Player of the Week: October 7, 2019
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 2019 Week #6: Stacey Niao
Illinois State University.
NCAA Division I. Graduated in 2015.
Reported by AVSR Global to coaches in 2010.
Home: Kawerau, New Zealand.
5'11" Outside Hitter.
Current Team: Shirley Silverbacks.
See Stacey Niao’s bio at the ISU website.
Last Week:
• For a third consecutive year Niao won all-tournament honors at New Zealand's National Club Championships.
• Niao led Shirley Silverbacks of Christchurch to a second-place finish.
• She competes also for New Zealand’s women’s national team.
• At Illinois State, Niao was a three-year starter. She lifted ISU in 2014 to its best season of the past 27 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 now at the University of Canterbury, working as its Sport and Wellness Coordinator and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.
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.”