Player of the Week:  November 10, 2014

Each week during the indoor and sand seasons, one player originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for an exceptional performance.

2014 Week #11:  Stacey Niao

Illinois State University
Reported to coaches in 2010 by AVSR Global.
Home:  Kawerau, New Zealand.
Senior, 5'11" Outside Hitter.
See Stacey Niao’s bio at the Illinois State website.

Last Week’s Action:

• Niao sparkled again as Illinois State moved to 14-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• The Redbirds blasted Loyola and Bradley in lopsided victories.  Niao scored 17 kills at .311 efficiency and gathered 23 digs.  Illinois State leads the MVC by a three-game margin.
• With a 20-5 overall record, ISU is having its best season since 1992.
• It’s Niao’s third year as one of the Redbirds’ most versatile and steady starters.

Excerpt from 2010 AVSR Global report:

“A former boxer and an explosive attacker, Stacey combines a strong, quick body with a bold mentality and a natural ease on the court.  Her rural location has limited her development, but she’s a sure bet to improve rapidly with collegiate training.”

Other Notables

Gabriela Nieto Gomez

Jacksonville University, Junior, 6'1" Middle Blocker.
Reported to coaches in 2012 by AVSR Global.
Home:  Zapopan, Mexico.
Last Week:  Nieto Gomez scored 15 blocks in eight sets as Jacksonville stuffed Northern Kentucky 3-0 and fell to Atlantic Sun leader Lipscomb 3-2.

Aleksandra Petronijevic

University of Memphis, Senior, 5'4" Libero.
Reported to coaches in 2009 by AVSR Global.
Home:  Belgrade, Serbia.
Last Week:  Memphis’ all-time digs leader topped 600 digs for the second consecutive year.  She scored 36 digs in a four-set loss at SMU.  Her career total stands at 2,222 digs.