May 21, 2008
IOWA CITY – The 2007 Iowa volleyball team recently handed out team awards at its annual banquet. Three players were given awards and the team also honored senior Stacy Vitali.
Junior Laura Kremer was selected as both the team Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player. The LaMotte, IA, native started and played in all 109 games and led the team with 140 blocks (1.28 per game), which ranked eighth in the Big Ten. She also finished second on the team with 283 kills (2.6 per game) and a .201 hitting percentage. Kremer was named to the Northern Colorado Tournament all-tournament team.
Junior Emily Hiza was named Best Defensive Player. The Swink, CO, native played in all 109 games at libero. Hiza collected 493 digs and averaged 4.52 per game, which ranked seventh in the Big Ten. She was also named to the all-tournament team at the Hawkeye-Holiday Inn Challenge.
Freshman Katie Kennedy was honored as the team’s Most Improved Player. Kennedy, an Iowa City native, played in 81 games and started 11 matches. She ended the season with the third-highest block total on the team (77, 0.95 per game). Kennedy set career highs in kills (nine) and total blocks (seven) against Northwestern (Nov. 16).
Hiza was also recognized for being selected to the ESPN the Magazine Academic all-District second team. Hiza, Kremer, sophomore Megan Schipper, junior Kiley Fister and senior Stacy Vitali were also honored for being named academic all-Big Ten.
Vitali, Iowa’s lone senior, played in 21 matches with 10 starts and also appeared in 56 games. The St. Charles, IL, native, collected 81 kills (1.45 per game) and 36 total blocks (0.64 per game).