Player of the Week: October 8, 2018

Each week of the spring and fall seasons, one player who was originally reported as a recruit by AVSR Global is named Player of the Week for an exceptional performance.

Fall Week #7: Stacey Niao

Illinois State University

Missouri Valley Conference, NCAA Division I.

Graduated in 2015.

Reported to coaches by AVSR Global in 2010.

5'11" Outside Hitter.

Home: Kawerau, New Zealand.

See Stacey Niao’s bio at the ISU website.

Last Week:

• Niao was named Best Outside Hitter at New Zealand’s 51st National Club Championships last week in Auckland.
• Her team, Hamilton VC, placed third. Niao was Best Outside Hitter last year, too, playing for third-place Mauao Warriors.
• Niao has captained the New Zealand women’s national team this year. Its next competition is the Asian Challenge Cup in Hong Kong.
• At Illinois State, Niao was a three-year starter. She lifted ISU in 2014 to its best season of the past 26 years, including an 18-0 record in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• Niao was a boxer, starting at age 9, before she focused on volleyball.
• She’s studying now towards a master’s degree in exercise physiology.

Excerpt from 2010 AVSR Global report:

“Stacey combines a strong, quick body with a rugged mentality and a natural ease on the court. Her rural location has limited her training, but she’s a sure bet to improve rapidly in college.”