 3-set sweeps over Auburn and Georgia. Jaeckel totaled 29 kills, 12 blocks, four digs and two service aces on the weekend. In the Gators' matchup against Auburn, Jaeckel led all hitters with 15 kills, operating at a .400 clip for what was originally a season-high hitting percentage. She also contributed five blocks against the Tigers.
The Littleton, Colo. native then had one of her best performances at Florida, posting 14 kills on 25 swings and only one error for a season-high hitting percentage of .520 against Georgia. Jaeckel registered six blocks on the afternoon, also a season high. In the third set alone, Jaeckel notched eight of her 14 kills against the Bulldogs.
Jaeckel's stellar performance against Georgia gave the Gators their highest offensive output since a 3-set sweep of South Carolina State in the first round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, as well as their highest single-set hitting percentage in program history (Set 2: 18-0-25 for .720). The senior All-American's offensive spark put the Gators on top of the conference in hitting percentage with a .301 hitting clip and the senior is sixth in the SEC in kills per set and points per set with 3.44 and 4.11, respectively.
Florida returns to action on Friday, October 7th when the No. 13 Gators take on the Arkansas Razorbacks at 7 p.m. The Gators will then face the LSU Tigers on Sunday, October 9th at 1:30 p.m. on Sun Sports. Larry Vettel will serve as the play-by-play analyst while former Gator All-SEC setter Missy Whittemore will provide color commentary. As always, Gator fans can also listen live with longtime play-by-play announcer Tom Collett on the call, as Florida's matchup with Arkansas is on Sportsradio 850 and the Gators' Sunday match against LSU will air live on Country 103.7 The Gator.
SEC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (OCT. 3, 2011)
SEC Offensive Player of the Week: Kristy Jaeckel, Florida, OH
SEC Defensive Player of the Week: Whitney Billings, Kentucky, RS
SEC Freshman of the Week: Mary Pollmiller, Tennessee, S
